Linear Actuator For Snow Plow

If you are a house owner, you probably experience serious inconveniences every winter with the start of the snow season. On the one hand, you can get rid of snow the old-fashioned way: with a shovel and a positive attitude. The positive attitude usually lasts until about mid-winter. Then entertainment turns into a routine, threatening calluses and muscle pain. If the situation sounds familiar, you might need to think about purchasing a snow plow.

As the cost of such equipment is very, very high, DIY snow plows are quite popular. Let’s discuss their structure and the role that linear actuators play in it.

Snow Plows: Design Features

Standard snow machines consist of a self-propelled machine (for example, a tractor) and a remote-controlled bucket. In turn, the bucket is a structure consisting of a metal body and an engine that moves the bucket along the desired trajectory (in particular, raises it and throws snow into the load compartment).

Of course, if you decide to undertake the construction of such a machine with your own two hands, you will have to implement quite complex moving and fully automated mechanisms. So, the easiest way to do this is to use linear actuators.

Linear Actuator for Snow Plow: How to Choose?

As you know, linear actuators are designed to drive parts of machines and mechanisms in a linear translational motion. Drives convert electrical, hydraulic or compressed gas energy into motion or force. Linear actuators are the most energy-efficient and easy to use, even though the use of hydraulic and pneumatic actuators in industrial automation has very deep roots.

Thus, linear actuators convert electrical energy into mechanical. Their main functional element is either a rotating or a linear electric motor. A rotating electric motor moves the stem through a mechanical transducer, for example, using a ball screw or roller screw.

As for the advantages of the actuators, let’s start with the fact that they have high positioning accuracy. For example, the accuracy can reach 8 microns with a repeatability not lower than 1 micron. In addition, drive settings are scalable for any purpose and effort required.

Another serious advantage of electric actuators is that they consume energy strictly in accordance with the load. When they are not moving the load, only a small amount of energy is spent on the work of the transformer.

In its turn, the hydraulic system constantly requires much more voltage (periodic oscillations are explained by the fact that when the cylinder is extended, the total volume of the system increases and the load on the pump decreases slightly). And before the start of the pneumatic system, the operators also have to increase the pressure (energy is expended, but no moving work is done).

Electric actuators can be quickly connected to the system to provide operators with real-time diagnostic information and opportunities for full control of motion parameters. And finally, electric actuators are quieter than hydraulic and pneumatic ones, and, due to the lack of liquids involved, there is no risk of environmental pollution.

PA-13 As the Ideal Choice for a Snowplow

And now in more detail about which model of the actuator you should take a closer look at. The PA-13 High Force Industrial Linear Actuator will be the perfect solution for installation in such a powerful piece of equipment as a snow plow.

It consists of a shaft, the casing of which is made of stainless steel while all moving parts are securely fixed with metal bolts. As a result, this design easily sets in motion objects weighing up to 3000 pounds.

And, of course, it should be noted that this model is characterized by IP66 protection class – just what you need in aggressive environmental conditions.

See this video for more details on how a linear actuator can be used as part of a snow plow.

Conclusion

Let’s sum up. As you can see, with the help of linear actuators, you can implement quite complex automated designs for both domestic and industrial use, including snow plows. If you are now in search of the ideal options for linear actuators 12 volt, check out our product range. You will be pleasantly surprised by the quality of our products and our pricing policy.