At PackExpo last month, Aventics, Lexington, Ky., launched its new ES05 pneumatic directional control valves, a modular, one-tool valve for packaging and industrial automation applications. Designed to specifically to reduce the number of components, assembly is completed with one single tool.
According to Erl Campbell, Key Account Manger for Food & Beverage for Aventics, “The ES05 is meant to be economical and easy to assemble, as the whole valve system is assembled with just one tool. The nice thing, too, is that it holds the tool on the side of it, so every manifold will have its own tools.”
The goal of the new valve design is to make life easier for distributors, machine manufacturers and system integrators with the added benefit of reducing the risk of faults. Paul Cleaver, chief executive officer at Aventics, explained what led to this development: “Our customers asked for a simple, components reduced, flexible, and efficient standard valve – tailored to their application. They configure their customized solution online from a set number of readily available components. Assembling a valve system has never been faster or easier.”
Campbell added that this allows distributors and customers to inventory a small number of parts and be able to build whatever configuration they wanted. “The valve manifold comes with just 16 parts, in either metric or inch, more if you want to do both of them,” Campbell said. “You can build any configuration of manifold—you can actually go on our website and configure it and we’ll give you everything you need.”
Aventics opted for a modular system for the ES05 with only 25 components. Orders are supplied as complete assembly kits. All components are unique which makes incorrect installation virtually impossible. All fittings are of the same type and tightened with the same torque, which further simplifies assembly and prevents errors. The portfolio also includes the Essential Test Box. With this test box, the correct function and leak-tightness of the valves can be tested, before installing the valve systems. This is particularly useful for volume users and Aventics distributors. If a customer prefers, Aventics can deliver factory assembled and tested ES05 valve manifolds.
The valves come in a robust housing made of high-performance polymers and are especially stable and compact, and provide flows up to 0.61Cv. Users connect the end and base plates (available with metric or inch ports) and can extend the system in pairs up to twelve single or double solenoid valves. The valves are controlled via single wiring with a type CI connector according to ISO 15217, a D-Sub connection with 25 pins, with AES valve electronics from Aventics, or an integrated IO-Link interface. AES supports all common fieldbus and Ethernet protocols. If necessary, the pilot coils can also be turned at a later stage to realize mixed connection configurations. With a switching time of under 35 msec for all valve functions, highly dynamic action is guaranteed for short cycles. With single wiring, the ES05 complies with protection class IP65, so the valve system can also be installed in decentral locations, even in environments exposed to splash water. All other connection types comply with protection class IP50. An online configurator can help with design, documentation and drawings.
Another added bonus, said Campbell, is that “the valve itself is separate from the solenoid operators so when the spool wears out you can replace that as opposed to having to replace the whole valve. Or if a solenoid burns up you can replace that also.”
Campbell concluded that Aventics plans to create an adapter plate for advanced electronics designs and additional options will be available for bringing air into the middle of the manifold to easily isolate it as well.
Aventics
www.aventics.com/us
Filed Under: Pneumatic Tips, Slider, Valves & Manifolds