One of the widest ranges of non-electrical, ATEX certified pneumatic products for use in potentially explosive gaseous and dust laden atmospheres has been launched.
Asco Joucomatic has launched one of the widest ranges of non-electrical, ATEX certified pneumatic products for use in potentially explosive gaseous and dust laden atmospheres. The new products complement ASCO Joucomatic's range ATEX certified solenoid operators and enclosure types, which is one of the most extensive available. Asco's non-electrical ATEX range covers zones 1-21 /2-22, with certification for zone 0-20 available on magnetic detectors used with PEC and PES cylinders.

The range overall is extremely comprehensive, including air service units, spool valves, special interface Namur valves, direct operating solenoid valves, pilot valve islands with fieldbus control, and pneumatic cylinders with mountings and magnetic detectors.

All of these products are certified individually by ensuring that all metal surfaces, which could come into contact with an explosive atmosphere are earthed.

On most components earthing continuity is achieved by removing part of the surface treatment, ensuring direct contact to metal parts.

In the case of earth continuity on pneumatic cylinders, many manufacturers have found it necessary to connect the cylinder piston rod to earth.

With Asco Joucomatic's ATEX 450, 453 and 449 series of cylinders this procedure is not required, saving the equipment user both time and cost.

Asco's alternative is to provide five spot faces for earthing on the cylinders: four on the mounting screws of the rear end cap and one on the mounting screws of the front cap.

The benefit of this arrangement is that, as the piston rod is always in contact with the guiding bearing, earthing continuity is ensured between the body and rod of the cylinder.

OEMs and users also benefit from Asco Joucomatic's certification of individual devices, which provides flexibility by allowing the association of many like-certified components in assemblies.

What this means in practice is that users of pre-assembled ATEX devices are not constrained from modifying them, because the combination of devices or assemblies is not subject to a single overall ATEX certification.