Spring actuators are devices used to control secondary devices in automatic or manual systems. They consist of a spring-loaded arm connected to electrical contacts that cut or activate the control circuit. They are commonly used as limit switch detectors and safety devices on moving machines. They allow for safe operation without an operator being present and are used to ensure machine operators do not exceed operating limits.
A spring actuator is a spring loaded switching device used to electrically actuate or control secondary devices in automatic or manual systems. Also known as spring limit switches, these devices usually consist of a spring-loaded moving mechanical arm of various designs and lengths. The arm is connected via a linkage to a series of electrical contacts through which its control circuit is routed. When the arm moves, it activates contacts that cut or activate the control circuit. The spring actuator is commonly used as a limit switch detector and safety device on moving devices such as sliding gates, cranes and machine parts.
Most moving machines operate within clearly defined and established parameters in terms of the range of motion they are capable of. This applies to both automated and manually controlled systems. Good examples of this are automated gates and gantries. The gate will slide along its tracks until it reaches the end of its travel, at which point the drive motor will need to shut off. An overhead crane will also travel its tracks until it reaches its end where it will stop.
In all of these situations, the safe end of travel for the device will, in most cases, be indicated by a limit switch sensor such as a spring actuator. This is a type of switch that has a spring-loaded protruding arm that activates an internal electrical contact. The gate, for example, will be equipped with two actuators, one at each end of its travel, through which the control circuit of the gate motors will pass. When the gate is opened, it will move to the end of the track where a plate or rod fitted to the gate pushes the spring operated actuator arm against its internal spring pressure, thereby shutting down the gate motor. This switching also signals the gate controller to reverse the direction of the motor the next time the gate is activated.
Many types of spring loaded actuators feature bi-directional operation with two sets of internal contacts. This allows the actuator to respond to movement of a device in either direction of its travel. The spring actuator allows automations such as the safety gate to operate safely without an operator being physically present to check for excess travel. In the case of manual systems, such as the overhead crane, limits are typically used as a safety mechanism to ensure that machine operators do not exceed operating limits.
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