Solenoids & Actuators

Solenoid body

Part that contains the excitation winding and conducts the magnetic flow (also: solenoid housing)

Excitation winding

Winding to create the magnetic field (also: magnetic coil, coil, winding)

Excitation system

Module consisting of magnet body and excitation winding

Voltage winding

Excitation winding that receives current, which depends on the supply voltage and the excitation resistance

Current winding

Excitation winding that determines the current of upstream equipment, i.e. which mainly depends on the excitation winding resistance (e.g. current regulation).

Armature

Magnetically conducting parts moved or held by the magnetic field.

Actuating solenoid

Component for affecting a limited lengthwise or rotating movement

Linear solenoid

Actuating solenoid that triggers a stroke movement via the effect of a magnetic field created by the excitation winding (also: single stroke solenoid)

Rotating solenoid

Actuating solenoid that triggers a rotating movement via the effect of a magnetic field created by the excitation winding. With regard to their functionality, rotating solenoids may be designed as single stroke or reverse stroke rotating solenoids featuring single or double currentless limit positions (monostable-bistable)

Oscillating solenoid

Actuating solenoid that triggers a periodic back and forth movement via the effect of a magnetic field created by the excitation winding in a spring-mass system featuring an oscillating frequency, which is generally related to a fixed proportion of the frequency to the applied voltage

Holding magnets, holding solenoid

Device or component for adhering ferromagnetic objects

Reversing linear solenoid

An actuating solenoid with electromagnetic force effect in two movement directions. Depending on the excitation, the stroke movement takes place from the respective stroke start position to the associated stroke limit position. In this case, the stroke limit position of one direction is simultaneously the stroke start position of the opposite movement direction

Single stroke spreader solenoid

A linear solenoid that is mainly used for ventilating block brakes due to its design and technical data

Single stroke double spreader solenoid

A linear solenoid consisting of two single stroke spreader solenoids that is mainly used for ventilating block brakes due to its design and technical data

Pulsing linear solenoid

A device featuring an armature stroke movement caused by electromagnetic forces from the stroke start position to the stroke limit position, whereby the armature is held by an integrated permanent solenoid while the current is switched off

Control solenoid, proportional solenoid, regulating solenoid

Linear stroke solenoids that are mainly used to activate valves in hydraulic controls and regulating devices due to their design and technical data

Valve solenoid

A linear solenoid that is mainly used for activating valves in pneumatic and hydraulic control devices due to its design and technical data

Single stroke solenoid with pivoting armature

A linear solenoid featuring an armature that completes a pivoting movement around a pivot point

Magnetic force F

The useful part of the force produced in the stroke direction inside the actuating magnet, i.e. the force reduced by friction.

Stroke force F_stroke

The magnetic force that acts outwards in consideration of the associated component of the armature weight. The stroke force is equal to the magnetic force in case of horizontal installation

Holding force F_H

In case of direct current actuating solenoids, this is the magnetic force in the stroke limit position. In case of alternating current solenoids, the average value of the magnetic force periodically fluctuating with the alternating current in the stroke limit position.

Residual holding force

The holding force remaining after deactivation

Residual actuating force

The force required to return the armature to the stroke start position after deactivation. (in case of rotating solenoids, the force corresponds with the torque)

Solenoid stroke s

The path covered by the armature from the stroke start position and stroke limit position.

Stroke start position s₁

The position of the armature before starting the stroke movement or after completing the return movement.

Stroke limit position s₂

The designed position of the armature in the solenoid after completing the stroke movement

Activation delay t₁₁

The time from activation of the excitation current until starting the armature movement

Stroke time t₁₂

The time from the start of the armature movement from the stroke start position until reaching the stroke limit position.

Attraction time t₁

The time from activation of the excitation current until reaching the stroke limit position. The sum of the activation delay t₁₁ and stroke time t₁₂.

Release delay t₂₁

The time from deactivation of the excitation current until starting the return movement of the armature.

Return time t₂₂

The time from the start of the return movement from the armature until reaching the stroke start position.

Release time t₂

The time from deactivation of the excitation current until reaching the stroke start position. The sum of the release delay t₂₁ and return time t₂₂.

Activation current

In case of alternating current devices, this is the current that activates during excitation when the armature is held in the stroke start position and the compensation process is finished.

Nominal voltage U_N

The value of the electrical voltage that is indicated by the manufacturer for a device or a component and refers to the operating and performance aspects.

Preferred nominal voltage

The nominal voltage that devices are usually available with ex warehouse

Nominal current I_N

In case of electrical devices, the supply current assigned by the manufacturer to the device or the component to designate or identify it. Generally, the current consumption of voltage windings under nominal conditions, as well.
In case of alternating voltage windings, the current that activates as the holding current under nominal current, when the armature in the stroke limit position

Holding current I_H

In case of alternating voltage devices or components, this is the current that activates upon excitation of the nominal voltage, when the armature is in the stroke limit position and the compensation process has completed.

Activation current I_E

In case of alternating current devices and components, this is the current that activates during excitation with nominal voltage when the armature is held in the stroke start position and the compensation process is finished.

Nominal power P_N

Suitable rounded power value to designate and identify the device or the component. Also generally the power consumption under nominal conditions (20⁰ coil temperature).

Holding power

The product of the nominal voltage and holding power in case of alternating voltage device or components

Insulating material class

The assignment of winding insulating materials to thermal classes with regard to their limit temperature according to DIN EN 60085.

Protection class

Classification of devices with regard to protection measures against electrical shock according to DIN EN 61140.

IP protection class

Scope of protection of the electromagnetic device against direct contact or penetration of solid objects or water. Specification as an IP code according to DIN EN 60529.

Duration

The time that passes between activation and deactivation of the excitation current.

Currentless pause

The time that passes between deactivation and reactivation of the excitation current.

Cycle time

The sum of activation duration and the currentless pause

Cycle sequence

A one-time or periodically recurring sequencing of cycle time values of different sizes.

Continuous operation

Operation during which the activation duration is so long that the steady-state temperature is reached.

Short-term operation S₂

Operation during which the activation duration is so short that the steady-state temperature is not reached and the currentless
pause is so long that the device cools down to the ambient temperature (tolerance 2K).

Intermittent operation S₃

Operation during which the activation duration and the currentless pause alternate regularly, whereby the pauses are so short that the device does not cool down to the ambient temperature.

Switching operations z

Number of working cycles

Switching frequency Z

The number of switching operations per hour.

Operating temperature condition

The over-temperature determined according to VDE 0580 increased by the ambient temperature. If nothing else is indicated the ambient temperature amounts to 35°C.

Deviating reference temperature

Our solenoids can also be used under deviating reference temperatures if the permitted activation duration is multiplied by the corresponding calculation factor. The stroke work completed by the winding at operating temperature is not influenced by this. The diagram is used to determine the relevant activation duration in case of deviating reference temperatures.

The catalogue specifications for the relative activation durationof Kendrion solenoids refer to a cycle time of 5 minutes, if nototherwise indicated. The maximum activation duration results from this for the various relative activation duration:

40% Activation duration max. 120 s
25% Activation duration max. 75 s
15% Activation duration max. 45 s
5% Activation duration max. 15 s

These maximum values may not be exceeded. In case of doubt, application take places for the respective longer relative activation duration.

Magnetic remanence

When a ferromagnetic component is magnetised, a portion of the magnetisation remains in the material after deactivation of the excitation. This condition is referred to as remanenceor residual magnetism. Put simply, it may be expected that the majority of magnetising materials behave as if they were weak permanent magnets. The remanence determines the residual holding power. After pulling off the workpiece from the holding surface once, the remanence nevertheless disappears continuously. The greater the air gap δ_L, the lower the expected remanence and the residual holding force will be.

Permeabilität µ

This indicates the permeability of a material in case of magnetic fields. The relative permeability µrel µrel is the amplification factor related to the permeability µ₀ of the vacuum.

µ₀=1,256*10^(-6) (Vs/Am)

µ₀=µ_relµ₀

In case of ferromagnetic materials: µ_rel >> 1

Magnetic flow Φ

In equivalence of the electrical circuit Φ is defined as the flow size of the magnetic field according to current I in the electrical circuit. The better the magnetic properties (permeability µ), the greater the magnetic flow Φ at otherwise equal parameters will be. Information is indicated in Weber (Wb) or Vs.

1Wb=1Vs

Magnetic flow density B

If the magnetic flow is related to the conducting cross-sectional area in the magnetic circuit, the magnetic flow density B that results is indicated in T (Tesla).

1T=1 (Vs/m²)=1 (Wb/m²)