Fundamental principles

Camcon binary actuating technology has been 15 years in development and is the invention of Camcon founder Wladyslaw Wygnanski. The Camcon® Binary Actuator can be applied in a variety of configurations depending on the target application, although they are all based on the same fundamental concept.

The Camcon® Binary Actuator is an elegant, smooth-operating valve design that recycles energy using a combination of magnets and springs. It requires energy only to change state of the actuator and will work for years off a small power source, typically a battery, at very high speeds.

The Camcon® Binary Actuator uses permanent and electric magnets in a revolutionary way to move an armature. A sprung armature is held in one of two states in a magnetic field created by permanent magnets. In contrast to all conventional technology, an electromagnetic coil is positioned with its axis perpendicular to the direction of armature movement.

Camcon swing type binary actuator

Electrical energy is required by the electromagnetic coil for a fraction of a second to disrupt the magnetic field created by the permanent magnets allowing the spring to move the armature.

A pair of springs enables energy to be stored and recycled and allows for a ‘soft landing’, reducing the stress that would otherwise be placed on the moving parts.

Graph shows soft landing of Camcon® Binary Actuator compared with a traditional solenoid valve

It is this patented arrangement that leads to the high switching speed, low energy consumption, low heat dissipation and long life features of the Camcon® Binary Actuator. It also enables the Camcon® Binary Actuator to be is driven under digital control and can be switched at high speeds.