Eaton, Eden Prairie, Minn., has just launched two new innovative products, including an “intelligent” proportional valve line which I saw a preview of at its annual Distributor Meeting last September and new water-cooled brakes.
The new AxisPro servo proportional valve features embedded intelligence that enables increased productivity, flexibility, diagnostics and reliability. I learned at the EDM that this valve was designed for industrial markets, and that it offers diagnostics via a lens port (the lens can be seen on top in the image below), allowing users to read diagnostic information, such as whether there is power to the valve and other error codes.
As noted previously, the AxisPro is available in two sizes. Size 3 is rated for 40 lpm at 1000 psi (70 bar), and 75 lpm max, while the size 5 is rated for 100 lpm at 1000 psi (70 bar), an 180 lpm max . They are rated for maximum pressure to 5000 psi (350 bar) and an ambient temperature rating of 85°C.
AxisPro’s built-in motion control allows for it to be integrated into distributed control architectures, which in turn reduces wiring costs and machine build time. Its LED indicators and intelligent, on-board diagnostic capability indicate if the valve is functioning properly and helps predict potential maintenance issues to improve machine reliability and uptime.
“Game-changing products, like AxisPro, help reduce installation and maintenance costs and increase machine reliability for a wide range of industries” said Bill Wesmann, marketing manager, Eaton. “AxisPro’s four levels of performance provide unlimited design flexibility to address specific customer needs.”
Available with centralized and distributed control capabilities, the AxisPro valve is designed around open standards and built on the IEC-611311-3 programming standard for application flexibility. Using Eaton’s Pro-FX software, AxisPro can be configured to optimize valve availability and inventory levels. The four levels of control enable the custom-design of a wide range of motion control solutions to meet exact control requirements.
In addition, Eaton has also launched its new Airflex WCBD3 and WCSB3 Water-Cooled Third Generation Brake, a disc type, water-cooled dynamic tensioning brake designed to keep oil, gas and mining operations up and running. The latest design helps dissipate extremely high thermal energy loads experienced in applications like drawworks, marine winches, cranes, metal processing and dynamometers. The brake’s improved internal design allows for faster drilling and gives original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), distributors and end users the ability to downsize their brake, saving up to $60,000 a brake installation.
This design integrates seamlessly with other brakes in this product line. Equipped with backward compatibility into existing WCB/WCBD/WCSB applications, improved wear adjustments and increased brake size horsepower rating (650 to 1,000 hp per plate), Eaton says it offers longer lasting performance than than existing water-cooled brakes. It is also easy-to-replace and maintain and more cost-effective than competitive-style brakes.
Standard features of the brake include corrosion resistance for harsh marine environments, wear spacers located at the front for easy access and maintenance and new sealing technology to eliminate water leakage. The industry-leading water cavity helps increase the thermal rating by 50 percent while achieving greater flow with lower pressure drop. Up-front-investment costs can be reduced in some applications where the increased energy capability allows for a smaller brake to be used. In drawworks applications where the higher energy is applied, the WCB3 allows up to 54 percent faster drilling while tripping into a hole for an average savings of $10,000 per operation.
In addition to these features, the WCB3 has two plates to eliminate the outboard mounting support for significant ease of design and cost reduction.
Eaton
www.eaton.com
