Actuators have made the world we live in much easier then most people realize. They are used in a number of different industries all over the world but also in the home of the average person on a daily basis. They come in a variety of sizes and uses. From the valve actuator to the manufacturing actuator there are many things that would be impossible without their assistance.
Unless you happen to be a person who works in that field, you are probably wondering what the heck an actuator is in the first place. There is nothing mysterious, arcane or occult about actuators. They are quite simple machines that use a force of some sort to create motion. The engine of a car, for example, is one example. The force of the moving pistons creates motion that is used to move the car forward. A valve actuator, as another example, is moved by the action of an electrical current. Once it moves inside a pipe, the valve is opened allowing gas or liquid to flow freely. If the current is removed it closes stopping the flow.
Most people do not have to worry about a valve actuator or the actuator that is inside their engine because they do the work without any interference from people. The same applies in the kitchen where a number of smaller actuators are used in a variety of appliances. These are known a pneumatic actuator. They use energy, most often in the form of electricity, to create either a linear or rotary motion. The rotary motion of a blender or electric whisk is a common example. They are such clever and useful devices that they have had a profound effect on many industries.
Of all the industries that have been affected, some would say that the textile industry had the most profound effect. In the early 20th century, the use of actuators increased the production rate of textile manufacturers by a great degree. The electric motor is the actuator here that drives the machinery that is used in the production of various textiles. With machines crimping, warping, spinning, and performing all the actions that manual labor needed to do, the production speed was greatly increased. Actuators have had a profound effect on many industries making things easier and safer. Valve actuators ensure that the flow of liquids or gasses is controlled and where would many of us be without our cars to get us around?
Whether it is the pneumatic actuator in your blender, the electric actuator in a textile factory, the manufacturing actuator in a car's engine, or a valve actuator in a pipeline, they are all important parts of the world today. The word has become such a good explanation for one thing facilitating another that it is being used in other contexts as well. But no matter where the original word goes it will always refer to those devices that use some sort of force to create motion of another sort.
