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The automation system is widespread in various areas of our life, the main task of which is to facilitate and speed up any process. Even in your car, there are various elements of automation, for example, in the format of using linear actuators in a lifting column.
Under the concept of an actuator, a mechanism is hidden, the main task of which is to transfer forces from the control device to the actuator. Actuators differ from each other in the way they transfer energy. The controlled object can be driven by a rotary or linear action.
One of the most well-understood examples of an actuator is the central locking in a car. In this case, the actuator acts as a worm gear, transforming the force from the control unit into linear movement. An even simpler example is the familiar diamond-shaped mechanical jack. Here the control mechanism is a person who exerts force when the handle is rotated. The actuator, in turn, transfers the force into the vertical movement of the lifting support.
What are the types of actuators?
The term “actuator”, which seems to be complicated at first glance, is based on a simple principle of energy conversion. Even before getting acquainted with this definition, each of us had to deal with actuators. Such devices are found in agriculture, construction, automobiles, and everyday life.
Among car owners, many know about the turbine actuator. It is essentially a vacuum regulator, which helps to prevent a critical load on the turbocharger. If we consider household and building electromechanics, one of the most popular actuators is the drive of gates, called a door actuator. It allows the automatic movement of small doors or massive steel gates. Satellite dishes can also be equipped with a similar mechanism that allows you to remotely tune the antenna to the desired frequency angle.
Linear actuator
This term implies a whole family of devices that convert mechanical energy into linear movement. In the modern world, these mechanisms are most often used to obtain mechanical energy from electrical energy. If you call this type of actuator a linear actuator, you will also be right. Most often, it is a metal or plastic case with a movable stem. Accordingly, to obtain electrical energy, the product is equipped with connectors, cables, or conventional plugs. Today you can find quite a lot of types of linear actuators for 12, 24, or 220 volts.
The linear drive is also a gearbox since the energy received by the device is an order of magnitude higher than the output. The output energy can also be directed in different directions. Modern mechanisms make it possible to ensure the movement of the rod both vertically and horizontally relative to the shaft of an electric motor.
One of the characteristic advantages of linear actuators is undoubtedly their simple design. Due to this, the drives have an impressive service life, do not require periodic maintenance, and are unpretentious to the conditions. The simple design allows the devices to be used even in adverse climatic conditions. Depending on the manufacturer, models may have additional protection that increases the resistance of the product to adverse factors.
Rotation actuator
This type of actuator combines an electric motor and a gearbox. The higher the reduction gear ratio, the lower the speed and the greater the torque. Depending on the type of device, the following kind of gearboxes can be used: worm, planetary, cylindrical, or combined.
The versatility of the drive allows the use of rotating mechanisms in a wide range of tasks. Rotation actuators are used in spray booths to rotate the product around its axis. They are also used in the power industry, remote switches, compressors, machine tools, and other devices.
It should be noted that the actuator is autonomous, unlike other actuators. As you know, belt and chain drives require additional elements in the form of rollers or bearings. Linear and rotary actuators include a separate drive and guide.
Special actuators
As already mentioned, actuators are used everywhere, which puts forward certain requirements for the stability of the device. For more complex tasks, there are special actuators. Today they are widely used in the far north, in space, or underwater. Structurally, they are not much different from analogs. The main feature is the tightness of the case. The waterproof and dustproof design adds a class of protection to the actuator, allowing the mechanism to operate smoothly in harsh environments.
Actuators are widely used to solve various problems in diverse spheres. In this regard, manufacturers are trying to make their products almost universal. The most important characteristics are force, speed, and stroke. It is also important to pay attention to the duty cycle indicated by the manufacturer – this is the time that the device can operate continuously. Depending on the operating conditions, no less important characteristics will be operating temperature range, protection class, permissible humidity, and availability of sensors.
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