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4. Electromechanical Devices
and Actuators

Electromechanical Devices
Electromechanical means a mechanical process actuated or controlled
electrically.

When voltage is supplied to electromechanical devices, these devices

are producing some type of mechanical movement.

-Relay
-Solenoid valve

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Electromechanical Devices
Electromagnetic relay:

Electromechanical Devices
Solenoid:

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Electromechanical Devices
Solenoid valve:

Actuators
Actuator:
It is a device that causes actuation i.e. device that makes something to
move or operate. Stated in other words, it is a device which produces some
sort of movement or displacement.

Based on the energy source used, actuators have following types

Electric actuators- uses electrical energy for actuation
Pneumatic actuators- uses compressed air for actuation
Hydraulic actuators- uses pressurized fluid for actuation

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Pneumatic Actuators
Pneumatic actuator:
These actuators used to convert energy of compressed air into mechanical
energy i.e. compressed air is used to produce mechanical movement .

Pneumatic Actuators
Based on the type of mechanical movement produced, pneumatic actuators
have following types-
- Linear actuators or pneumatic cylinders
- Rotary actuators or air motors

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Pneumatic Actuators
Linear actuators or pneumatic cylinders :
Pneumatic cylinders convert the air pressure into linear mechanical force
and or motion.

Based on the cylinder action, linear actuators have following types

- Single acting cylinder
- Double acting cylinder

Pneumatic Actuators
Linear actuators or pneumatic cylinders :
a. Single acting cylinder

Single acting cylinders are used where force is required to be exerted

only in one direction.
Single acting cylinder is usually available in short stroke lengths
[maximum length up to 80 mm] due to the natural length of the spring.

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Pneumatic Actuators
Linear actuators or pneumatic cylinders :
b. Double acting cylinder

Force is exerted by the piston both during forward and return motion of
cylinder.
Double acting cylinders are available in diameters from few mm to around
300 mm and stroke lengths of few mm up to 2 meters.

Pneumatic Actuators
Rotary actuators or air motors:
Rotary Actuators are used to achieve angular motion.

Rotary actuators are mainly available in three designs.

- Vane type limited rotation motors
- Rotary Actuator of Rack and Pinion Type
- Helix spine rotary actuator

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Pneumatic Actuators
Rotary actuators or air motors:
Rotary Actuator of Rack and Pinion Type

Hydraulic Actuators
- Hydraulic actuators are devices used to convert pressure energy of
the fluid into mechanical energy.
- Hydraulic actuators are most suitable for applications that require a
large amount of motive force.
- The fluid utilized in the hydraulic system must be necessarily
incompressible in nature so that the power will get transmitted to all
portion of the fluid instantaneously.
- These systems use petroleum-based oils or some non-inflammable
synthetic oils.
- The use of such oils also provides lubrication to the moving parts and
also facilitates cooling of the components. Also, this oil acts as a seal to
prevent leakage from any of the components.

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Hydraulic Actuators
Hydraulic System

Hydraulic Actuators
Depending on the type of actuation, hydraulic actuators are classified
as follows:
1. Linear actuator: For linear actuation (hydraulic cylinders).
2. Rotary actuator: For rotary actuation (hydraulic motor).

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Hydraulic Actuators
1. Hydraulic Linear actuator
- The function of hydraulic cylinder is to convert hydraulic power into
linear mechanical force or motion.
- Hydraulic cylinders extend and retract a piston rod to provide a push
or pull force to drive the external load along a straight-line path.
- Hydraulic cylinders are of the following types:
• Single-acting cylinders
• Double-acting cylinders

Hydraulic Actuators
1. Hydraulic Linear actuator
• Single-acting cylinders

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Hydraulic Actuators
1. Hydraulic Linear actuator
• Double-acting cylinders

Hydraulic Actuators
1. Hydraulic rotary actuator
- The function of rotary actuator is to convert hydraulic power into
rotary motion.
- Rotary Actuator of Rack and Pinion Type is shown below

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