ActuSlide™

Removable Actuator Drive System

The Hydrok ActuSlide system designed by the Hydrok design team works in
conjunction with actuator drive systems and eliminates the need for operation
and maintenance teams to enter hazardous underground areas to carry out routine
maintenance of electric motor driven actuators.

The initial design was developed to work with the ElectroSlide active flow control
and emerged after consideration of the Construction Design Management (CDM) regulations
regarding the health and safety issues of working underground. During the research
and product development stages further applications were identified for other underground
actuator driven devices such as penstocks.

The ActuSlide comprises of a removable plate with a actuator drive assembly mounted
to it, a fixed plate with guides on which the removable plate locates, a means of
connecting the drive when the plates are located together and a variable length final
drive to the slide, valve or other device to be moved.

The actuator drive can be powered via an electric motor, hydraulic motor or by hand using
a manual control wheel. The motor driven system would be operated via a control box which
can be coupled with an ultrasonic level sensor to trigger movement of the
slide/penstock etc.

The whole upper assembly is fastened to the chamber wall close to the manhole or entry point.
The actuator assembly can then be lifted from the chamber by chains or other lifting means
to allow for maintenance to be carried out above ground by a suitably qualified engineer.
Once the work is completed the actuator can be lowered back into position with the self
locating drive connection engaging with the final drive.

ActuSlide systems can be retrofitted to existing chambers where a fixed drive
system is currently used.