Vane Actuator for Pneumatic Power on Roll Lifting Machine

Kinetrol vane actuator on roll lifter.

There are many examples in machine design where the need for pneumatically driven, 90 ° rotation is required. One such application is a coil/roll lifting machine used to lift heavy rolls of material.

The machine is pneumatically operated and provides an expandable shaft that grabs and holds on to the center hole of the roll. The expandable shaft also prevents spiraling while lifting.  The roller can be tilted 90 ° so that it will be retrieved horizontally and vertically. A Kinetrol pneumatic vane actuator is used for the 90 ° movement because it provides very smooth rotation and has exceptional long cycle life.

See the equipment in operation below. Note the function and use of the vane actuator.

Thanks to the equipment manufacturer, JLM Teknik.

Kinetrol Actuators Chosen to "Bust Myths" on Popular TV Show

A mechanical "soldier" busting myths.

Kinetrol actuators have a great reputation in many heavy industries such as power generation, chemical processing, and pulp and paper, but here's one industry that's easy to overlook - special effects engineering for television and movie production.

Case in point, the very popular science entertainment show "MythBusters" (produced for the Discovery Channel).

In an episode challenging the concept of destructive harmonics caused by an army marching in unison, MythBusters decided to create an "army" of mechanical feet to march in over a mock bridge. An important requirement was a mechanical rotational movement device that would allow for synchronized movement (simulating the legs of soldiers). Accurate and smooth control of multiple actuators so the cadence could be controlled was crucial.  Enter Kinetrol.

To see a 4 minute clip of the setup, test and results, see Kinetrol in action on the Breakstep Bridge Minimyth here.

Below are some images from the broadcast.

The "army" of marching feet.

One of the test rigs.

Pneumatic Actuator with 180 Degree Rotation for Your Multi-Port Valve

180 degree actuator
for multi-port valves.

So you need a pneumatic actuator with more than 90 degrees of rotation - most likely for a multi-port valve, or a custom louver or damper. Here's an excellent solution.

The simplicity and dependability of a 90 degree rotary vane actuator with a 2:1 step-up linkage mounted to the output shaft.

Kinetrol vane actuators provide factory fitted, direct mount linkage units for their models 02, 03, 05, 07, 09, 12, 14 and 16 actuators, giving a neat single unit with no mount kits or brackets. An added benefit is the linkage’s unique geometry gives constant 2:1 step-up, so that the output torque remains constant throughout the actuator's travel.

The all-steel mechanism of the linkage employs rolling contacts to minimize frictional losses and wear, and to maximize life. The linkage is lubricated for life, and encased in a robust, fully sealed die cast alloy casing. Exterior surfaces are protected by a corrosion resistant epoxy stove enamel finish. 

Standard adjustable end-stops on the 90 degree actuator can be used to set the angle of travel. The other end of the 90 degree actuator allows the full range of Kinetrol modular accessories to be fitted directly.

120 degree actuators are also available with adjustable end stops to give up to 133°.

Keeping Critical Turbine Lubrication Flowing

Lube filter diverters
(courtesy of Kinetrol USA)

Power plants generate power 24/7. Their generator turbines are constantly running.  Turbines require lubrication to protect against wear and also for cooling. Maintenance of the lubrication system is critical, and switching between two lube skids is a common way to perform maintenance without shutting down the turbine.

Two 3-way valves and pneumatic actuators are used to re-direct flow between between two lube filter housings. The valve and actuator must be extremely reliable as a failure requires the turbine shutting done.

Steam Turbine
(courtesy of Wikipedia)

The automated valves provides an “on-the-fly” ability to transfer turbine oil service between filters, allowing the unit to run, and maintenance to be performed on the filter not in service. This is an extremely critical service to protect the turbine.

Kinetrol Actuator on Asphalt Plug Valve

Kinetrol actuator on asphalt valve.

A Mid-west asphalt manufacturer purchased Kinetrol actuators for use at two of their plants as a trial for possible standardization. This asphalt producer owns 7 asphalt mix plants and has been plagued with failing rack and pinion actuators. They're used to open and close their liquid asphalt valves (Homestead plug valves).

The service is extremely nasty, as the asphalt is hot, sticky and gets everywhere. The Kinetrol actuators were installed on 3” Homestead liquid asphalt plug valves with extended brackets and couplings to prevent the actuators from seeing over-temperatures. The valves are cycled 10 times per day.

Since the summer of 2014 they have installed 5 Kinetrol actuators and all are working without problems. The initial results are so positive the customer plans to standardize on Kinetrol Vane Actuators, and replace the rack and pinion actuators as they fail.

Rotary Vane Actuator on Specialty Valves, Dome Valves, and Double Flap Valves Used for Abrasive Powders and Bulk Materials

Actuators on specialty
purpose valves and gates.

Kinetrol actuators, positioners, indicators and limit switches are the preferred valve automation products when it comes to severe service applications.  One of the most challenging is bulk material handling.

Used to to accurately control the flow of bulk solids as they are being discharged from silos, bins and hoppers, Kinetrol products automate the specialized gate and mixer valves, dome valves, double flap valves, pot type diverter valves, and flow control gate valves.

These specialty valves all have one thing in common - the actuators are exposed to extremely dusty and dirty atmospheres, with significant amounts of vibration, and are located in areas where downtime is very costly.

Kinetrol vane actuators are used because of their ruggedness and their reliability. Positioners can be used to provide control via a 4-20ma input signals. Kinetrol pneumatic actuators have a much smaller footprint, smoother operation compared to more conventional linear pneumatic cylinders, and consume much less air. This results in significant savings in energy costs.

This video presents a variety of bulk material valve applications Kinetrol actuators have been used on.

Bi-directional Positioning of Large Dampers Using Rotary Actuators and Declutchable Manual Override Gearbox

Rotary Actuator with declutchable
manual override gearbox

Rotary actuators are used in a great variety of applications. There are many designs of rotary actuator, including examples actuated by hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure and electric drives. It is also known to use position controllers to modulate the position of the actuator. All of these various designs have in common the purpose of providing an output torque which can be utilized to drive another device or mechanism.

One common application for bi-directional rotary actuators is the positioning of large damper valves controlling the flow of air and other gases along ducting in power generating plants. These dampers are often inaccessible, so it is not possible to install drives immediately adjacent the valve. In such circumstances, the rotary actuator drives the damper valve via a mechanical linkage. The rotary actuator will, in most cases, be used in conjunction with a position controller to provide for accurate control of the position of the damper valve.

In this, and other applications of rotary actuators, it can sometimes be desirable to provide for manual adjustment of the position of the actuator, for example during the initial set-up of a mechanism, or on failure of automatic actuator function. This is generally accomplished by using a so called declutchable manual override gearbox. The gearbox is mounted adjacent to the actuator and is connected to the output of the actuator. Drive is transferred via the gearbox to a drive shaft connected to the gearbox output. The gearbox includes a manually operable override, typically a wheel or lever, selectively engageable with the drive train in the gearbox. In normal operation, this manual override is de-clutched from the drive train. However, if it is desired to manually adjust the position of the actuator and the mechanism it drives, the manual override can be engaged.