Description
DCL’s common-series electric actuators are typically used to operate quarter-turn devices such as butterfly valves, ball valves, dampers, or swinging arms. When a continuous power signal is applied, the motor drives a fully metal gearbox whose final stage is a worm-gear set; the output shaft turns 90°, and internal cams actuate limit switches to stop the motor automatically at the end of travel. When a reversing continuous signal is applied, the motor rotates in the opposite direction to return the output to its original position.
All DCL actuators employ a specially formulated copper-alloy (bronze) worm wheel — cast as a monolithic unit, not merely surface-plated. This significantly enhances the gear’s strength, wear resistance, and overall durability.
In typical electric actuators, the most vulnerable component is the final-stage worm gear or spur gear, because it sits closest to the output and therefore endures the greatest torque and friction. In other words, the design and material of the worm gear critically determine the actuator’s service life.
DCL improves longevity in two ways:
Large-radius (long-arm) worm wheel design — by increasing the effective radius, for a given torque the radial force on the gear teeth is reduced, thereby lowering stress per tooth and reducing wear and fatigue.
Use of a full bronze (copper-alloy) worm wheel, not merely a plated one — this eliminates the risk of plating wear or flaking. The bronze alloy offers excellent wear resistance, good conformability under sliding contact, and stable frictional behavior over a long service life.
As a result, DCL’s combination of a large-diameter, full-bronze worm wheel — mated to a properly hardened and precision-treated worm shaft — delivers reliable, durable, low-noise transmission with significantly extended lifespan compared to actuators using plated or undersized gears.
