Use of Mechanical Actuators for Pressure-Based Systems in The Automotive Industry

These devices transform hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical energy into the activation of a process whose purpose is to generate, carry out or act in an automated process. Its application is widespread in the automotive industry, but do you know how they apply to various systems based on vehicle pressure?

High reliability, simple use, minimum maintenance, safety and precision of movement... If you are looking for these properties in their mechanisms of action, you must carefully study what type of actuator is most suitable for each project, since, depending on the work, We need to perform, we will obtain a very different performance.

Types of mechanical actuators

Hydraulic

These are based on the pressure exerted by a liquid, commonly an oil.

The automotive equipment that works with hydraulic actuators reaches greater speed and mechanical resistance, and has a large size; therefore, it is used in applications where a heavy load is required.

Among the advantages of using hydraulic actuators are the high power to load ratios, their higher frequency response or their wide range of speeds; besides generating more force than a pneumatic system of the same size, for example. As a drawback, the possibility of oil leaks and the need for several additional equipment (particulate filtering, air removal or cooling systems) imply a great disadvantage when deciding on this actuator.

Tire

For operation, the compressed air is connected to one side of the piston or fin, generating a force in the direction of expansion of the space between the piston and the wall of the cylinder or the housing. By means of a mechanical device, the movement becomes rotary. Among its most widespread applications we can mention, for example, the cylinder systems of engines.

As for its advantages, pneumatic actuators are profitable in relation to the material, since the air is not flammable and can operate independently of external conditions. In addition, they avoid overloading and, in the event of a leak, do not represent a safety risk. However, they work with a costly and noisy energy source, which requires the preliminary preparation of compressed air: elimination of impurities and humidity.

Electric

The structure of an electric actuator is simple compared to that of hydraulic and pneumatic actuators, since only electric power is required as an energy source for the actuator. Since they work with electrical cables to transmit control signals, they are very versatile and avoid spatial restrictions between the power source and the actuator.

There are a significant number of models and it is easy to use them with standardized electric motors depending on the application; although in most cases it is necessary to use speed reducers, since the motors operate continuously.

Among its many advantages, we can find, as mentioned above, a simple access to energy and, in addition, a faster transmission signal and greater control precision. On the other hand, some of its disadvantages are the possibility of overheating of the motor or the wear of the gears of the speed reducer.

Electric actuators CLR: success story of Audi RS

This project began more than a decade ago with the purpose of overcoming a problem that the automotive company Audi had at that time. To improve its Dynamic Ride Control variable suspension system, Audi's TIER 1 supplier needed to add gear motors that could adjust the stiffness of the shock absorbers in its hydraulic pressure system, avoiding the use of any electronic controller. The operation would be manual through a button located on the instrument panel.

The main problem of this ambitious project was to make the designed gear motors work at maximum performance, resisting the high vibration levels of the shock absorber. The CLR engineering team had to find a compact solution, resistant to harsh external conditions (water, humidity or snow) and able to withstand temperatures of more than 85 degrees centigrade.

In the end, the actuator complied with the strict standards that govern its application in the automotive sector, as well as the many quality requirements of one of the leading companies in the automotive industry.

At CLR we work every day to offer electric actuators adapted to the needs of your automotive projects. Our extensive experience in the field of vehicle electromechanics allows us to offer precise, silent and long-lasting solutions, providing an innovative perspective that is committed to the outcome of your project.