Actuation bats for defence at DSEI 2013

 Demonstrating Olsen's proficiency in
applying Exlar electric actuation design

Mechanical transmission and actuation expert Olsen Engineering is demonstrating its proficiency in applying Exlar electric actuation design to military and aerospace applications at DSEI 2013, September 10-13 at Excel London.

The Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) is the world’s largest land, sea and air biennial defence and security exhibition, bringing together senior international trade and military experts from across the entire supply chain.

“The MoD shows an inclination to move away from hydraulic to electric actuation, and manufacturing companies like BAE now see the future in all-electric actuation because of reduced fire risk oil, leaks and reduced maintenance,” says Piers Olsen, director of Olsen Engineering UK.

“Integrated all-electric designs significantly improve efficiency, effectiveness and survivability. Exlar electromechanical actuation has been applied to defence and aerospace designs for munitions handling, weapons positioning, ammunition magazine control, valve control, hatch opening and closing, tank turret control and gun and camera mounting.”

Electric actuation makes military vehicles, crafts and vessels less vulnerable in combat. In aircrafts for example, it does away with hydraulic lines in fuselage and wing box, has lighter weight, and facilitates smaller aircraft and unmanned aircraft design. Increased efficiency is another major benefit as there is only one energy conversion process. The trend towards all-electric design is fuelling this development.

On ships the prime mover, such as a fuel-burning turbine, will convert the energy directly to electricity for powering motors and actuators around the vessel, instead of conventional mechanical power transmission, including the motors driving the propellers. Olsen Actuation predicts that soon all the hatches, valves and firing mechanisms will be electrically powered as well.

“High power electric actuation systems are being proposed on many new aircraft,” Olsen concludes. “Most new aircraft designs now use electrically actuated ball screws driven by electric motors for the spoilers, some flaps and flight controls instead of hydraulic motors.