There is a need for low-cost switching and proportional electro-hydraulic valves with low contamination sensitivity and good reliability. In an attempt to meet this need, a novel electro-hydraulic floating double-disc valve has been developed to the stage where it can be used to control hydraulic cylinders or motors directly. As the valve is significantly underlapped, problems still remain in achieving adequate hydraulic stiffness in the proportional mode of operation. The valve operation, which relies on the complex interaction between fluid and electro-magnetic forces acting on the valve discs, is described and a theoretical model of the fluid and electro-magnetic characteristics of the valve is presented. The theory shows satisfactory agreement with experimental data. A pre-production version of the double-disc valve has been designed and manufactured and it incorporates ideas for manufacturing cost reduction while at the same time conforming to CETOP 3 international valve port standards. This valve has been successfully tested as a switching or proportional device when controlling two different cylinders. Proportional control of the valve is achieved using Pulse-Width-Modulation technique. British Technology Group and University of Surrey have applied for a patent on the valve. The patented floating-disc valve has the following features: (a) 3 way or 4 way 2-position or proportional action with minor changes to produce the two types of action, (b) cartridge construction with interchangeable components, (c) low contamination sensitivity, (d) few critical dimensions, (e) no sliding surfaces, (f) CETOP valve port configuration and (g) potentially capable of operating with corrosive or non-lubricating fluids.

Para algumas categorias de produtos, insumos como embalagem podem ter um peso significativo na composição do custo do produto final. No caso de vários produtos embalados em frascos plásticos este é um cenário comum que tem como conseqüência uma exigência de aumento de desempenho das máquinas sopradoras que produzem tais frascos. Com o objetivo de cumprir tal exigência, este trabalho realiza uma análise do sistema hidráulico de uma sopradora para redução do tempo de posicionamento nos principais movimentos executados por alguns dispositivos vitais, os quais possuem comandos eletrohidráulicos de controle de posição e velocidade constituídos de válvulas hidráulicas de controle de vazão, válvulas direcionais proporcionais e atuadores lineares. A forma desta análise é conduzida inicialmente através da modelagem dos componentes hidráulicos envolvidos nos movimentos destes dispositivos e, posteriormente, de um ensaio através do registro das grandezas físicas de interesse como pressões e velocidades de posicionamento utilizando como bancada de testes uma sopradora existente. O desempenho atual do equipamento em questão, registrado através do ensaio, pode ser então comparado com os resultados obtidos na modelagem para uma análise final com o objetivo de tornar a sopradora mais rápida e produtiva além de validar o modelo estabelecido para a realização de projetos futuros. / Many times, for some products classes, inputs as packaging may have an expressive weight in the final product cost structure. In the case of products packaged into plastic containers, this is an usual scenario that has as result, the increase of performance requirements of the blow mold machines that produce such containers. A point to be studied in the blow mold machines to fulfill such requirement is an analysis of its hydraulic system in a way to reduce the positioning time in the most significant movements performed by its main devices. Such devices have electro-hydraulic position and speed controls composed by flow control and proportional valves and linear actuators. So, it is presented in this work the description of blow mold machine, modeling of hydraulic components involved with the main equipment\'s movements and an experience to record physical values as pressures and positioning speeds using an existent blow mold machine as testing bench. The tested registers can be confronted against the results obtained in the modeling analysis as a target to make the blow mold machine more productive besides of validate the model to the future projects.

Para algumas categorias de produtos, insumos como embalagem podem ter um peso significativo na composição do custo do produto final. No caso de vários produtos embalados em frascos plásticos este é um cenário comum que tem como conseqüência uma exigência de aumento de desempenho das máquinas sopradoras que produzem tais frascos. Com o objetivo de cumprir tal exigência, este trabalho realiza uma análise do sistema hidráulico de uma sopradora para redução do tempo de posicionamento nos principais movimentos executados por alguns dispositivos vitais, os quais possuem comandos eletrohidráulicos de controle de posição e velocidade constituídos de válvulas hidráulicas de controle de vazão, válvulas direcionais proporcionais e atuadores lineares. A forma desta análise é conduzida inicialmente através da modelagem dos componentes hidráulicos envolvidos nos movimentos destes dispositivos e, posteriormente, de um ensaio através do registro das grandezas físicas de interesse como pressões e velocidades de posicionamento utilizando como bancada de testes uma sopradora existente. O desempenho atual do equipamento em questão, registrado através do ensaio, pode ser então comparado com os resultados obtidos na modelagem para uma análise final com o objetivo de tornar a sopradora mais rápida e produtiva além de validar o modelo estabelecido para a realização de projetos futuros. / Many times, for some products classes, inputs as packaging may have an expressive weight in the final product cost structure. In the case of products packaged into plastic containers, this is an usual scenario that has as result, the increase of performance requirements of the blow mold machines that produce such containers. A point to be studied in the blow mold machines to fulfill such requirement is an analysis of its hydraulic system in a way to reduce the positioning time in the most significant movements performed by its main devices. Such devices have electro-hydraulic position and speed controls composed by flow control and proportional valves and linear actuators. So, it is presented in this work the description of blow mold machine, modeling of hydraulic components involved with the main equipment\'s movements and an experience to record physical values as pressures and positioning speeds using an existent blow mold machine as testing bench. The tested registers can be confronted against the results obtained in the modeling analysis as a target to make the blow mold machine more productive besides of validate the model to the future projects.

Currently discussed trends and new technologies regarding cloud or edge computing imply that even most recent designs and functionalities of digital on-board-control electronics may be outdated and eventually will totally disappear. Additionally, those new technologies attract potential users by promises like new use cases e.g. predictive maintenance or a simplified architecture and reduced installation efforts. On the other hand, automation levels and subsequent requirements are often mixed up or discussed too generally. Nevertheless, what is the rue situation today and in the upcoming years? This paper elaborates the potentials of both approaches – state of the art on-board-control electronics and potentially disruptive control architectures for hydraulic valves in order to take the right decision and reflect the pros and cons for each topology by: a) Architecture of automation: In Terms of strongly hierarchical or multidimensional connected systems. b) Requirement of installation: By reflecting the dedicated ecosystems, on levels like plant, machine, subsystems. c) Maturity of technology: Looking on the user’s perspective. d) Safety and security: From legal and conformity aspects. e) Performance needs by specific task: In comparing standard to demanding real life applications.