LECTURE THREE

Actuators

Introduction

Objectives

An actuator is a type of motor that is responsible for moving or controlling a mechanism or

system. It is operated by a source of energy, typically electric current, hydraulic fluid pressure, or
pneumatic pressure, and converts that energy into motion.

An actuator is the mechanism by which an agent acts upon an environment. The agent can be
either an artificial intelligent agent or any other autonomous being (human, other animal, etc).

An actuator is the device that brings about the mechanical movements required for any physical process in the
factory. Internally, actuators can be broken down into two separate modules: the signal amplifier and the
transducer. The amplifier converts the (low power) control signal into a high power signal that is fed into the
transducer; the transducer converts the energy of the amplified control signal into work; this process usually
involves converting from one form of energy into another, e.g. electrical motors convert electrical energy into
kinetic energy.

Actuators are needed to perform the control actions as well as drive the plant directly.

Types of actuators
 Electric actuators – Different types of electric motors
 Hydraulic actuators
 Pneumatic actuators
 Mechanical actuators
 Thermal actuators
 Magnetic actuators

Actuators are also classified as

(i) Direct type
(ii) Indirect type
In engineering, actuators are a subdivision of transducers. They are devices which transform an
input signal (mainly an electrical signal) into motion. Motors are mostly used when circular
motions are needed, but can also be used for linear applications by transforming circular to linear
motion with a bolt and screw transducer. On the other hand, some actuators are intrinsically
linear, such as piezoelectric actuators.

Linear actuators

A linear actuator is an actuator that creates linear motion (as opposed to rotary motion, e.g. of an
electric motor).

Screw: Screw jack, ball screw and roller screw actuators all operate on the principle of the
simple machine known as the screw. By rotating the actuator's nut, the screw shaft moves in a
line. By moving the screw shaft, the nut rotates.

Screw jack

Mechanical actuators typically convert rotary motion of a control knob or handle into linear
displacement via screws and/or gears to which the knob or handle is attached. A jackscrew or car
jack is a familiar mechanical actuator.

Wheel and axle: Hoist, winch, chain drive, belt drive, rigid chain, rigid belt actuators operate on
the principle of the wheel and axle. By rotating a wheel/axle (e.g. drum, gear, pulley or shaft) a
linear member (e.g. cable, chain or belt) moves. By moving the linear member, the wheel/axle
rotates.
The linear motion of a bicycle is initiated from the paddle then the gear plate, the chain, the fly
wheel and the rear ring. Both of them transmit circular motion up to the last stage where the
circular motion is converted linear motion of a bike.

Linear transmission of a car

How is a car produce linear motion?

An engine produce circular motion which is transferred to the gear box, then to the propeller
shaft, to the differential gear, to the axle and lastly to the driving tire.
Hydraulic actuators
Hydraulic actuators or hydraulic cylinders typically involve a hollow cylinder having a piston
inserted in it. The two sides of the piston are alternately pressurized/de-pressurized to achieve
controlled precise linear displacement of the piston and in turn the entity connected to the piston.
The physical linear displacement is only along the axis of the piston/cylinder. A familiar
example of a manually operated hydraulic actuator is a hydraulic car jack.

The working principle of a hydraulic jack may be explained with the help of figure above.
Consider a ram and plunger, operating in two cylinders of different diameters, which are
interconnected at the bottom, through a chamber, which is filled with some liquid.

If W= Weight to be lifted,

F = Force applied on the plunger,

A = Area of ram, and

a = Area of plunger.

Pressure intensity produced by the force F, p = F/Area of plunger = F/a

As per Pascal’s law, the above intensity p will be equally transmitted in all directions.

Therefore, The pressure intensity on ram = p = F/a = W/A or W= F(A/a)

The above equation indicates that by applying a small force F on the plunger, a large force W
may be developed by the ram.

Mechanical advantage of press = A/a

If the force in the plunger is applied by a lever which has a mechanical advantage (L/l) then total
mechanical advantage of machine = (L/l)(A/a)
Pneumatic actuators
Pneumatic actuators, or pneumatic cylinders, are similar to hydraulic actuators except they use
compressed gas to provide pressure instead of a liquid.

Piezo electric actuators.

The Piezo electric effect is a property of certain materials at which the application of voltage to
the material cause an expansion or elongation of that material. Very high voltage subjected upon
a material corresponds to only small expansion.

Electromechanical actuators.

These are mechanical actuators driven by electrical systems. The mechanical control handle of
an actuator is replaced by an electrical motor. This means that the rotary motion of an electric
motor is converted into linear displacement of an actuator.

Actuation.

This term refers to the various methods of moving system mechanism into any of its alternative
switching positions. These methods are as follows;

(i) Manually operated

(ii) Mechanically operated
(iii) Electrically operated
(iv) Hydraulically operated
(v) Pneumatically operated