The Ortlinghaus company - well-known for its innovations in the field of press clutches and their associated control systems - has set itself the task of reducing the actuation times of hydraulic press clutches even further so as to gain valuable time for status requests, e.g., during the electronically-controlled transfer of components, and, in addition, that of increasing machine safety by considerably shortening emergency stop and cut-off times.

The newly-developed Ortlinghaus progressive control system reduces the total braking time in the event of an emergency stop by up to 60% compared to a configuration involving a conventional control system. Furthermore, as in the case of the well-known MCB (clutch and brake) control systems, the electrohydraulic progressive control system permits the gentle engagement of both clutch and brake. During a gentle braking operation, the total braking time can be cut by up to 80%. This reduction in the control system's operating and cut-off times is mainly due to the reduction in the secondary times needed for filling and evacuating the piston chamber and not to an increase in acceleration values during clutch engagement and braking operations.

Both to reduce stresses acting on the press drive and to reduce engagement noises, the progressive control system permits smooth acceleration or retardation of the machine masses to match the process running at the time.  For this purpose, the clutch is engaged with a variable pressure, the brake being disengaged against a variable pressure. Firm braking is available at all times to cope with an emergency stop.

The progressive control system is preset ex factory to match each required application, so that all that is necessary during its commissioning is fine adjustment. A switchover to full clutch engagement or braking torque is accomplished by a time- or angle of rotation-dependent signal from the machine's control system.