Innovative Control System for Inflatable Cuffs

With the INFLAS® PRO, EBRO ARMATUREN offers an innovative solution for controlling inflatable sleeves in the INFLAS® valve series. The microcontroller-based control system not only synchronizes all operations during the opening and closing of the valve, but also monitors all relevant parameters, enabling it to proactively detect potential malfunctions and report them to the PLC via a potential-free contact.

INFLAS® Valves with Inflatable Cuff

The INFLAS® sealing system was developed for use with highly abrasive or very sensitive media. When the valve is in the closed position, the sealing cuff is pneumatically pressed against the valve disc. If grooves have already formed due to abrasion, these are closed by the pressure of the sleeve. The valve remains leak-tight. This allows for the compensation of abrasive wear over a long period of time. When the valve is opened, the sealing sleeve relaxes and initially creates a narrow gap between the valve disc and the sleeve. This significantly reduces friction, allowing the valve disc to be opened with low torque. When the valve is closed, the integrated control system checks the validity of the operation in a fraction of a second and controls the process autonomously: The valve disc is moved to the “Closed” position. At this point, the valve is not yet completely closed. An annular gap between the disc and the housing ensures that, during the closing process, abrasive media are not rubbed into the sealing sleeve and sensitive products are not crushed. The media flow comes to a halt, and the sleeve gently nestles against the valve disc. The valve is fully closed. INFLAS® valves are part of EBRO’s core product portfolio, ensuring that replacement parts are available worldwide at short notice.

Innovative and forward-thinking

The INFLAS PRO controls the entire process sequence via a microcontroller. Each individual program step is monitored, and any malfunctions are reported. This ensures an even higher level of process reliability. All relevant parameters can be individually adjusted at any time in the control system. The use of Hall sensors ensures extremely high precision in the measured values, e.g., for detecting the angular position of the valve disc.

Look-Ahead Function

INFLAS® is particularly recommended for use on pressure-transmitting vessels, as even the smallest scratches in the sealing element can quickly develop into serious channels due to pressure surges. The signals reported by the controller provide information about the valve’s current condition. Among other things, this allows for the detection of leaks in the sleeve and wear on the valve disc. The so-called Look-Ahead function enables preventive maintenance by reporting malfunctions before they occur. In this way, maintenance can be planned in advance and unplanned plant downtime can be avoided. The INFLAS® PRO operates autonomously in the field. Adjustments to the PLC of the overall system are generally not required, even during retrofitting. It is powered conventionally via 24V DC. INFLAS® valves are ideally suited for applications where the product being conveyed must not be ground down or where the medium is highly abrasive. The extended service life leads to a significant reduction in maintenance requirements. Nearly all EBRO valves lined with elastomers can be combined with INFLAS® PRO.