An actuator that at least inhibits the deleterious effects of corrosive
fluids, such as seawater, does not rely on relatively expensive
materials, and is capable of operation and relatively high pressures
includes two sealed buffer chambers. One buffer chamber is supplied with
a buffer fluid, and the other buffer chamber is maintained at a vacuum
pressure. The buffer fluid in the first buffer chamber helps remove any
residual corrosive fluid that may remain on the actuator translation
member as it moves into the actuator housing, and any fluid that leaks
into the second chamber will boil as a result of the vacuum pressure
therein.