Single source for certified pneumatic products

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 19, 2004

Asco Joucomatic has introduced a range of non-electrical, Atex certified pneumatic products.

Asco Joucomatic has introduced a range of non-electrical, Atex certified pneumatic products.

The company has claimed that the latest developments mean that it is now able to offer users and OEMs in all industry types a single source supply for the widest range of Atex certified solenoids, enclosures and automation products for use in potentially explosive gaseous and dust laden atmospheres.

Asco's Atex certified non-electrical range is the third component of an Atex offering that also includes one of the widest ranges of solenoid operators and enclosure types complying with the directive, and dust collector systems for removing dust from the atmosphere in industrial manufacturing plants claimed the company.

The non-electrical range covers zones 1-21 /2-22, with certification for zone 0-20 available on magnetic detectors and pending for PEC and PES cylinders.

Asco believes that the range overall is comprehensive, including air service units, spool valves, special interface Namur valves, direct operating solenoid valves, pilot valve islands with fieldbus control, angle seat valves for use on hot water and aggressive fluids, pneumatic cylinders and mountings and magnetic detectors.

All of those products are certified individually by ensuring that all metal surfaces, which could come into contact with an explosive atmosphere are earthed.

On most components earthing continuity is achieved by removing part of the surface treatment, ensuring direct contact to metal parts.

In the case of earth continuity on pneumatic cylinders many manufacturers have found it necessary to connect the cylinder piston rod to earth, whilst with Asco's Atex 450, 453 and 449 series of cylinders that procedure is not required, saving the equipment user both time and cost said the company.

Asco said its alternative is to provide five spot faces for earthing on the cylinders: four on the mounting screws of the rear end cap and one on the mounting screws of the front cap.

The benefit of that arrangement is that, as the piston rod is always in contact with the guiding bearing, earthing continuity is ensured between the body and rod of the cylinder.

Users also benefit from Asco's certification of individual devices, which provides flexibility by allowing the association of many like-certified components in assemblies.

What that means in practice is that users of pre-assembled Atex devices are not constrained from modifying them, because the combination of devices or assemblies is not subject to a single overall Atex certification added the company.

Asco said it also believes that it offers users one of the widest ranges of solenoid coils and enclosures complying with the new Atex directive for use in gaseous and dust-laden environments.

The range includes: d ? flameproof.

(Atex Zone1/21) � m ? encapsulation.

(Atex Zone 1/ 21) � em- encapsulation with increased safety.

(Atex Zone 1/ 21) � ia - intrinsically safe for use in continuously explosive atmospheres.

(Atex Zone 0/ 20), � ib - intrinsically safe for atmospheres where combustible dust is likely to occur during normal operation, occasionally.

(Atex Zone 1/21).

� n ? non-sparking.

(Atex Zone 2 /22).