Pressure controlled Pneumatic valve The basics of pneumatic control valves Directional-control valves are vital in any pneumatic

circuit, directing or blocking airflow to control the speed or sequence of operations. One method of classifying directional-control valves is by the flow paths under various operating conditions. Important factors are the number of possible valve positions and the number of ports and flow paths. Here are some basic configurations. Two-way, two-position valves consist of two ports connected with a passage that can be opened or blocked to control flow through the valve. Usually, an electrically activated solenoid shifts the valve spool or poppet to direct flow. The valve provides an easy on-off function, which many systems use to interlock, isolate, and connect various system parts. Three-way, two-position valves consist of three ports connected through passages within a valve body. The valves pressurize and exhaust one outlet port to control a single-acting cylinder, or pilot another valve. Three-way valves direct pressurized air to the cap-end side of the cylinder. Shifting the spool to the other extreme position blocks flow and pressure to the actuator. The actuator is connected to the exhaust passage, therefore spring force or gravity must return the rod to its original position. Three-way valves may also be used in pairs to operate a doubleacting cylinder, thus replacing a four-way valve. Consider using paired three-way valves instead of a four-way when high cylinder speeds are necessary. Close coupling of three-way valves to the cylinder ports reduces cylinder back pressure and pressure drop in the lines, permitting higher cylinder velocities. The valves are also used to save compressed air in highly cyclic applications or when intermediate positions are required. Four-way, two-position valves have four or five ports with two or three positions. A twoposition valve has two distinct flow paths in each position to actuate and reverse cylinders, rotary

actuators, or bidirectional motors. The spool directs flow from the pressure port while the other actuator port exhausts to atmosphere at the same time. The five-port version of the two-position, four-way valve has five individual ports which provide various valve configurations such as two different exhaust or pressure ports. In the latter case, for example, the valve might supply high pressure to actuate a cylinder and provide high clamping force, but deliver lower pressure (from a regulator) to release the clamp. Using lower pressure conserves energy. Four-way, three-position valves are also available in five-port versions. The most common center conditions for these valves are "all ports blocked" and "exhaust center." The two extreme positions of the four-port, four-way valve are the power positions of the valve which control actuator movement. The center position is designed to satisfy some system requirement such as locking an actuator or letting it float. This is just a brief look at directional valves and other factors, such as the basic valve design, should be considered when constructing pneumatic systems.

Types in Detail: 1. Pneumatic Operator, 3/2 Compact Design

Compact design provides a simple solution for air piloted 3 way valve requirements. These poppet design valves are body mounted, have 1/8 ports and require 3.5 bar control pressure to operate.

2. Pneumatic Operator, 3/2 Spool Design:

Direct acting pneumatic operated spool valves are available with single, double or with priority actuators. Priority ports override signals from opposite pilot operator to ensure positive return home position. Minimum pilot pressure 2.5 bar.

3. Directional Control Valves, (4 Way), Pneumatic Actuation (Poppet Design, In Line Mounting) Pneumatically operated poppet valves are available in single, double or with priority port actuators. The priority port design overrides the signal from the opposite pilot operator to insure return to home position. Poppet valves rely on O rings and gaskets to seal passage ways within the valve and generally offer higher flow rates than other types of valves. These valves are available in port sizes of 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2. Pilot ports are 1/8 for all size valves and require minimum of 35 PSI operating pressure. Single air pilot valves have an air supported spring return and require a pilot pressure equal to or greater than the air supply pressure at port 1. Valves can be mounted using through body holes or assembled on manifolds.

Directional Control Valves (4 Way), Pneumatic Actuation (Spool Design, In Line Mounting) Spool valves rely on a stainless steel spool moving within a sleeve to direct flow to the ports of the valve. Spool designs are known for their long life capability.Available in single, double or withpriority port actuators. The priority port design overrides the signal from the opposite pilot operator to insure return to home position. Pneumatically actuated spool valves are available in 1/8 and port sizes and require a minimum of 35 PSI operating pressure. Valves can be mounted individually using through body holes or assembled on manifolds.

5-2 Air Valves Features Introduction: 5/2 air valves have specific and unique uses other air valves do not. If you are supplying air to a double acting air actuator of some sort, perhaps a double acting air cylinder or a double acting rotary actuator , then your valve choices to supply them are to use two 3/2 valves, a single 4/2 valve, a single 5/2 valve, or a single 5/3 air valve. Since the purchase of one air valve will cost less than two valves of comparable size, circuit designers will opt for a single 5/2 or 4/2 solenoid valve to operate the double acting air actuator rather than two 3/2 valves.

Working: The 5/2 configured compressed air valve works the same way as the 4/2 style. The 5/2 valve will have two actuator ports that are plumbed to the air actuator (air cylinder). When compressed air is supplied to the 5/2 valve, that air will pass through the valve and air will flow to just one of the two actuator ports. The other actuator port will then be open to exhaust, allowing air from one side of the air actuator to escape, as a fresh compressed air supply flows into the other cylinder port.

Features: The first digit in a valve designation number refers to the number of ports that the valve has. The second number is the number of positions the internal air control has. Therefore, a 5/2 air valve will have five ports and two positions. Two of the ports are power ports to send compressed air to, and to alternatively exhaust air from, from the air cylinder.

One of the ports will be the supply air from the air main or the air compressor, to the valve. The other two ports - and this is the difference between the 4/2 and 5/2 - the other two will be exhaust ports. A 4/2 air valve has only one exhaust port - the 5/2 valve has two exhaust ports. Types & Its Working: Two Exhaust Ports The additional exhaust port provides significant benefit to the system designer. That's why, in selecting a valve for a double acting actuator, I would always opt for a 5/2 version over a 4/2. Having two exhaust ports allows the installation of two exhaust flow controls, one for each exhaust port.

Working Assuming that the valve is installed close enough to the actuator that throttling the exhaust at the valve will modify the actuator speed, then having two exhaust flow controls means that the air cylinder can be adjusted for one speed to extend another speed to retract. For an air operated rotary actuator, the two speed controls can adjust speed of rotation in one direction and allow a different speed for rotation in the other. Dual Supply Ports Depending on the manufacturer and their design of their 5/2 valve, you may be able to use the two exhaust ports as dual supply ports, and use what was the original supply port as a common exhaust. Plumbing the 5/2 valve with supply air to the two exhaust ports does negate the dual flow control possibility for that valve. However, now with the two supply lines, two separate pressures can be sent through one 5/2 valve to allow different forces to be generated by the cylinder in the extend or retract cycle.

 If the application for a particular actuator means that it is moving without load in one or the other direction, lowering the pressure for that movement can save significant dollars in reduced compressed air and energy use.

Note: If it's your job to select a valve for a double acting cylinder application, picking the 5/2 design over the 4/2 provides some benefits, all other things being equal.