Air motors look for applications underwater

. The company says that making electric or hydraulic motors suitable for submersion is expensive and complicated, so it has developed a fully submersible range of its products. The acetal-bodied models have stainless steel shafts and bearings available in two sizes. Specials can be made to order. “The motors could be used for underwater propulsion systems,” says David Lockett, the company’s joint managing director. “These could run for 15 or 20 minutes on a single diver’s cylinder.” In common with the standard range, the submersible motors can be used in constant start/stop applications under load and give similar characteristics to those of a stepper motor. Reverse operation is achieved by using 5-port control valves giving near instant response even under load. While air motors are not effective at high speed, they can generate significant torque using a relatively small amount of air – so might power a propeller attached to the motor shaft. Dynatork’s non-magnetic air motors are generating interest from the nuclear industry. Its stainless steel shafts and ceramic bearings allow it to be used in a high magnetic field. It is aimed at applications involving particle acceleration and in systems such as MRI scanners. (BLOB) Huco has become the UK distributor for US coupling manufacturer Guardian Industries’ engine flywheel couplings (pictured). It will also stock products from Italian company Sit. Typically, the range is used in commercial lawn and garden equipment, quarry plant, lifting and materials handling systems as well as pumps driven by small petrol or diesel engines.