Electric actuators use an electric motor to provide linear or rotary output and are used in various applications, including door and valve control. They can be powered by compressed air, high-pressure oil, or electric motors. Linear actuators use a gear or lead screw arrangement, while rotary actuators use gears, cams, or direct connections. They are ideal for remote locations or dangerous environments and can provide high torque outputs. Limit switches control their actuation range.
An electric actuator is a device used to provide actuation of secondary equipment by means of an electric motor. The output of this type of actuator can be linear or rotary and, in the case of rotary actuators, can produce more than one full rotation. Most linear electric actuators use a gear arrangement to extend and retract the actuating arm. Rotary types also use gears, cams or direct connections to transfer motion depending on the torque requirements of the application. Electric actuators are used in a wide variety of applications including door and vent controllers, valves and machining processes.
An actuator can be thought of as a remote switch used to produce a fairly large range of motion. They are used in applications where many switching or actuation functions are required in remote locations, in environments where it would be dangerous for an operator to work, and in applications requiring high torque outputs. Actuators use a variety of power sources including compressed air, high pressure oil, and electric motors. The electric actuator uses an internal alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) electric motor and provides its actuation as a linear or rotary output. When stepper motors are used, these actuators can provide extremely accurate actuation for precise engineering applications.
Linear types of electric actuators provide a linear action used to open and close flaps, shutters or doors and move parts of machinery during operation. The high-speed rotation of the motor results in slower, more powerful linear motion via a gear or lead screw arrangement. The gearing of linear actuators is usually of the worm or rack-and-pinion type, although ball and screw mechanisms are sometimes used. Screw actuators use a threaded rod with a coarse, square thread that rotates in a nut with a matching thread. As the rod rotates, the nut moves up and down its length to provide the necessary linear motion.
The electric rotary actuator generally provides the low-speed, high-torque rotary drive of machine valves and processes. An electric rotary actuator does not have the same range of output limitations as hydraulic rotary actuators and can deliver an infinite number of revolutions during any given cycle. This makes them ideal for applications such as actuating gate valves, where the valves may require several hundred revolutions to fully open or close. Electric rotary actuators are generally geared towards producing higher torque values at lower speeds. Both rotary and linear electric actuator variants generally employ limit switches which control their actuation range.
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