Linear actuator for power SSQA?

[ovrszd]

I love your tenacity and diligence in solving this problem!!! Great work and great reporting. Pictures and videos tell it all.

My concerns are protection for the electrical circuit of the actuator.

For example, you hook to your bucket, pick it up and actuate the closer, for some unknown reason the pins aren't lined up. What protects the electrical actuator from burning itself up trying to move an immoveable object?

Secondly, you really need to address the length issue before you start using it. Last thing you want is to work your SSQA with the pins only partially latched. Bad results can happen.

As for your estimated hydraulic version costs. I think you are very high.

First you don't want a large cylinder. Maybe 1.25" or at most 1.5". This limits it's ability to tear itself up if something goes wrong during the latch process. Bobcat's system uses a very small cylinder with no relief valve protection.

Second if you already have 3rd function on the FEL all that's needed is an electrical activated diverter valve. Mount it right beside the small cylinder. To latch/unlatch the pins an electrical switch is activated from the tractor seat and the 3rd function valve is used to provide hydraulic pressure.

I'm not saying this is going to be dirt cheap. But if 3rd function exists it could be done very reasonably and would have tractor lifetime durability and longevity.

If you don't currently have 3rd function the cost just went up.

Regardless of my statements, I again applaud your efforts and thank you for honestly and realistically reporting your results.

 

[aeblank]

Well, I have cad of the linear actuator, constrained to what its actual travel limits are...

 

[aeblank]

ovrszd, Many of these actuators have thermal protection. I'm sure most would agree that hydraulics are "best", it isn't as achievable. For me, if I had a 3rd function, it'd be for a grapple. So then I'd need an extra diverter for this so I could use the grapple too. This is easy, a switch and a couple wires. Its also very compact.

 

[Fallon]

No worries, constructive criticism & reality checks are appreciated. No 3rd function on my loader, yet, so the price is still a fair bit lower than the hydraulic option, even if I'm off on my numbers a bit. My first project & first ever hydraulic project was installing 3 spools & my TnT kit, so I'm not opposed to hydraulics at all. My install came out nice, after a few learning experiences. Ya, I am a bit concerned about the partial actuation of the pin due to my mis-specing the 4" actuator instead of the 6". The idea of making the bracket to big so the lever can't go over center that far is a good one, I was thinking about putting a block behind it. Annoying because I spent a while sanding & grinding those dam brackets so they wouldn't hit.

My current actuator is only rated at 200 or 300lbs & it does the job. Given the poor translations from Chinese I'm not completely sure what it's rated at. 400lbs should be more than enough. It's fused , so that should protect it, at least when I move to the bigger actuator. As I've already verified that it wouldn't take the full force, putting in a fuse less than the full draw should pop if things get ugly. I'm still not sure if I'll end up getting the bigger actuator or just stay with the $60 cheapo. I can afford to burn out 2 of those & still be cheaper.

The beefier actuator comes in several models. Same actuator, different gearbox it looks like, so slower & more force or faster & weaker. The 100lbs one would be nice & fast, but probably to weak. 400lbs looks like a good happy medium. And that was a brain fart on my part, I meant 1" per second, not minute, or about twice the speed I have now. The one I have now is slow, but it can latch at a leisurely pace while I move around after picking up the implement, so I'm not as concerned about speed of actuation as I thought I would be.

 

[aeblank]

Of possible interest.

http://www.skidsteerforum.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=54&frmView=ShowPost&PostID=22705

 

[downsizingnow48]

Also of possible interest, here are a couple examples of installing a hydraulic cylinder.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/243169-scored-bobcat-power-tach-cylinder.html

 

[ovrszd]

ovrszd, Many of these actuators have thermal protection. I'm sure most would agree that hydraulics are "best", it isn't as achievable. For me, if I had a 3rd function, it'd be for a grapple. So then I'd need an extra diverter for this so I could use the grapple too. This is easy, a switch and a couple wires. Its also very compact.

Cool. I'm with you on this project. I think it's very commendable that you've conquered it.

If you had 3rd function you could use a diverter valve and have both. That was my point earlier. Sorry if I sounded like I was bad mouthing your choice. I was not. Thanks again for posting this thread and including the detail you have.

Edit: sorry I reread and realized I wasn't talking to the OP. But my responses would be the same. Great thread that a lot of readers will learn from.

 

[Fallon]

Cool. I'm with you on this project. I think it's very commendable that you've conquered it.

If you had 3rd function you could use a diverter valve and have both. That was my point earlier. Sorry if I sounded like I was bad mouthing your choice. I was not. Thanks again for posting this thread and including the detail you have.

Edit: sorry I reread and realized I wasn't talking to the OP. But my responses would be the same. Great thread that a lot of readers will learn from.

I agree, I've been looking for a better excuse for a 3rd function on the loader than angling my SSQA plow. Unfortunately I haven't found it yet. Not motivated to plumb in a diverter to my curl circuit as I'm not sure if it has power dump instead of just regen dump. Regen would mess with single acting cylinders poorly.

 

[aeblank]

Super super crude (Dimensions aren't really right even), but this is my mockup....

Goals are to fully utilize the 6" of travel, using existing stops.
Make mounting easy.
Make mounting template, perhaps.
make parts list/instructions.

I've inquired with the linear actuator people, and for an extra $100 ($248 & 15 business days) they could make an actuator with the length required. That would make it bolt-in instead of having to make some sort of extension. I'm not sure that it makes sense yet, but its doable.
It would seem for $300-ish, this could be a professional-looking kit to be installed.

Food for thought......

 

[Fallon]

Super super crude (Dimensions aren't really right even), but this is my mockup....

Goals are to fully utilize the 6" of travel, using existing stops.
Make mounting easy.
Make mounting template, perhaps.
make parts list/instructions.

I've inquired with the linear actuator people, and for an extra $100 ($248 & 15 business days) they could make an actuator with the length required. That would make it bolt-in instead of having to make some sort of extension. I'm not sure that it makes sense yet, but its doable.
It would seem for $300-ish, this could be a professional-looking kit to be installed.

Food for thought......

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=418481"/>

While the SSQA interface is a standard, as far as I know latches, levers & pivot points, bolt/bushing sizes are not. I think somebody said Kiotis only have 1 lever. That would make a universal solution a lot harder.

For my Kubota the right length actuator wouldn't help much. You need a bracket on each end to attach to the bolts that attach to the pins. Cheaper to use some extra bar stock or all-thread than $100 for the custom actuator.

I thought about trying to mount to the ends of the handles, but I don't think the rotational movement of the handles would match up with the linear movement of the actuator. You might be able to to mount the actuator vertically or something to both handles, but that uses 2 actuators or gets to complex as well.