Function

Check valves are two-port valves, meaning they have two openings in the body, one for fluid to enter and the
other for fluid to leave. There are various types of check valves used in a wide variety of applications. Check
valves are often part of common household items. Although they are available in a wide range of sizes and
costs, check valves generally are very small, simple, or inexpensive. Check valves work automatically and most
are not controlled by a person or any external control; accordingly, most do not have any valve handle or
stem. The bodies (external shells) of most check valves are made of plastic or metal.

Application

Check valves are often used with some types of pumps. Piston-driven and diaphragm pumps such as metering
pumps and pumps for chromatography commonly use inlet and outlet ball check valves. These valves often
look like small cylinders attached to the pump head on the inlet and outlet lines. Many similar pump-like
mechanisms for moving volumes of fluids around use check valves such as ball check valves. The feed
pumps or injectors which supply water to steam boilers are fitted with check valves to prevent back-flow.

Pneumatic Symbol
Air Pressure Gauge

Function

Many techniques have been developed for the measurement of pressure and vacuum. Instruments used to
measure and display pressure in an integral unit are called pressure gauges or vacuum gauges.
A manometer is a good example as it uses a column of liquid to both measure and indicate pressure. Likewise
the widely used Bourdon gauge is a mechanical device which both measures and indicates, and is probably
the best known type of gauge.
A vacuum gauge is an absolute pressure gauge used to measure the pressures lower than the ambient
atmospheric pressure.

Application

Altimeter
Barometer
MAP sensor
Pitot tube
Sphygmomanometer

Pneumatic Symbol
Shuttle Valve

Function
The basic structure of a shuttle valve is like a tube with three openings; one on each end, and one in the
middle. A ball or other blocking valve element moves freely within the tube. When pressure from a fluid is
exerted through an opening on one end it pushes the ball towards the opposite end. This prevents the fluid
from traveling through that opening, but allows it to flow through the middle opening. In this way two different
sources can provide pressure without the threat of back flow from one source to the other.
In pneumatic logic a shuttle-valve works as an OR gate.[2]
Application

A shuttle valve has several applications including:

1. The use of more switches on one machine: by using the shuttle valve, more than one switch can be
operated on a single machine for safety, and each switch can be placed at any suitable location. This
application is normally used with heavy industrial machinery.
2. Winch brake circuit: a shuttle valve provides brake control in pneumatic winch applications. When the
compressor is operated the shuttle valves direct air to open the brake shoes. When the control valve is
centered, the brake cylinder is vented through the shuttle valve, and the brake shoes are allowed to
close.
3. Air pilot control: converting from air to oil results in locking of the cylinder. Shifting the four-way valve to
either extreme position applies the air pilot through the shuttle valve, holding the two air-operated
valves open and applying oil under air pressure to the corresponding side of the cylinder. Positioning a
manual valve to neutral exhausts the air pilot pressure, closing the two-way valves, and trapping oil on
both sides of the cylinder to lock it in position.
4. Standby and emergency systems: compressor systems requiring standby or purge gases capability are
pressure controlled by the shuttle valve. This is used for instrumentation, pressure cables, or any system
requiring continuous pneumatic input. If the compressor fails, the standby tankregulated to slightly
under the compressor supplywill shift the shuttle valve and take over the function. When the
compressor pressure is re-established, the shuttle valve shifts back and seals off the standby system until
needed again.
Pneumatic Symbol
Double Acting Cylinder

Function

Double-acting cylinders. Double-acting cylinders (DAC) use the force of air to move in both extend and retract
strokes. They have two ports to allow air in, one for outstroke and one for instroke. Stroke length for this design is
not limited, however, the piston rod is more vulnerable to buckling and bending. The most common cylinder
configuration is double acting . Routing pressurized fluid into the rod end of a double-acting cylinder causes the
piston rod to retract. Conversely, routing pressurized fluid into the cap end causes the rod to extend.
Simultaneously, fluid on the opposite side of the piston flows back into the hydraulic reservoir. (If air is the fluid
medium, it usually is vented to the atmosphere.)

Application

The linear motion and high force produced by cylinders are big reasons why designers specify hydraulic and
pneumatic systems in the first place. One of the most basic of fluid power components, cylinders have evolved
into an almost endless array of configurations, sizes, and special designs. This versatility not only makes more-
innovative designs possible, but makes many applications a reality that would not be practical or possible
without cylinders.

Pneumatic Symbol
Manifold

Function

A hydraulic manifold is a manifold that regulates fluid flow between pumps and actuators and other
components in a hydraulic system. It is like a switchboard in an electrical circuit because it lets the operator
control how much fluid flows between which components of a hydraulic machinery. For example, in
a backhoe loader a manifold turns on or shuts off or diverts flow to the telescopic arms of the front bucket and
the back bucket. The manifold is connected to the levers in the operator's cabin which the operator uses to
achieve the desired manifold behaviour.

Application

A manifold is a fluid or gas distribution system or device that serves to bring many junctions into one place or a
single channel into an area where many points meet. Manifold systems range from simple supply chambers
with several outlets to multi-chambered flow control units including integral valves and interfaces to electronic
networks. Complex pneumatic and hydraulic circuits can utilize manifolds and manifold systems with interfaces
to sophisticated electronic network

Pneumatic Symbol
Pneumatic Switch

Function

A pressure switch for sensing fluid pressure contains a capsule, bellows, Bourdon tube, diaphragm or piston
element that deforms or displaces proportionally to the applied pressure. The resulting motion is applied, either
directly or through amplifying levers, to a set of switch contacts. Since pressure may be changing slowly and
contacts should operate quickly, some kind of over-center mechanism such as a miniature snap-action
switch is used to ensure quick operation of the contacts. One sensitive type of pressure switch uses mercury
switches mounted on a Bourdon tube; the shifting weight of the mercury provides a useful over-center
characteristic.

Application

Switch a household well water pump automatically when water is drawn from the pressure tank.
Switching off an electrically driven gas compressor when a set pressure is achieved in the reservoir
Switching off a gas compressor, whenever there is no feed in the suction stage.
in-cell charge control in a battery
Switching on/off an alarm light in the cockpit of an aircraft if cabin pressure (based on altitude) is critically
low.
Air filled hoses that activate switches when vehicles drive over them. Common for counting traffic and at
gas stations.

Pneumatic Symbol
Dual Pressure Valve

Function

A two pressure valve requires two pressurised inputs to allow an output from itself. This is achieved by a similar
system to the one shown below, one active input slides the shuttle valve shut blocking any air flow, add two
active inputs and the shuttle remains centralised allowing flow through the valve.

These valve types are commonly associated but not limited to safety circuits, for example a two push button
operation system whereby an operator is required to use both hands to activate two push buttons, this would
ensure the operators hands are out of reach of any hazardous operations.

Application

In low-pressure piercing applications, the Dual Pressure Valve can increase productivity by allowing operators
to reduce and raise water pressure without having to wait for the intensier pump to drop to the lower pressure
or rise to the higher pressure. The Jet Edge Dual Pressure Valve will operate with any manufacturer's pump,
cutting head, or cutting system, and is fully congurable for pressure change ratios.

Pneumatic Symbol
Directional Valve with Mechanical Relay

Function

The opening or closing of automatic control valves is usually done by electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic
actuators. Normally with a modulating valve, which can be set to any position between fully open and fully
closed, valve positioners are used to ensure the valve attains the desired degree of opening.
Air-actuated valves are commonly used because of their simplicity, as they only require a compressed air
supply, whereas electrically-operated valves require additional cabling and switch gear, and hydraulically-
actuated valves required high pressure supply and return lines for the hydraulic fluid.
The pneumatic control signals are traditionally based on a pressure range of 3-15psi (0.2-1.0 bar), or more
commonly now, an electrical signal of 4-20mA for industry, or 0-10V for HVAC systems. Electrical control now
often includes a "Smart" communication signal superimposed on the 4-20mA control current, such that the
health and verification of the valve position can be signalled back to the controller. The
HART, Fieldbus Foundation, and Profibus are the most common protocols.
Application

Taking the example of an air-operated valve, there are two control actions possible:

"Air or current to open" - The flow restriction decreases with increased control signal value.
"Air or current to close" - The flow restriction increases with increased control signal value.
There can also be failure to safety modes:

Air or control signal failure to close" - On failure of compressed air to the actuator, the valve closes under
spring pressure or by backup power.
Air or control signal failure to open" - On failure of compressed air to actuator, the valve opens under spring
pressure or by backup power.
The modes of failure operation are requirements of the failure to safety process control specification of the
plant. In the case of cooling water it may be to fail open, and the case of delivering a chemical it may be to
fail closed.
Pneumatic Symbol
Syngle Acting Cylinder

Function

Pneumatic cylinder(s) (sometimes known as air cylinders) are mechanical devices which use the power of
compressed gas to produce a force in a reciprocating linear motion.
Like hydraulic cylinders, something forces a piston to move in the desired direction. The piston is a disc or
cylinder, and the piston rod transfers the force it develops to the object to be moved. Engineers sometimes
prefer to use pneumatics because they are quieter, cleaner, and do not require large amounts of space for
fluid storage.
Because the operating fluid is a gas, leakage from a pneumatic cylinder will not drip out and contaminate the
surroundings, making pneumatics more desirable where cleanliness is a requirement. For example, in the
mechanical puppets of the Disney Tiki Room, pneumatics are used to prevent fluid from dripping onto people
below the puppets.

Application

Single-acting cylinders can be spring-extend or the more common spring-return type. A spring-extend cylinder
is useful for tool-holding fixtures because spring force can hold a workpiece indefinitely. The cylinder then
releases the workpiece upon application of hydraulic pressure. Spring-applied/hydraulic-pressure-released
(parking) brakes represent another common application of single-acting, spring-extend cylinders.

Pneumatic Symbol
Air Filter

Function

A pneumatic filter is a device which removes contaminants from a compressed air stream. This can be done
using a number of different techniques, from using a "media" type that traps particulates, but allows air to pass
through to a venturi, to a membrane that only allows air to pass through.

Application

It is now common to have various stages of filtration employed in a filter-regulator-lubricator form factor, usually
with the different filter housings connected. Air filtration applications are diverse and include end-user sectors
such as cleanroom environments, biomedical, analytical instrumentation, food processing, marine and
aviation, agriculture, manufacturing, food and beverage packaging and a host of other uses.

Pneumatic Symbol
Air Regulator

Function

A pressure regulator is a control valve that reduces the input pressure of a fluid to a desired value at its output.
Regulators are used for gases and liquids, and can be an integral device with an output pressure setting, a
restrictor and a sensor all in the one body, or consist of a separate pressure sensor, controller and flow valve.

Application

Pneumatic pressure controls fall in the category of pressure reducing valves, commonly referred to as air line
regulators. It is also essential, once a system pressure has been selected to perform a task, that air be supplied
at constant pressure to the actuator, regardless of variations in flow and upstream pressure. Thus, it is important
to add to a pneumatic system a pressure regulator that:

supplies air at constant pressure regardless of flow variation or upstream pressure,

helps operate the system more economically by minimizing the amount of pressurized air that is wasted. (This
happens when the system operates at pressures higher than needed for the job),
helps promote safety by operating the actuator at reduced pressure,
extends component life because operating at higher-than-recommended pressures increases wear rate and
reduces equipment life,
produces readily controlled variable air pressures where needed, and
increases operating efficiency

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