Product category:
Hydraulic Components
News Release from: Lenze | Subject: ETP Octopus locking bush
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 04 August 2006
Hydraulic brake holds special purpose
machine
An ETP Octopus locking bush provided a simple mechanical answer when a new tablet compaction simulator needed a holding brake.
Huxley Bertram Engineering designs and makes special purpose industrial machinery When its new tablet compaction simulator needed a holding brake, the need was met by an ETP Octopus locking bush for a simple mechanical solution
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 21 Feb 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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The ETP Octopus works with the hydraulic pressure available on the machine and gives a compact assembly that is easy to connect and disconnect.
Huxley Bertram, based at Cottenham near Cambridge, developed its new two-pillar machine for pharmaceutical companies to use in the development of new commercial drugs, or to mimic the performance of production compaction machinery for the purpose of investigating production problems.
Typical output rates are one or two tablets per minute.
A hopper filled with powder is positioned over the die-plate in the centre of the machine.
Powder falls into the die and the hopper is retracted when the level, confirmed by a laser sensor, is correct.
At the final compaction stage where maximum force is applied, a locking brake is needed to stop the tendency of the hydraulic oil compressing and giving a bounce effect.
The lower actuator is locked by a bush called the Octopus.
ETP, a Swedish company, is the manufacturer.
The company specialises in hydromechanical connection technology.
The Octopus is a hydraulic actuated joint with a flanged end and, in this application, it is rigidly fixed under the die plate.
When the tablet is compressed and the machine hydraulic pressure of 280bar applied, the inner sleeve of the cylinder contracts and rigidly grips a split collet, which transmits the force through to the 45mm actuator rod.
The action is fast and repeatable with a life of about 500,000 cycles.
With the bottom actuator locked, final compaction can be carried out using the top actuator.
Then the tablet is ejected into an output carousel.
Designed to transmit both torque and axial forces, the Octopus bush is rated at 67kN axially, safely above the maximum piston force of 50kN.
Lenze supplies ETP Octopus bushes in a standard range to clamp shafts between 30 and 100mm and special designs are possible.
Other application areas include the locking of machine slides and tool holders in machining centres. Request a free brochure from Lenze ...
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