electronics for canting keel

[lausl]

we are designing a canting keel with 480kg ballast and are looking for hydraulics and electronics to move the thing - have you got experience - the system shoud have three buttons ,

move the keel to starboard
move the keel to port and
move the keel to the middle position without using the pump
(a sort of release valve) to save electric capacity, this only works
when the keel is on the elevated windward side

The movement should commence slowly, and also terminate slowly (ramp)

Thankful for any input.

Klaus

[TedZ]

Are you looking for a turnkey job or recommendations on an approach?

This is not difficult, could be tedious depending on equipment chosen. If you have two or more stage valves and a good way - and there are many - of knowing where the cylinders are positioned, any embedded system programer can program it and many single board processors the size of a pack of cigarettes will handle the work. I am a Rabbit fan. http://www.rabbit.com/

Ted

[TedZ]

As i think of this you could use two valves to get the ramp effect. Open one to start the motion and then when you want add a second one to increase the speed. Keeps the valve cost MUCH lower. Or one like this which is infinitely proportional. http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/31106

This is the way you know where the cylinder is.
http://www.encoder-technology.com/

You should be on your way.

Ted