Introduction

A pneumatic cylinder simply converts air pressure into linear motion. When selecting a pneumatic cylinder, you must pay attention to: how far the piston extends when activated, known as "stroke" surface area of the piston face, known as "bore size" action type pressure rating, such as "50 PSI" type of connection to each port, such as "1/4" NPT" must be rated for compressed air use mounting method

Action Types
By "action type", we mean how the cylinder acts when pressure is applied and removed. A "single-acting" cylinder has a single port for compressed air. When air pressure is removed, the cylinder does nothing to retract the piston. Whatever the piston pushed out must push the piston back in.

A cylinder that is "single-acting with spring return" has hookups like the "single-acting" cylinder. When air pressure is removed, the spring pushes the piston back

into the resting position. In some cases the cylinder is sealed and the trapped air performs as an "air spring".

A single-acting cylinder with spring return requires more air pressure to activate because you are pushing against both the load and the spring. A "double-acting" cylinder has two ports for compressed air.

Aim
work by way of pressurized gas used to create mechanical motion. Hydraulic jacks, on the other hand, use liquid to affect motion. Both types of jacks are available to consumers; however, hydraulic jacks are more popular for a number of reasons, and pneumatic jacks are less readily available due to the drawbacks of pneumatic mechanics. This doesn't mean that a pneumatic jack is a bad choice, but rather that a comparison between the two products is time well spent. Pneumatic systems compress air or some other gas in order to increase the pressure it exerts. This high pressure gas is then used to make machine parts move. In the late 19th century, only wealthy industrialists used pneumatic systems, as only they had the massive steam engines necessary to run the compression systems of the time. However, in the early part of the 20th century, smaller and more efficient motors ensured the widespread industrial usage of pneumatic systems. Even though they have become less widespread since the latter half of the 20th century, they are still a staple feature of many businesses. To understand how pneumatic systems work, it is necessary to understand gases and compression. The laws of conservation of mass and energy mean that even when a gas is compressed, it still contains the same amount of energy and number of molecules. Because they are held in a smaller space, the surface of the gas container experiences more collisions with the gas molecules. This means that the pressure and volume are inversely proportional to each other, according to Brian S. Elliott, author of the "Compressed Air Operations Manual." If the air is compressed to one-tenth its original volume, it exerts ten times the pressure.

Advantages of Pneumatic Systems

Pneumatic systems have several advantages. Because they use air to transmit power, they produce few pollutants. Leaks will not cause spills of toxic chemicals. Pneumatic machines tend to be very simple. Because they are simple, there are few parts to break and they need less maintenance than other types of machinery. Because compressed air can be stored in containers, it is always available, even when the electricity goes out. They also present very little fire hazard.

Literature Review
Pneumatic systems utilize the power of air to do work. Many tools that utilize pneumatic systems are used in the construction industry because they are so efficient. Features Pneumatic systems operate under the compressed air provided by an air source. The most common and efficient air source utilized by consumers is an air compressor. Tools Nearly every traditional power tool is available in a version utilizing compressed air instead of electricity. Consumers can purchase pneumatic nail guns, staple guns, buffers, jackhammers and wrenches. Components Along with the actual pneumatic tool and the air compressor, pneumatic systems require some level of hosing to transfer the compressed air to the tool. The Canada Center for Occupational Health and Safety recommends only using abrasion-resistant hosing in pneumatic systems. Function Air compressors are powered by electricity. Air is compressed in a tank to a specific pressure per square inch (PSI). Tools can tap into this compressed air via specially designed hoses and drive nails or pound a hammer for example. Safety The Tool Hut recommends employing hearing protection near or while operating pneumatic equipment. All components of the pneumatic system should be maintained regularly according to American Pneumatic Tools. The Reservoir The reservoir is used to hold the fuel for the compressor. Air is used most often in construction and other applications where pneumatics features prominently, but other gases may also be used. From the reservoir, fuel is pumped into the compressor, and then the reservoir receives "waste" fuel back from the compressor to be used again in a repeating cycle.

The Compressor A compressor consists of a piston inside a cylinder. When it receives the gas from the reservoir, the piston presses on the fuel to compress it beyond the 100 lbs. per square inch (psi) that it was originally put into the reservoir at (fpef.org). Once the piston compresses the gas enough, a door leading into the piping system opens and the fuel heads on its way to the point of power generation.

The Pipes The pipes leading from the compressor to the point of power generation are where the most leakage in pressure occurs, according to S.R. Majumdar, author of "Pneumatic Systems: Principles and Maintenance," so it is imperative that your pipes be equipped with valves to monitor and regulate the pressure, flow and direction of the fuel gas. How it Flows The compressor receives air from the reservoir and increases it from 100 psi until a door leading into the pipes opens. Compressed air is pushed through a limiting valve and past a second reservoir, where excess air is stored and pressure relieved, while enough air to elicit mechanical motion at the end of the circuit moves on through the rest of the pipes. Pneumatic systems are mechanical systems that use compressed gasses. They are similar to hydraulic systems, which are mechanical systems that use liquids in the transfer of forces. Pneumatic systems are almost everywhere in the modern world. Dentists use pneumatics to operate drills, carpenters use pneumatics to power air hammers, truckers use pneumatic brakes and NASA uses pneumatics to control the operation of satellite launch vehicles. Basic Principals Pneumatics is basically a method to turn electricity into mechanical motion using compressed gasses instead of motors or electromagnets. For many applications, this is much more efficient and practical. Systems typically include an air compressor, which stores compressed air in a cylinder and release it under electric control. The compressed gas is almost always ordinary air because it is free and non- toxic. Often the air is slightly modified by taking out some of the water vapor and adding a small amount of atomized oil to make the gas more machine friendly. Applications Pneumatics systems are widely used for power tools. The power tool that an automobile mechanic uses to take the lug nuts that hold a tire onto the hub is one example. The mechanic can easily take off even the toughest nuts in just a few seconds. There are dozens of other pneumatic power tools in dentistry, carpentry, machine shops and laboratories. Other applications include jackhammers, the cylinder delivery systems used by some banks and various launchers and guns designed to propel objects. One interesting application is a new French automobile that runs on compressed air. Electricity is used overnight to compress air into an on board cylinder and the car runs all day with no fuel and no pollution emissions.

Pneumatic vs. Hydraulic Hydraulic systems usually use oil as the control fluid. Hydraulic systems have the advantage that they can handle bigger loads, and the disadvantage is that if there is a leak it causes a big mess and is expensive to fix. A leaks in a pneumatic system means that you vent ordinary air, which can be replaced for free when the leak is fixed. Pneumatic systems are preferred when there must be a certain amount of "give" or "play" in the system (gasses are compressible). Hydraulic systems are preferred when high pressures must be maintained with no fluctuation.

High-Tech Applications

Pneumatics is not a dying technology--far from it. There are at least two high-tech applications of pneumatics that have a place in our technological future: McKibbens and pneumatic logic systems. McKibbins are sometimes called "artificial muscles." They are inflatable rubber tubes surrounded by a wire mesh. When inflated they contract and then elongate when deflated. They are currently being used to power robotic arms and legs. Pneumatic logic is the use of complex channels for fluids that act like simple computer circuits. Pneumatic logic systems have many advantages over electronic systems such as the fact that radiation does not interfere with them. These systems are currently being used by NASA to control rocket-stage separation.

REFERENCE
Text book by R.S KHURMI www.wikkipedia.com www.google.com