1.

4 Valves

• Valves are used to control the direction of flow of the

fluid.
– Input valves - manual operated and mechanical
operated (limit switch) valves
– Output valves – valves that control the air supplied to
the actuating device- pneumatically operated valve
– Processing valves – used to implement the control
algorithm of the system – they control the output
valves based on the information they received from
the input valves.

1
Directional valve description
• They are specified in terms of the B A

– Number of ports Spring

– Number of controlled positions PB P R
– Its normal position
– Method of operation to hold a position
• Figure below shows the symbol of a 4/2 way valve push button
operated spring return normally closed valve
• Has 4 ports designated with letters A, B, P, and R
• Two switching positions designated with two adjacent boxes with
each box indicating their port connection and air flow direction
(designated with arrow)
• The left position with push button and the right with spring.
• Normal position is the spring position (Normally closed (NO) as Port
A is connected with P)

2
 Port designation

• P - for connecting the pressure supply thus air/oil

can only enter into this port.
• R - a vent to the atmosphere (return of oil to the
sump in case of hydraulic valve) thus air can only
exhaust to atmosphere through this port.
• A and B - for providing air to the actuator and air
can enter or leave through these ports.
B A

Spring
PB P R

3
Operation

• When PB is pressed, port P is connected to B and port A is

connected to R. Hence, causes air or hydraulic fluid to flow
from P to B and air vented to the atmosphere or oil
returned to the sump via the connection of A to R.
• When the push button is released, the spring pushes the
connections to the state indicated in the box attached to it,
thus port P is now connected to A and port B to R.
B A

Spring
PB P R

4
 Method of operation

• Valves uses four type of mechanisms to switch from one

position to other. These are
– Manual B A

Spring
– Mechanical
PB P R
– Air/pneumatically operated
– Electrically operated (solenoid valve)
• Valves can be
– Monostable- has a defined preferred position to which
it automatically returns (spring return)
– Bistable – has no preferred position and remains in one
position until the other impulse signal is operated
(Detent mechanism)
5
Manual operation
• Is generally obtained by
attaching an operator pad,
suitable for manual control, to
a valve.
• Monostable (above) – are
generally used for starting,
stopping and otherwise
controlling a pneumatic
control unit.
• Bistable (below) – for many
application it is more
convenient if the valve
maintains its position
• Standard symbols for manual
operations
6 methods
Manual operation
• Is generally obtained by
attaching an operator pad,
suitable for manual control, to
a valve.
• Monostable (above) – are
generally used for starting,
stopping and otherwise
controlling a pneumatic
control unit.
• Bistable (below) – for many
application it is more
convenient if the valve
maintains its position
• Standard symbols for manual
operations
7 methods
Mechanical operation
• On an automated machine, mechanically operated valves can detect
moving machine parts to provide signals for control of the working
cycle.

 The main are plunger and roller lever

 The one way roller (or idle return roller) will only operate when the
control cam strikes the actuator when moving in one direction. In the
reverse direction the roller collapses without operating the valve.
 Their standard symbols are shown below. And also for spring return
and mechanical detent (locking)

8
Mechanical operation
• On an automated machine, mechanically operated valves can detect
moving machine parts to provide signals for control of the working
cycle.

 The main are plunger and roller lever

 The one way roller (or idle return roller) will only operate when the
control cam strikes the actuator when moving in one direction. In the
reverse direction the roller collapses without operating the valve.
 Their standard symbols are shown below. And also for spring return
and mechanical detent (locking)

9
More on port designation

• Originally the codes for ports was using letters adapted from
hydraulic equipment. P from Pump and R from Return to the oil
tank. A from the NC 2/2 or 3/2 way valve and B from the NO one
for output ports.
• And Z for pilot port to initiate the power connection to port A and Y
to the other or port B.
• The ISO 1219 work groups finally decided that ports should be
numbered and supply should be 1, the outputs 2 and 4, the pilot
port connecting 1 with 2 is then 12 etc. as shown in Table below

Supply NC NO Exhaust Exhaust Pilot for Pilot for

output output NC NO NC NO
P A B R S Z Y
1 2 4 3 5 12 14
10
Processing valves

• They are used to implement the control strategy

and the speed of the piston or actuator
• The basics are
1. Check valve
2. Throttle valve
3. One way flow control valve
4. Quick exhaust valve
5. Shuttle valve
6. Dual pressure valve
7. Time delay valve
8. Pressure sequence valve
12
Check valve

• Allows free airflow in one direction and seals it off

in the opposite.
• They are also called non-return valve.
• They are incorporated in speed controllers and self-
sealing fittings.
• Construction and ISO symbol shown below

13
Throttle valve

• Also called flow control valve.

• Allows controlled (adjustable) flow in both
directions. Thus it is a two-way flow control valve
• Its ISO symbol is shown below

100%

14
One way flow control valve

• Consists of a check valve and a throttle valve in one

housing.
• In most cases flow controls should be used to meter the
exhaust flow of a cylinder. This will provide better control
and a smother cylinder stroke.
• Construction and operation and ISO symbol shown

15
Quick exhaust valve
• Functions in a similar way as the check valve.
• The air flow from P (1) to A (2) is free, the rubber gasket lies
on right, and its gasket component is bent inwards.
However, when pressure falls at P, the air flow coming from
A sets the valve on the left side and opens the path to the
outlet through the exhaust silencer (3).
• Permits a maximum piston speed by exhausting the
cylinder directly at its port with great flow capacity, instead
of through the tube and valve
• Construction, operation and ISO symbol

2
1
3
16
Shuttle valve
• It is a three-ported valve with two signal pressure inlets and
an outlet. The outlet is connected to either --- input. If only
one input is pressurized, the shuttle valve prevents the
signal pressure from escaping through –exhausted signal
port on the opposite side.
• It is called OR (logic) valve.
• Construction, operation and ISO symbol
• It is used to implement controlling from two positions and
other logical functions

17
Dual pressure valve

• A pressure will appear at port 2 only if there is pressure

at port 1 and 1 together.
• It is called AND (logic) valve.
• Its ISO symbol is shown below.
• It is used for implementing logical operations
• It is used for interlocking controls thus for safety related
operations
• For checking operation

18
Time delay valve
2
 It is a combinational valve consisting of a
3/2 way valve, a throttle relief valve and 12
an air reservoir.
 The ISO symbol of NC time delay valve is 100% 3
shown 1
 The delay time is generally 0-30 seconds. It can be extended by
using additional reservoirs.
 When the necessary control pressure from 12 has built up in the air
reservoir, the pilot spool of the 3/2 way valve is actuated.
 An accurate switch over time is assured if the air is clean and the
pressure constant.
 The valve has a lockable adjusting screw for setting time.

19
Pressure sequence valve
• They are installed where a specific pressure is
required for a switching operation.
• The output signal is transmitted only after the
required operation pressure has been reached. If the
signal pressure at port 12 exceeds that set on spring,
the valve opens.
• A FESTO model and the ISO symbol is shown below

12 1

20
Pressure sequence valve

• The pressure sequence

valve and its symbol from
the DE Lorenzo DL 0405PTS
pneumatic trainer system
found in your lab.
• Discuss on the construction,
operation and symbol in
relation with the FESTO in
the previous slide.

21
 1.3 ACTUATORS
• Pneumatic actuators will convert compressed air
energy into mechanical energy. They can be:
– Piston cylinders – linear movement
– Rotary actuators- reciprocating rotary motion with
an angle 2700 by vane or rack and pinion type
actuators and continuous rotation by air motor.
– Different types of air tools and grippers.
• Linear cylinders of varying design are the most
common power components used in pneumatic
automation.
• There are two basic types of piston cylinders: single
acting and double acting cylinders.

22
Single acting cylinder

• Powered only in one direction and needs another

force to return it such as an external load (as in car
jack) or a spring.
• Used for clamping, marking, ejecting etc.
• They have somewhat lower air consumption
compared with the equivalent size of double acting
cylinder.
• However there is a reduction in trust due to the
opposing spring force, and so a larger bore may be
required.
• Also accommodating the boring results in a longer
overall length and limited stroke length.
23
Single acting cylinder

• Powered only in one direction and needs another

force to return it such as an external load (as in car
jack) or a spring.
• Used for clamping, marking, ejecting etc.
• They have somewhat lower air consumption
compared with the equivalent size of double acting
cylinder.
• However there is a reduction in trust due to the
opposing spring force, and so a larger bore may be
required.
• Also accommodating the boring results in a longer
overall length and limited stroke length.
24
Double acting cylinder

• A cylinder in which air pressure may be alternately applied

to the opposite side of the piston to drive it in extending
or retracting direction.
• The trust available on the retracting stroke is reduced
due to the smaller effective piston area, but only
consideration if the cylinder to pull the same load in both
directions.
• Cylinders capacity expressed in terms of - operating
pressure ranges, strokes length, piston-rod diameters,
thrust values at a certain pressure, speeds, approachable
positions

25
Single acting symbol

26
Double acting cylinder

• A cylinder in which air pressure may be alternately applied

to the opposite side of the piston to drive it in extending
or retracting direction.
• The trust available on the retracting stroke is reduced
due to the smaller effective piston area, but only
consideration if the cylinder to pull the same load in both
directions.
• Cylinders capacity expressed in terms of - operating
pressure ranges, strokes length, piston-rod diameters,
thrust values at a certain pressure, speeds, approachable
positions

27
Double acting cylinder

• Its construction

28
Double acting cylinder-Cushioning

• Pneumatic cylinders are capable of very high speed and

considerable shock forces can be developed at the end
of the stroke.
• Smaller cylinders have fixed cushioning, i.e. rubber
buffers, to absorb the shock and prevent internal
damage to the cylinder.
• On large cylinders, the impact effect can be absorbed by
an air cushion that decelerate the piston over the last
portion of the stroke. This cushion traps some of the
exhausting air near the end of the stroke before allowing
it to bleed off more slowly through an adjustable needle
valve.

29
Adjustable cushioning (Air cushion)

30
Double acting cylinder symbols

• ISO symbols of pneumatic double acting cylinders

 With fixed cushioning

 With adjustable cushioning

31