Rotork has been working with BAE Systems to upgrade a series of A-range actuators to IQ3 actuators which operate penstocks controlling movement of ships between the sea and transitional locks and dry docks at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth (HMNB Portsmouth).
A series of A-range actuators had reached the end of their operational life after long service in a challenging environment. BAE Systems wanted to retain all the benefits of electric actuators, so IQ3 actuators were chosen. These had to be specially adapted by Rotork to overcome problems around confined spaces and difficult access.
IQ3 actuators and IS gearboxes were mechanically adapted so that both actuator and gearbox could be manually operated without entering the confined space. Rotork designed special hand auto levers and through drive mechanisms for the actuator and gearbox to eliminate the need for confined space access.
Actuators within the IQ range are watertight, offering ingress protection to IP66/68 at 20 m for 10 days. They have an advanced dual stacked display with configurable data logger functionality, and an absolute position sensor provides reliability and accuracy