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A piston actuator transforms energy into motion, with a piston contained in a housing. They are powered by pneumatic, hydraulic or combustion systems and require an airtight casing. The size of the piston determines the amount of energy required and motion created. Hydraulic systems can multiply horsepower using multiple small pistons to activate a larger one.
A piston actuator, like all actuators, is a device that transforms raw energy into motion. In general, the actuator is connected to a piston contained within a housing. Something causing pressure will get into the case and force the piston to move which moves the actuator and whatever is attached to it. With proper design, it is possible for this motion to continue through a series of steps and parts resulting in a large amount of motion generated by a small change in the actuator itself. In most cases, these devices are powered by pneumatic, hydraulic or combustion systems.
As stated above, the design of a piston actuator is quite simple. Most of them consist of just a few parts – the piston, casing and actuator arm – along with two valves to let the energy source in and out. The most complex part of the system is typically the method used to protect the piston from the energy source.
Regardless of what moves the piston, the inside of the case must be as airtight as possible to get the maximum return on energy usage. Most of these systems use a cylinder with the piston head forming one end. Since the energy inside the case is designed to cause pressure bursts, even the smallest leaks around the valves or piston can cause a lack of power. Some enclosures must also protect the inside of the system from hazards such as extreme heat or water damage.
The size of the piston actuator is directly proportional to the amount of energy required to move it and the amount of motion it can create. A large piston actuator requires a lot of power, while smaller ones don’t. A small piston generates a small amount of motion and a large one generates a lot. While this may seem obvious, it comes into play when a system uses a process capable of multiplying horsepower, which is a common practice in hydraulic systems.
Many types of piston actuators use hydraulic systems for this very reason. The small pistons are connected to a larger tank containing a large piston. The small pistons will activate and move a relatively small amount of water and use a small amount of energy. The cumulative effect of all this movement creates a large pressure surge and activates the large piston. In this case, multiple actuators act in concert to create the energy source used by a large piston actuator.
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