Is there any sort of electronic/electrical actuator that HOLDS its position if power is lost?
I am working on a project for a clutch actuator in an AWD system. One of the required tasks is to provide 3000N of force to a pressure plate which compresses a clutch pack. This has to be accomplished by using the standard 12V or whatever you can get from an automobile.
The problem is, a design spec states that the clutch system needs to maintain its state if the vehicle has lost power. This rules out the usage of an electromagnetic actuator, right?
The only thing I can think of doing is using some sort of mechanical lock after actuating with the electromagnetic actuator.
Would it make more sense to use a hydraulic actuator instead?
This actuation process needs to take no more than 200ms, so I'm not sure if something like a worm gear would be suitable (they tend to be slow, correct?)
Thanks in advance!
PS. If anyone has any recommendations of books about actuators in general, please mention them here!
Best Answer
Use a worm-drive / screw-drive linear actuator. These are available in a ridiculously-large range of sizes, strengths, speeds, voltages.
The great thing about them is that the worm / screw drive inherently holds its' position when not moving.