Valve terminal system replaces two air boxes

Dean Palmer reports on a novel valve terminal system that integrates all the valve functions of two standard air boxes A pneumatic valve terminal system (VTS) has been launched that combines the functional benefits of a standard air box with the flexibility of a classic valve terminal system. The developer of the CA44 valve terminal system (VTS), Bosch Rexroth, claims its new product "is the most compact four-valve solution with AS-i connection on the market today". The VTS replaces two standard air boxes and has a minimum number of interfaces. The number of slave addresses required is effectively halved. The CA44 (Compact AS-I 4 outputs, 4 inputs) can withstand temperatures from 0°C up to 50°C and is rated to IP67, although it can happily cope with light washdown in food and beverage applications. Service life is in excess of 100 million cycles and nominal flow rates are up to 200 litres per minute. Trevor Osbourne, sales manager pneumatics at Bosch Rexroth UK, told Eureka: "The CA44 represents a 33 per cent space saving over its predecessor and means users can plug it straight onto an existing AS-i cable." The CA44 has two valve slots with a maximum of four valve functions. The unit is extremely adaptable and efficient. It is smaller than two air boxes and significantly smaller than all other valve terminal systems with similar functions. The CA44 comprises three main parts: the standard module itself, Bosch Rexroth's MC valve and the AS-i coupling module. The AS-i coupling module is used to connect the device, which simply plugs straight onto the AS-i cable. The module can be directly mounted onto a DIN rail or by using screws. Connection is resistant to polarity reversal and no additional plug connectors are required. Customers can buy a fully tested CA44 assembly comprising the module, the MC valve(s) and the AS-I coupling module, or users can purchase the standard module only, and equip the unit with MC valves themselves.