Force Control oil shear brakes, clutches and clutch brakes available for washdown applications
Force Control Industries’ full lineup of MagnaShear, Posistop, and Positorq motor brakes and Posidyne clutch brakes are available in washdown configurations for food processing applications. While all oil shear products, by design, are totally enclosed in a heavy cast housing, the washdown option provides additional protection from moisture, water, saltwater, caustic spray and chemicals. Nickel plating protects the shafts from corrosion, and stainless-steel external fasteners, clamp collars and conduit boxes afford similar protection. Non-metallic elements such as breathers and sight gauges further eliminate corrosion. A Steel-It Epoxy Coating System, with a unique stainless-steel leafing pigment, protects the housing from common moisture and chemical agents, as well as ultraviolet rays, chemicals, oils, alkalis, food acids, water immersion, abrasion and high pressure wash down. This protective package is ideal for aggressive environments found in food and chemical processing facilities, meat packing plants, bottling plants, and more.
Oil shear technology is at the heart of Force Control products and allows them to last for significantly longer with virtually no maintenance or adjustment.
How Oil Shear Works
Unlike dry clutches and brakes, oil shear technology provides a film of transmission fluid between the brake disc and the drive plate. As the fluid is compressed, the fluid molecules in shear transmit torque to the other side. This torque transmission causes the two components to reach the same relative speed. Since most of the work is done by the fluid particles in shear, wear is virtually eliminated. Elimination of wear also eliminates the need for adjustments which are common for dry braking systems, especially spring set brakes.
In addition to transmitting torque, a patented fluid recirculation system helps to dissipate the heat from the friction surface to the housing where it is cooled. The inability of the dry friction units to dissipate the heat out of the friction material is a major cause of wear and friction material breakdown.
Along with heat removal and torque transmission, the fluid serves to continually lubricate all components of the oil shear units, significantly increasing their service life.
Headquartered in Fairfield, Ohio, Force Control Industries is the world leader in oil shear technology, offering a full line of clutches, brakes, and clutch brakes for OEMs in diverse applications. Their manufacturing campus includes three manufacturing facilities with over 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space along with engineering, design, customer support and administrative offices. All facilities are ISO9001/2000 certified for quality assurance. For additional information contact Force Control Industries, Inc., 3660 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, OH 45014, or visit www.forcecontrol.com.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
