Electricitiy + Control February 2015

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VALVES + ACTUATORS ROUND UP
New benchmarks for pneumatic valves
With the compact, lightweight design of its AV series, Aventics
(formerly Rexroth Pneumatics) is setting new benchmarks for pneu-
matic valves.The AVO5 valve system, the latest addition to the AV
family, is designed to allow a closer mounting to actuators, lowering
compressed air requirements! Its specialised designs optimise air-
channelling for increased flow volume, up to 700 l/min, in minimal
space. The result is the AVO5 that provides air flow channelling
performance that is the best in its class.
As with its already available ‘little brother’ AV03, theAV05 features
an up to 45 % more compact size compared with similar valves on
the market. “But the modular range consists of much more than the
two valves,” emphasisesWolf Gerecke, head of product management
at Aventics. “Customers who last saw theAV03 one year ago will be
surprised at all the new features the AV system offers today – we
have consistently added new options.”
Compared with previous valve systems, theAV series features fast
switching times, a lowweight, and a small size. As with theAV03, the
flow in the AV05 valve system was also optimised. “The valves can
be mounted closer to where compressed air is required,” explains
Gerecke.The decentralisedAdvanced Electronic System (AES) field-
bus connection also does its part.The AES processes analogue as
well as digital signals and allows for fast assembly and flexible use.
“We called all known principles of design, materials, and assembly
into question during the development of this AV series,” Gerecke
reports. Firstly, the valve components in the housing are arranged
diagonally, saving up to 45 % more space and secondly shorter
distances between the actuator and valve allow for compressed
air savings of up to 20 %.
“These unique designs clearly show the innovative leap our AV
family takes in pneumatics,” says Gerecke. The concept required
much more work and expertise than simply the idea of using the
maximum length in a specified geometry. For example, high-tech
polymers were implemented and a new injection-moulding process
was developed specifically to be able to realise the design principle.
These new materials make the product up to 40 % lighter.
Enquiries: Erika Bennion.Tel. 011 971 9400 or
email
Custom-designed actuators
Mitech’s Pneumatic Rotary
Actuators can be utilised in
many industrial, R&D, labora-
tory, production and quality
inspection applications which
require rotary motion. These
pneumatic rotary actuators can
handle small to medium size
payloads with rotation up to
90 ° and can be mounted and
operated in any direction. By
using the actuators, productiv-
ity is improved and costs are
reduced.The Pneumatic Rotary
Actuators are custom designed
and require little maintenance.
They are available with either
a double crank mechanism
for modulating control or a
scotch yoke mechanism
for on off duty. The actua-
tors are field reversible
from clockwise-to-close
to clockwise-to-open.
With their pneumatic
piston design, the ac-
tuators are offered in
large sizes and can be
engineered and fitted to
most valves up to a 250 000 Nm
torque. By utilising a square
drive, the actuators can be
mounted perpendicular to or
inline with the pipe work and
the adjustable end stops can
be externally adjusted in both
the open and closed position
to within 7 º. The single spring
design which is pre-stressed
in a detachable pack make the
actuator easy to assemble and
disassemble. Pressure seals are
all simple ‘O’ rings reducing
maintenance costs.
Enquiries: Pieter Badenhorst.
Tel. 011 927 4850 or email
E+C Spot On
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Electricity+Control Face Value
The most recent Electricity+Control Face Values feature Ian
Jandrell with his February 2015 ‘comment’ − and Rene Rose,
SEW-EuroDrive’s general manager (communications) who
discusses the 2014 PneuDrive Challenge with a few people who
were involved in this exciting engineering talent competition.
Izgorsek, Editor, Electricity+Control
Tel. 011 622 4770 or email
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35 February ‘15 Electricity+Control