Industrial Factory Automation

PCL 's new retracting tool can help operators eliminate the risk of injury from 'flying valve cores'. Removing a valve core during inflation is common practice within the commercial vehicle industry as it enables faster tyre inflation. However, this practice is dangerous; accidents that occur while removing valves from tyres are common and, therefore, this process is not normally recommended. The Valve Core Retracting Tool from PCL is designed for the safe installation and removal of tyre valve cores during inflation. The tool offers the dual benefit of increased safety and reduced inflation/deflation time. The Valve Core Retracting Tool should be used in conjunction with a safe and reliable tyre inflator, such as the accurate MK3; the rapid, digital Accura 1; or the fast and simple Airforce dial unit. Available with a Euro clip-on or sliding clip-on tyre valve connection, with an integral tailpiece, the Valve Core Retracting Tool features a clear body, allowing the operato...

Larox Flowsys has introduced a valve to supplement its pinch-valve and knife-gate valve ranges. The rotary-disc valve has a rotating disc that is designed specifically for heavy scaling, and abrasive and corrosive slurries. It is designed for leak-tight shut-off slurries and liquids within a pipeline, and is operated only in the fully open or fully closed position. As the actuator is opened or closed, the disc is allowed to rotate due to the pressure pushing against it. As the valve is cycled, the disc rotates a few degrees, seating in a different position each time. The wedge-gate support has a cutaway behind the disc that clears debris and ensures that the disc closes and seals every time. The nature of the construction enables customisation. The body and bonnet are made of cast steel and can be made out of different materials to best suit customer needs. The bonnet houses the rotating disc when open and seals around the spindle. Larox rotary-disc valves are produced with manual, ma...

Emerson Process Management has introduced the latest version of its Fieldvue digital valve controller. The diagnostic capabilities of the DVC6000 Series instrument monitor valve performance, allowing plants to operate for between five and seven years between maintenance shutdowns. That is an improvement compared to the traditional schedule of 12-18 months between shutdowns. The partial stroke testing capabilities of the DVC6000 ensure the readiness of shutdown valves. According to the company, the partial stroke test technology has earned two patents, as well as Exida, TUV (Germany) and SIL-3 certification and approval. The instrument may also be installed via 'hot cutover', which facilitates the conversion from analogue to digital without interrupting the production process.

Eaton Corporation has introduced a high-flow proportional pressure relief valve with integrated control electronics. This plug-and-play unit has an industry-standard seven-pin connector hook-up. The new valve, designated KBCG5-3, complements Eaton's KB proportional valve series by extending the flow capability up 40 litres per minute while offering all the same features and functions of the range. Colin Cooper, product manager of industrial controls for the EMEA region, said: 'This new valve is designed to help extend the flow rate options within our KB series and thereby broaden the scope of potential applications. 'It has all the features offered by the other units in the range plus an onboard pre-programmed amplifier to ensure the maximum consistency of functionality,' he added. Features offered by the new KBCG5-3 valve and common to all units in the KB range as standard include: onboard digital electronics with ramp adjustment; IP65/67 environmental protection; a c...

Lee Products has introduced a miniature proportional valve that helps designers to make smaller, lighter and more energy-efficient products. Compared with traditional solenoid-type proportional valves, the Lee proportional valve saves space, weight and power consumption in analytical machines. The Lee valve uses shape-memory wire technology to vary flow and provide actuation, as opposed to a spring. When a current is applied, the shape-memory alloy-wire heats up in the valve and changes shape; this causes deformation and results in the valve opening up in proportion to the current applied. This eliminates the need for a magnet, coil wire or steel armature; these are typically used in traditional miniature solenoid valves. This makes the design suitable for designers of portable, hand-held battery-powered instruments such as gas detectors used in OEM, medical, laboratory and similar applications, including: mass flow controllers, blood-pressure cuff monitors, ventilators and oxygen con...

Ross Controls has introduced the Modular L-O-X valve air-entry combination. Combining three elemental products into one (filter, regulator and lockout valve), this pre-engineered modular design consolidates multiple functions into a single space-saving and easy-to-service assembly. Ross created the Modular L-O-X valve for packaging, conveyor panels and material-handling applications. It complies with ANSI/PMMI B.155.1 - 2006 and ANSI B11.GSR standards. It has a full-size exhaust port and a verification port for visible pressure-release indication (pop-up or pressure switches are optional). The L-O-X conforms to OSHA lockout requirements. It is easy to operate and is lockable only in the 'off' position. The L-O-X is also suitable for air-entry applications. Beyond this new L-O-X/filter/regulator assembly, Ross is also offering air-entry packages for Cat-2, -3, and -4 applications for design flexibility. The Cat-2 design utilises a sensing valve, while the Cat-3 and -4 designs u...

Festo has launched an electrically operated pneumatic soft-start and exhaust valve that offers safer start-up and the quick, reliable venting of compressed-air supplies in the event of an emergency. The company claims that the MS6-SV provides machine builders with a compact, all-in-one solution for maximising the safety of automation systems. It is fully compliant with the EN ISO 13849-1 standard on machinery safety and is certified to categories 3 and 4. EN ISO 13849-1 will replace the existing EN 954-1 safety standard on 30 November 2009 and forms part of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, which will become mandatory at the end of 2009. The valve is intended to help designers and machine builders address some of the key issues in the directive, including meantime to (dangerous) failure, self diagnostics, common cause failure protection and external validation and certification. Festo's MS6-SV valve provides a three-/two-way function and features fast venting - it has an exhaust...