Vane Actuators Perform Better: Its All About the Gears (or Lack Thereof)

Why do vane actuators consistently outlast rack and pinion and scotch yoke actuators? The truth is in the gears.

Gears wear.

Surface wear, contact fatigue, scuffing and tooth bending are all real-life issues when dealing with gears. Surface wear affects gear contact in such a way that accelerates failure modes by increasing contact stresses and load distributions. This always leads to reduced accuracy and loss of smooth operation. Wear can never be completely eliminated, and over time, progresses at a more rapid rate.

Typical rack and pinion design - note gear arrangement

Types of Stress on a Gear

• Sliding stress - causes surface fatigue damage.
• Rolling stress - causes contact fatigue damage.
• Bending stress - like a cantilever beam, always deforms. 

Vane actuator - no gears

Pure simplicity - the rotary vane.

One moving part. No gears.

The rotary vane actuator design is based upon a single moving part which eliminates gears required to convert linear motion to rotary motion. This simple and innovative concept provides an extremely reliable mechanism for operating valves, drives and dampers.

More Accurate Control

Another advantage rotary vane actuators have over rack & pinion and scotch yoke actuators is in smoothness and accuracy of control. The more mechanical connections the actuator has, the greater the cumulative hysteresis, and the lower the control responsiveness and accuracy.

For long, trouble-free performance, choose a rotary vane actuator for your next valve actuation or damper drive requirement. You'll be very glad in the long run. 

The ISO 5211 Valve Mounting Flange and Actuator Connection

Valve with ISO 5211 Flange

ISO 5211 is a European standard that specifies requirements for the attachment of part-turn actuators, with or without gearboxes, to industrial valves.

A standard interface between actuator, valve, solenoids, and positioners  provides many benefits. Actuated valve assemblies are installed in a very wide range of applications and operating conditions resulting in many custom designs. Understanding the connection between these components is critical for long life, safety, and performance.

A standard mounting / connecting device lowers inventory costs and allows for faster maintenance and repair. Standardization also allows for the replacement of brands, so long as both adapt to the standard. Finally, using industry standard adapters maintain consistent specifications and tolerances which improve performance by reducing hysteresis and mechanical wear.

Kinetrol manufactures an ISO adapter for its models 02, 03, 05, 07, 08 and 09 which allows for mounting ISO 5211 valves directly to standard Kinetrol double acting actuators.

For more information about Kinetrol's ISO adapter, please review the document below.

Kinetrol ISO 5211 Valve Drive Interface from Kinetrol USA

Short Kinetrol Actuator Application Video

Here's a brief video of Kinetrol actuators applications.

Hear Kinetrol USA's Neil Meredith Interviewed at WEFTEC 2016

Neil Meredith

Kinetrol USA's Mid-West Regional Sales Manager Neil Meredith was interviewed at WEFTEC 2016 about Kinetrol products, markets, and opportunities. Take a minute to hear what he says!

WEFTEC®, the Water Environment Federation’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference, is the biggest meeting of its kind in North America and offers thousands of water quality professionals from around the world the best water quality education and training available today. Also recognized as the world’s largest annual water quality exhibition, WEFTEC’s massive show floor provides unparalleled access to the field’s most cutting-edge technologies and services.

Kinetrol actuators are widely used in municipal water systems across the United States and are known for their outstanding performance, durability, and extreme high cycle life.

New YouTube Channel Welcome Video

Kinetrol USA is reorganizing and updating its YouTube Channel. Here is the new Welcome video for the channel.

To see all Kinetrol YouTube videos visit https://www.youtube.com/c/Kinetrolusa1

Installation, Operation & Maintenance Instructions for Kinetrol Rotary Actuator: Double Acting & Spring Return Models

The Kinetrol rotary vane actuator is based upon a single moving part that converts linear motion to rotary motion. Since 1958 it has been a true workhorse solving the most demanding valve actuation applications. Millions of actuators are used around the world operating valves, drives and dampers with flawless performance.

As a matter of convenience and support, we are posting the general Kinetrol actuator IOM here for future reference.

Installation, Operation & Maintenance Instructions for Kinetrol Rotary Actuator: Double Acting & Spring Return Models from Kinetrol USA

Warehouse Palletizers Rely on Kinetrol Actuators for Trouble-free Performance

Palletizer gripper head with
Kinetrol actuator

In today’s highly automated fulfillment centers, distribution centers, and warehouse automation operations, fast, efficient and reliable packaging automation is the key to the company’s success. Complete packaging systems seamlessly connect an array of subsystems to form a cohesive, highly optimized, accurate packaging automation operation.

Palletizer with Kinetrol Actuators

One component is the palletizer subsystem. The palletizer subsystem provides automatic stacking of products on top of a pallet.

More sophisticated palletizers have complex control systems to provide the speed, accuracy and control required for large scale operation. The control systems are made up of computers, PLCs, proximity devices, and optical instruments. For product movement, transfer, and placement, palletizers rely on highly accurate pneumatic, electro-pneumatic, and electro-hydraulic motors, actuators, and drives.

Palletizer in plant.

Because of their high cycle life, smooth movement, precise control, and maintenance free operation, Kinetrol vane actuators have been very successfully used by palletizer OEMs. The actuator provides 90 degree and 180 degree rotation on the vacuum gripper head and pivot arms. During normal operation the Kinetrol actuators can see upwards of 20,000 cycle per day.

For more information on applying Kinetrol vane actuators to your packaging systems, contact:

Kinetrol USA
1085 Ohio Drive
Plano, Texas 75093
www.kinetrolusa.com
(972) 447-9443 phone
(972) 447-9720 fax