February 20, 2012—Matrix actuators, SCU control units and multi-position switch units from SKF — developed in association with Acorn Industrial Services — are being used by Naturelight within a system for the opening and closing of commercial greenhouses’ roofs.
Naturelight’s roof-control system keeps the protective structure of a conventional greenhouse, while providing a balance between air temperature, air flow, rainfall and exposure to direct sunlight. It is designed so that both open and closed roof panels — which, in the fully open position, expose more than 90 per cent of the roof area to the natural elements — enhance the structural rigidity.
SKF Matrix actuators, which are fitted with encoders and grouped in sets of four, control the opening and closing mechanism. They act through gear mechanisms to rotate shafts that run parallel with the lateral roof support beams. The roof panels are attached to the shafts via a sequence of cantilevered arms, so that they are raised or lowered as each shaft is turned.
A bespoke SKF SCU control unit — linked to a central SKF multi-position switch unit — controls each set of actuators and acts as an operator terminal.
The actuators are rated to IP66S, and all components can function at temperatures up to 40ºC and are sealed against dust and moisture ingress.
Key benefits of product application
Operators can control the position of each series of roof panels
Panels can be automatically set to a predetermined position without the operator having to remain at the terminal while they are adjusted
Acorn and SKF provided specialised programming of the control functions
Modular system enables easy extension of existing greenhouses
Can be interfaced with a PLC and external sensors
Enables growers to improve plant growth rates and reduce waste
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