Flowserve Corporation has unveiled the new Flowserve Automax RG series heavy-duty scotch yoke pneumatic actuator.

The new actuator offers customers the opportunity to realise savings through an extended cycle life and reduced maintenance costs.  The RG's design is compliant to IEC 61508 (functional safety related systems) safety integrity level 3. 

'The IP67M (temporary submersion) rating and marine-grade epoxy-surface treatment ensures optimal ingress environmental protection when installed in harsh corrosive atmospheres such as offshore installations,' said Don Weeks, product portfolio manager, Flowserve flow control division. 'The goal of the RG design is to extend and protect the customer's capital investment which can reduce the cost of ownership for the product life cycle.'

The new Automax RG series features a modular design; the body, pneumatic and spring segments are independent modules. The pneumatic and spring modules can easily be changed on site to modify the actuator torque output and fail rotation direction.  Without this feature, a new actuator must be purchased to make these changes.  

The symmetrical body design enables interchangeability of spring and pressure modules. The pressure-module piston incorporates dual-wear bands and dynamic-quad seals; dual wear bands provide forward wiping action which can extend quad seal life. Inside the pressure and torque module, critical sealing and load bearing surfaces are honed and hard-chrome plated to reduce surface wear and increase corrosion resistance.  Both features can further extend actuator cycle life.

 The new hard-chrome plated steel guide bar provides optimal support of the transverse loads. 
The Automax RG series is lighter and has a smaller dimensional envelope. The actuator features an expanded torque output range.