Gears have a long history and have been used for many purposes throughout civilization. By starting with an initial source of motion and force, then combining that with intermediate gearing, engineers and designers throughout time have created functions that result in output of desired motion and force for purposes of performing many different functions. Many forms of gearboxes exist that incorporate different features, depending on the manufacturer. The intent of this article is to touch on a few and provide a generalized overview of gearbox function and features. (LEFT: One of the earliest uses for gears in an industrial situation was for mills. This is the  Glade Creek Grist Mill in Babcock State Park, WV.)

The valve industry is made up of many types of valves that are used in countless types of applications, locations and service conditions. Most fall into one of three operation types: multi-turn, quarter-turn or linear.

Valve actuators deliver either linear or rotary force. It’s important that the force they provide to the valve is sufficient to operate it effectively, but not so great the seats or stems of the valve might get damaged.

Electric actuators are vital for operating a wide variety of valves and are used in many industrial applications. Most of these actuators offer a single output speed, which may or may not be the most desirable solution for the needs of a specific application. An alternative is an electric actuator provided with an integral variable frequency drive, which allows various, speed-dependent solutions.