Sealing security for new manipulator
Sealing security for new manipulator
Keywords Busak+Shamban,Radioactive environments, Sealing
Developed by INBIS(formerly Ricardo Hitec), in conjunction with BNFL Engineering Ltd, the Commander Manipulator is setting new standards of precision control in the remote handling and manipulation of payloads.
Designed for operation in radioactive and similar hostile environments, the Commander Manipulator is a complete working package offering advanced robotic capabilities. The task facing design engineers at INBIS, specialists in robotic engineering and BNFL Engineering Ltd (suppliers of project management, engineering and technical services to nuclear and allied markets world-wide), was to develop an extremely compact manipulator with a versatility and working capability only previously available with larger systems.
Central to the design are hydraulic vane actuators which offer exceptional joint dexterity, emulating the human arm movement and providing an articulation of ±135°. In developing the working envelope, the design team were aware that hydraulic seal failure was a potential downfall to achieving an engineering concept with true minimal maintenance requirement.
The "Commander Manipulator"
The design team looked to Busak+Shamban for the development of vane actuator seals. The company's involvement for over 12 years, in the development of sealing solutions for rotary vane design concepts, provided Busak+Shamban with an insight into sealing in these high performance, critical applications. To meet the requirements of radiation resistance, material known as "material 80" was chosen by Busak+Shamban technicians for the seals, a material already employed by them for seals in radioactive environments. A further requirement was for the seals to withstand extremes of system pressure; the Commander's arm has a jaw tip reach of 2.4m and the capacity to fully manipulate a 120 kg load. Hydraulic operational pressure is 205 bar and utilises a water/glycol solution.
The seals were installed at commencement of the development and testing programme which has involved Commander operating continuous work test cycles for over 800 hours. Minor modifications to the Busak+Shamban vane seals, during the development programme have been necessary to achieve the high performance sealing demands. Development and operational testing of the Commander Manipulator is complete, and this advanced British design is ready for service within industries with hostile working environments world-wide.
For further information contact Busak+ Shamban Ltd, Focus House, Ashbourne Way, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4QU, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 121 744 1221; Fax: +44 (0) 121 733 2442.
