Hydraulic and Pneumatic Control Valves

Lecture 4 Engineering 475 Automated Production Systems

Control Valves
There are three principal types of control valves used in pneumatic/hydraulic systems.

Direction Control used to control the flow direction Usually solenoid driven Flow Control used to control the flow rate

Pressure Control Regulates P across valve

Direction Control
Direction control valves control the direction of the fluid or air flow.
Four Port/Three Position Directional Control Valve

Extend

P T

B Off A
Retract

In the above example the control valve must be able to direct the flow for three distinct operations Extend, Hold, Retract

Variety of Shapes and Sizes

Direction control valves that do similar things come in many different shapes and sizes.

Sandwich Valve Assembly

Cartridge Valve Assembly

Schematic Symbols
A B a o P T Port Working lines Pressure supply Exhaust/Return Pilot lines Designation A,B,C, etc P R,S (pneumatic) T (hydraulic) Z,Y,X, etc.

G A square represents each position of a valve. G Valve positions can be identified by lower case letters a, b, c, etc. G The neutral or centered position is identified by the letter o.

Schematic Symbols
(Actuation)

Push Button

Solenoid

Detent (holds position)

Spring

Roller Limit Switch

The type of valve actuation must also be specified in a schematic.

Pilot Line

Example
Symbol for 4/3 Valve

4/3 valve, solenoid operated, spring return to center. Pressure line unloads to tank and the load is held in the center position.

Example
Symbol for 4/2 Valve

P T Pushbutton extend, spring retract when pushbutton released.

Commercial Options

Wandfluf of America, Inc.

Poppet Valves
A poppet valve uses simple discs, cones, or balls in conjunction with a mating valve seat to control flow direction.

2/2 poppet valve, pushbutton to open, spring return to close

Parr, Fig. 4-9

Spool Valves
Spool valves use very precisely honed spools and valve ways to divert the flow between various ports.

Parr, Fig. 4-13

Cartridge Valves

Screw-in Cartridge Valve Examples of different components

Manifold Assembly

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4/3 Cartridge Valve

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Close Up of Valve in Cross Section

Detail of Valve Cavity in Manifold Poppet Valve Installed in Cavity

Cartridge Valve Manifold Assembly

Very complex combinations of cartridge valves can be assembled into very small packages.

Manifold Cross Sections

Check Valves
Check valves are used to check (prevent) flow in one direction while allowing flow in the opposite direction. Check valves are available in a variety of different configurations. Both figures are for cartridge type check valves that screw into a manifold. B

A
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Pilot Operated Check Valves

Pilot operated check valves are used extensively in load holding applications involving spool type direction control valves.

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Flow Control Valves

There are primary types of flow control valves. G Needle valves G Pressure compensated flow regulators G Proportional flow control valves

Needle Valves
Needle valves are adjustable and generate flow control by creating a pressure drop across a valve opening. B

A B
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Needle Valve Pressure Drop Data

The following graphs illustrate the kind of data that is available from the manufacturers of needle valves.

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Pressure Compensated Flow Regulators

Maintains a constant flow rate regardless of load pressure changes in the downstream circuit.

B A A
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Pressure Compensated Flow Regulator Data

Typical performance data for a pressure compensated flow control valve.

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Proportional Flow Control Valves

Proportional flow control valves are servo type devices that create a flow that is proportional to the solenoid current. They are often packaged to provide both direction and flow control. In addition to the valve, an electronics module must be used that provides a constant current source to the solenoid(s) based on a programmable input.

Wandfluf of America, Inc.