Heavy-duty actuators produce extreme torques and can exert 1,000 pounds or more of pressure. They come in rotary and linear types with electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic power sources. They are used in hot, dusty, and corrosive environments and traditionally built to be robust. While hydraulic types have been preferred, electric options are becoming contenders due to advances in materials and engineering. In some cases, electric actuators are superior to hydraulic ones. However, for high-pressure ball and butterfly valves, the quarter-turn hydraulic actuator is still the preferred choice.
A heavy-duty actuator is a fairly general term used to describe actuators used in applications that require extreme torques. Defining the exact parameters for the term is difficult, as a heavy-duty actuator in one application can be hopelessly underrated in another. In general, however, the heavy-duty actuator can be classified as capable of producing 1,000 pounds (454 kg) or more of pressure at the actuation point. Heavy-duty actuators are available in a number of configurations, including rotary and linear types, with a range of power sources, such as electric, pneumatic and hydraulic. While hydraulics have historically been the obvious choice of power source due to the high power ratings of hydraulic drives, electric actuator technology has advanced to the point that they are also well suited to these demanding applications.
Actuators used to control earth moving equipment, high pressure valves and heavy process machinery are often required to produce outputs rated in the thousands of pounds. These types of heavy-duty actuators are also typically exposed to extremely hot, dusty and corrosive environments, so they need to be rugged, durable and powerful. To this end, they have traditionally been robustly built with heavy duty seals, actuator arms and internal mechanisms built to exacting standards.
The exact definition of a heavy duty actuator is difficult to quantify. It is safe to assume that any actuator capable of exerting pressure equal to or greater than 1,000 pounds (453.6 kg) can be classified as resistant. It is not uncommon for actuators used on ultra-heavy construction equipment, for example, to be rated at 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg) or more. The actuator types in this category are examples of both linear and rotary outputs with a range of possible power sources. These include electric, pneumatic and hydraulic actuators, with hydraulic types being the traditionally preferred choice.
While hydraulic variants have long been considered the ultimate heavy-duty actuators, other options are now becoming serious contenders thanks to advances in materials and engineering. Examples of electrically operated heavy-duty actuators are now capable of producing the high output values previously associated only with pressurized oil systems. They also tend to be much quieter than their counterparts and will also operate at lower temperatures without leaking. This not only makes them viable alternatives, but also, in some cases, superior to their plumbing peers. In the case of high-pressure ball and butterfly valves, however, the quarter-turn hydraulic actuator is still considered the heavy-duty actuator of choice.
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