A major manufacturer of valves and actuators came to Tempco with a challenge tied to the environments their equipment operates in. Their actuators, which are components responsible for converting input into controlled movement, are mounted on valves used to open and close doors or hatches on silos. Because these systems are often installed outdoors, they’re regularly exposed to temperatures that dip well below freezing.
The actuators themselves are housed in aluminum castings and filled with lubrication oil. While this oil is essential for proper operation, its properties create a limitation: the actuators are rated for a minimum ambient temperature of 14°F. For many agricultural and outdoor applications, that temperature rating simply isn’t low enough.
The Key Requirements
To address the issue, the customer needed a heating option that could overcome cold-weather conditions without complicating the design or installation process. The heating solution needed to meet several key requirements:
- Direct adherence to the actuator housing
- Easy to install so existing actuators in the field could be retrofitted
- Reliable operation at below-freezing temperatures within defined parameters (minimum 14°F)
The Final Design
Tempco responded by developing a small silicone rubber heater specifically for this application. Despite its compact size, the heater incorporates several features that make it well suited for agricultural environments. The flexible heater is rated for 15 watts at 115 VAC and includes a PSA adhesive backing, allowing it to mount directly to the actuator housing. It also features 12-inch-long Teflon® lead wires, which are protected by silicone tubing along their length to help shield them from environmental exposure.
The lead wire length allows the heater to connect directly to the actuator’s terminal box to draw power. An inline snap-action thermostat is integrated into the design, closing at 32°F to activate the heater and opening at 50°F to shut it off. Together, these features provide a straightforward and effective way to protect actuators from cold temperatures without major modifications.
