Equipment manufacturing company WEBER-HYDRAULIK is introducing a new solution that allows for switching and proportional valves to be controlled remotely, using a laptop, smartphone or through control loops.

Operators can use the plug-and-play Web interface solution, called the EasyProp digital valve amplifier, to commission the proportional valves and determine the best possible valve control to adjust hydraulic systems “even more precisely” to the respective tasks. This can be done without a USB cable or any other apps and/or tools.

Analogue valve amplifiers, which are set using a screwdriver, are still justified today in some applications to facilitate the commissioning, fault diagnosis and maintenance of proportional valves independently of proprietary software or data cables.

However, if the hydraulic module is located inside the machine and is difficult to access, this form of adjustment requires “a certain amount of effort”. This is where the WEBER-HYDRAULIK EasyProp product and its digital valve driver – which is compatible with valves from all manufacturers through the common interface DIN EN 175301-803 (formerly DIN 43650) Form A and can be used immediately, owing to pre-set parameters – surpasses analogue amplifiers.

The EasyProp’s integrated, freely adjustable proportional-integral-derivative controller allows control loops to be formed. This means that the valve regulates itself in relation to the pre-set value, without having to use “expensive” evaluation or control electronics or software, says WEBER-HYDRAULIK.

Benefits

The EasyProp comes with enhanced ease-of-use properties, which will contribute to “great” value-add in various applications.

The fact that only a smartphone or laptop is needed –without the need for Bluetooth, a USB or wireless local area network cable, or a screwdriver – is testament to the solution’s user-friendliness paired with efficiency and time-saving properties.

“The valve and control parameters can be adjusted quickly and with fine resolution and the live data of the in- and output connections can be viewed, for example, during commissioning or for problem diagnosis,” says WEBER-HYDRAULIK.

Additionally, the EasyProp can be controlled through an existing control area network bus interface or through an analogue control signal.

In the freely-adjustable signal generator mode, the control signal acting on the valve is generated internally. This allows ramps, cycles and various dither modifications to be run to check the hydraulic system in operation, carry out diagnostics and find the best possible setting.

The solenoid of a proportional valve must be permanently energised to ensure that it never switches from the sliding friction of the solenoid to static friction, which is achieved using the dither.

A dither frequency that is freely adjustable from 10 Hz to 500 Hz, and the modulation of the dither amplitude and shape, makes the proportional valve work smoother, preventing jumps or vibration and minimising hysteresis.

The EasyProp also has a second analogue input to read out deviations from the setpoint in the hydraulic system. This can be a pressure sensor in the cylinder or a speed or velocity sensor in the hydraulic motor or pump.

With its specific properties, the EasyProp is particularly suitable for hydraulic systems in which valves are difficult to access, valves from different manufac- turers are in use, and proportional valves must meet high requirements in terms of consistency and precision.