Design Method of Reliability Improvement of Voice Coil Type Linear Actuator for Hydraulic Valve

The precise hydraulic valve is widely used in various industrial field like aircraft, automobile, and general machinery. Solenoid actuator is the most important device for driving the precise hydraulic valve. The reliable operation of solenoid actuator effects on the overall hydraulic system. The performance of solenoid actuator relies on frequency response and step response according to arbitrary input signal. In this paper, we performed the analysis for the components of solenoid actuator to satisfy the reliable operation and response characteristics through the reliability analysis, and also deducted the design equations to realize the reliable operation and fast response characteristics of solenoid actuator for hydraulic valve operation through the empirical knowledge of experts and electromagnetic theories. We suggested the design equations to determine the values of design parameters of solenoid actuator as like bobbin size, length of yoke and plunger and turn number of coil, and calculated the life test time of solenoid actuator for verification of reliability of the prototype. In addition, for reducing the life test time, the acceleration model of solenoid actuator is proposed and the acceleration factor is calculated considering the field operating conditions. And then, we verified the achieved design values through accelerated life test and performance tests using some prototypes of solenoid actuators adapted in servo valve.