Valves; what do you need to know about compressed air valves?

2/2 Air Valves

First, we will talk about a family of fairly simple air valves designated as 2/2 air valves. The air valve designation 2/2 might also be noted as 2/2 NC or 2/2 NO, means the following: The compressed air valve has two working ports one for air supply in, and another for air supply to the application. Air piloted 2/2 valves may also have a third air port for the pilot signal to shift the valve. it can only be shifted into one of two positions either its opened (something flows through it) or it is closed (nothing flows through it) it is normally open (NO) or normally closed (NC) in its un-actuated, resting state

Drawing a 2/2 Air Valve; If you are planning to be involved with circuit design for industry, or you just want to draw a circuit for your own use, there are standards of drawing pneumatic circuits and air valves that you should know and use. It's not at all complex. Here are the steps.

Start by drawing a square on your paper. It's easier if you use graph paper to help keep the lines straight. Then, after you've drawn your box, add a couple of lines to the square, as shown in graphic Fig.15a above. The outer square box depicts the valve body. The air paths through the valve and the two ports in a 2/2 valve are shown by a line or lines running into the valve body from the top and bottom centre. If the two ports are shown as in the drawing in Fig. 15a, then the air cannot flow through this 2/2 valve. It is depicted as closed. The "cross bars" drawn at the top of the lines inside the box shows that air cannot flow through this valve. Some circuit designers show the lines that are depicting the ports extending slightly through the wall of the valve. Some don't. I am of the latter persuasion.

If the lines are as shown in the drawing in Fig. 16, then it shows that air can flow through this valve and this graphic depicts the valve as open. Remember the definition of a 2/2 valve? Its a valve that has 2 ports, and two positions, right? In Fig.15a and in Fig.16 we show the same 2/2 valve in both possible configurations. In one we have shown that the flow path through the valve is closed, and in the other we show the flow path as open. Both schematics are showing the same valve, in each of its two possible flow-path configurations.

In Fig. 17 we have taken the two drawings, Fig.15a and Fig.16, and joined them together. Now we have the schematic for one complete 2/2 valve.

Fig. 17 shows the same valve with both possible valve configurations depicted. On the left side of the drawing the valve is shown as open, and on the right side of the same drawing that same valve is shown as closed. The positioning of the two graphics of the same valve, either with the air passing through it on the right side of the drawing, or the air not able to pass through it placed on the right side, has meaning. I will discuss this later. Please let me reiterate to make it clear! Fig. 17 shows one 2/2 valve, with both possible configurations or positions for that one valve, drawn in a single Schematic diagram. And this is how you draw the basic 2/2 valve! You will realize that a 2/2 valve won't work all by itself? To use a 2/2 air valve you will need valve actuators. A circuit drawing can't just show the air lines and the various valve bodies and components, but must also show how each valve is to operate. Then, others looking at your circuit drawing will know what valve and what valve actuators to select for that circuit. In this page, in order to keep the concepts and the drawing of the valves as un-complex as possible, I have not shown the valve actuators. For more valves.html information refer to http://www.about-air-compressors.com/2-2-air-

Air-actuators, air cylinders: What do you need to know?

Air-actuators / Air Cylinders; there are many definitions of the word actuator, most referring to "one who actuates". We did find one that relates more specifically to our needs: Air-actuators are "A device that creates mechanical motion by converting various forms of energy to rotating or linear mechanical energy" Source: www.advancedtubular.com When we use an air-actuator we are converting the energy stored in our compressed air into mechanical energy. The compressed air moves things, usually by attaching them to a cylinder piston rod.

Types of Actuators The type of actuator you will need for your application will depend on what it is you are trying to do and the range of motion desired. There are linear and rotary actuators commercially available. You can select electric or hydraulic actuators rather than air

actuators; electricity and hydraulics being other readily available forms of industrial energy. Electrical actuators have their place, though pneumatic actuators will provide more power in a smaller package at a lower cost than electrical actuators can. If yours is a high cycle speed application, electric actuators wouldn't be your first choice as they dont normally provide the speed that an actuator driven by compressed air can. For precise positioning applications, the first choice is often electric actuators. They can provide positioning to tighter tolerances than most air cylinders. Also, where compressed air is not readily available, electric actuators can be the option of choice. Hydraulic actuators are the champion when it comes to brute force, easily outperforming air cylinders of the same bore size. With hydraulics you can generate much more force from a much smaller actuator than is possible with air. This power to size superiority comes at a higher cost over pneumatic components. If it's high brute force - thousands of pounds of force - or you need to generate relatively high force in a smaller footprint perhaps where there isnt room for a pneumatic actuator of the size necessary to provide the force the application requires - hydraulic actuators are called for. Generally though, if you can generate the force you need with air and the actuator footprint isn't the biggest issue, your application doesn't require precise positioning, then air cylinder actuators would be your first choice. They are easy to obtain, have simple operation and are relatively low cost.

Sizing When sizing the air actuator for your application, youll need to understand this:

Force

Pressure

Area

Have a look at this page for more information on cylinder size to better understand how the formula F=PxA applies to air cylinders in general and the surface area of the cylinder piston in particular. Once you know the surface area of the piston inside the air actuator, by knowing the air pressure that flows into the cylinder air pressure being measured in pounds per square inch (PSI) - it is easy to calculate the theoretical force to be generated by that cylinder with that air pressure. It is force that is available theoretically only, as you will likely lose about 10% or so of the force that is available from a specific bore size cylinder just to overcome the friction created by the piston and rod seals inside itself. Rule of thumb: Consider over sizing the air cylinder selected by at least 25% for your application, this to account for force loss to friction and to allow sufficient force-safety-margin when the cylinder is working. Nothing about air cylinders or air actuators is complex, though there is lots of information about them and their uses.

Single Acting Air Cylinders

Single Acting Air Cylinders; what are they and why do we need them? Contrary to what may have been believed for years, compressed air is really quite expensive. If you have an air cylinder that's cycling in one direction under no load, or under low load, you can reduce your compressed air consumption and money by using a single acting air cylinder rather than a more conventional double acting air cylinder. A single acting air cylinder only uses compressed air to move the piston and rod in one direction while the double acting uses compressed air to both extend and retract the cylinder rod. The compressed air ($$) savings on a high cycle cylinder application can be huge. In an application for a single acting air cylinder, it's the load itself and / or a spring that returns or extends the air cylinder rod. For example, a cylinder in a vertical - rod up - configuration will use compressed air to extend the rod vertically. When the operation with the rod extended is complete, the valve shifts, and rather than using compressed air to retract the rod, the weight of the load on the rod is sufficient to drive the rod into the retract position. In this case, the single acting air cylinder operates without the need for internal spring. In another example, a small stroke and bore single acting air cylinder is used to eject parts from a conveyor belt. Compressed air is used to drive the rod out to impact and eject the part. The integral spring inside the air cylinder is compressed as the rod extends under compressed air. When the valve shifts, the air is exhausted from the back end, and now the spring can drive the piston back, thereby retracting the rod.

Double-acting air pneumatics.

cylinders:

The

workhorse

of

industrial

Double-acting air cylinders! These are the work horses of the compressed air circuit, so named, because compressed air is used to both extend and retract the rod - a double action.

Single acting air cylinders use an internal spring to either extend or retract the cylinder rod. The first graphic depicts a double-acting air cylinder in which compressed air has entered the cylinder port at the rod-end of the cylinder. The piston and rod combination are shaded in purple, and the compressed air is shown in blue, for ease of identification.

Air has pressurized the inside of the cylinder barrel, and in so doing, has driven the cylinder piston to the rear. In so doing, the rod, which is attached to the piston, is retracted, and whatever tooling is attached to the rod end, does some work. The air that was in the rear of the cylinder has exited from the rear-cap cylinder port, through the exhaust port in the air valve, and out to atmosphere.

The second graphic shows that the reverse has occurred. Air has entered the rear cylinder cap port, driven the piston to the rod end, and the rod has extended, allowing it to do some sort of work. Double-acting air cylinders can be manufactured in a repairable or non-repairable format. They are usually manufactured to industrial standards, including those of the National Fluid Power Association or to the European standards of ISO-6431 or ISO 6432 .

3/2 Air Valves

Next is the 3/2 air valve. As noted earlier, the first number is the number of working ports that the valve has, and the second number indicates the number of positions that the valve has.

A 3/2 air valve will have an in, out and an exhaust port, a total of three ports.

It will have two positions. At rest, the valve will either be open, with compressed air flowing through the working port to the application, or it will be closed. When it is closed, compressed air will be stopped from flowing from the source through the valve, and the working port that let the air flow to the application when this valve was open, will now allow flow to the exhaust port allowing any air that might be in the application downstream of the valve to escape back down the air line, through the valve, to atmosphere.

Drawing a 3/2 Air Valve; this is the second in my step-by-step series of instructions on how to draw compressed air valves. The first one was drawing a 2/2 valve. Here's how to draw the 3/2 compressed air valve. Here's how to draw the 3/2 compressed air valve.

Start by drawing a square on your paper, a couple of inches square. You will find it easier if you use graph paper to help keep the lines straight. After you've drawn your box, add three lines inside the square as shown in Fig. 21. The black outer square box depicts the valve body. The three little lines inside the square box show where the internal air passages and the external air ports are. There are three compressed air ports in a 3/2 valve. The number of ports in a valve is indicated by the first number of a specific valves designation, and as always, the second number in that designation indicates the number of positions that particular valve will have. This is a 3/2 valve, so it will have three air ports, and two valve positions.

You cant tell from the outside how many positions a valve will have. The positions of the valve are selected by shifting the internal flow paths of a particular valve via a valve actuator. Some circuit designers show the lines that are depicting the ports extending slightly through the wall of the valve when drawing their valve schematics. Some don't. I am of the latter persuasion.

Fig. 22 shows the same box, but now we've connected up two of the ports, and modified the other one slightly. The black circle signifies the compressed air supply. It is flowing from the circle up to and into the 3/2 valve. This is a simple way to show that this valve is connected to an air supply, which is connected to the plant air mains, which are, in turn, connected to the compressor. A lot of meaning in a small black circle, hmmm? Compressed air cannot pass through the valve in Fig. 22 because the supply port inside the valve is closed. Thats indicated by the small line teeing the top of the line coming from the air supply.

If this 3/2 valve was at rest, that is to say that there are no external valve actuators affecting the valve position, then it would be an NC (normally closed) air valve. Note the line drawn from the top of the box to the bottom left, and that the line has an arrow head. This shows the open flow path of the air through this valve when it is in this position. It is open from the top port, through the valve, and out the bottom port where the arrow head is located. You will, of course, have erased the small vertical lines that I told you to draw in Fig. 21, by now? In Fig. 22 the port that is blocked or closed is the supply port. The port at the top of the box is the actuator or application port that is connected by an air line to the end application (a tool, actuator etc) and the port that has the arrowhead pointing to it is the exhaust port.

With the valve shifted into the position shown in Fig. 22, or if this is the at rest position for this valve, the supply is shut off and the actuator port is opened to exhaust which allows the compressed air to exhaust to atmosphere.

Fig. 23 shows the same valve, but now in its shifted or alternate position. With the valve in this position, the supply air is moving through the valve to an application somewhere, and the other port, the exhaust port, is now closed. The air will flow through the valve to an application, and the air will stay in that application until this valve is shifted back, and then the flow path will be as shown in Fig. 22 again.

Fig. 24 takes the two drawings that we've made - Fig. 22 and Fig. 23, and places them side by side. This is a complete drawing for the flow paths of one 3/2 valve. The 3/2 valve has 2 positions, each position depicted by the drawing on one side or the other of the single valve schematic. The way Fig. 24 depicts the valve, with the supply air coming into and through the valve, shows that when the valve is shifted to this position, then it's open.

If the positions are reversed, as shown in Fig. 25 just below, then the valve is closed.

It is normal to draw a valve in the position that it will be at rest, when the valve is not being acted upon by an exterior actuator, or when the air circuit that the valve is part of, has stopped functioning. Without the actuators being shown in the above schematics, a viewer cannot tell where this valve should be when it is at rest. In that case the supply circle is drawn on the right side of the valve schematic. Sometimes when an air circuit stops functioning, one or some of the valves may be left in an actuated position. The supply line may be on the left in these circumstances. The circuit schematic will show the details if that is the case. You will need valve actuators to complete this 3/2 valve schematic. Here's how to draw them.

Valve Actuators; what operates your air valve?

Valve actuators; when Im writing about compressed air I always refer to the device that operates an air valve as a valve actuator. Or, just as an actuator when that specific page is primarily focused on air valves. If Im talking about a linear device, Ill use the term Air Actuator or air cylinder. Not everyone uses this same valve terminology as a norm, so when you are talking to other folks about compressed air components, make sure they define their terms to help your mutual understanding. When Im writing about air valves and I refer to the operator, the operator is the person that moves the valve lever, pushes the valve button or flicks the switch to actuate the valve. An operator will actuate the valve using the valve actuators. Most compressed air valves will have at least two actuators.

One is usually installed inside the valve, is usually a spring, and I call this the internal valve actuator. When the external valve actuator for that valve is not in use, the internal spring returns that valve to its unactuated, resting state. A valve at rest is one that is not being acted upon by an external force or external actuator. The actuator that the operator uses to operate the valve is what I call an external valve actuator. It can be a solenoid, a lever, a push button, a mechanical switch of some sort, an air signal, and all of these external actuators come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the manufacturer and the valve. Now lets look at some valve drawings with a valve actuator, or valve actuators, present.

Fig 41 shows a 3/2 valve with a spring valve actuator which is drawn on the right side of the schematic. It is usual to draw an air valve with the single internal valve actuator on the right, and, if the valve is at rest, then it will show the air supply on the right side of the valve drawing as shown in Fig 41. Drawn in this fashion, the valve shown is a 3/2 NC (normally closed) valve. When the valve is at rest, the internal spring is in control, and the valve is not passing compressed air through it. Regardless of the type of valve actuator that might be drawn on the left, if the air supply is shown on the spring side, then that's the position that valve will be in its resting state.

Air Pilot Valve Actuators Fig 42 shows the same 3/2 valve with the internal spring actuator shown on the right, and on the left side, a dashed line drawn at the midpoint of the box, tangential to the valve body. The dashed line is the generally accepted symbol for an air pilot signal. When an air pilot signal arrives at the air signal port of the compressed air valve, the valve internal air seal (a poppet or a spool type) is shifted by the signal compressing the spring as it shifts the valve inwards. In Fig 42, you can see that if the valve is shifted by the air pilot signal, the flow path through the valve will be opened to the application, and the exhaust port will be blocked. Remember, both sides of the valve schematic are the same valve. One side shows the flow path through the valve if its in one position and the other side shows the flow paths when that same valve is shifted. In this case, as long as air is present at the air signal port of the valve, it will remain shifted, and air will flow through the valve to the application. When the air pilot signal is dropped, and the air pilot signal line loses pressure, the valve internal spring actuator once again takes over control of the valve, shifting the internal spool or poppet back. The supply of air to the application is blocked, and air from the application can now exit through the valve to the exhaust port and to atmosphere.

Fig 43 is a photo of a 3/2 valve, with 3 "working" ports (one on the bottom can't be seen). I know that it has 2 positions, but that can't be determined by looking at the outside of a valve. This one is a "single air piloted, spring return 3/2 NC air valve", to be precise. What is controlling the valve in Fig 43 is the "internal" spring located under the thin cap on the left end of the valve. The wide cap on the right contains the air port for the air pilot signal. Of course, should the air circuit require it, this same valve could have double air pilot valve actuators, with the omission of the internal spring actuator, and an air pilot end cap on each end. This double air pilot controlled air valve can be used as a latching valve in air circuits. When an air pilot signal reached one of the end ports the valve would shift. Even if that air pilot signal was dropped, the valve internals, and hence the compressed air path through that valve, would not shift, but would stay in position until such time as another air pilot signal reached the other air port, to then shift the valve back.

Valve Actuators; continued. On the first page about compressed air valve actuators, we wrote about the valve internal spring actuator and the external valve actuator known as an air pilot. On this page we will review additional common compressed air valve actuators. Solenoid Valve Actuators A solenoid , in terms of compressed air valves, is a device that allows the operation of the air valve with just an electrical signal (be it a control signal with low voltage or power signal to actually do work), or a combination of an electrical signal and compressed air to actuate the valve. When an air valve is actuated solely by the electrical signal, that solenoid valve is defined as being one that is direct acting.

When a solenoid valve uses both electricity and compressed air to shift that air valve, that type is deemed to be a solenoid pilot valve. The difference between the two is a page unto itself, and how a solenoid converts electrical into mechanical energy, will be linked from here shortly.

Fig. 44 shows a double solenoid pilot operated air valve. A compressed air circuit may be controlled entirely by electricity, and all the compressed air valves, the proximity switches, temperature sensors, E-stops, they all can receive signals from, and in many cases send signals back to the "brain" of the air circuit, the PLC. (Programmable Logic Controller) When the solenoid valve actuator gets an electrical signal from somewhere, and assuming that the valve is in good shape then the valve will shift and air will flow to the application. Please click this link if you wish information on how water in the lines negatively affects compressed air valves.

Solenoid actuators usually come from the factory already attached to their air valve. It's necessary to bring a power supply to each of the solenoid valve actuators. One way to accomplish this is through the DIN type connector, the type shown in Fig. 44. Rather than "hard wiring" directly to the air valve, the hard wiring need only go to the DIN connector cap, which is connected to the valve via an internal plug. Use of the DIN connector allows the non-electrical-skilled maintenance person to disconnect and reconnect the wiring to the valve quickly and safely when that valve needs to be changed out.

4/2 Air Valves

Next in the series is the 4/2 air valve. As the applications using compressed air get more complex, so too will the air valves that control them. The 4/2 valve will have four working ports, and two positions. There will be one supply port that brings compressed air from the compressor to the air valve. There will be two ports that can be plumbed from the valve to two separate applications, or to one air cylinder, and the last port in the 4/2 valve will be an exhaust port which will allow air to

travel back through the valve to atmosphere alternately from one of the working (application) ports or the other. As with other compressed air valves, the first number in the 4/2 air valve indicates the number of ports the valve will have, and the second number indicates the number of positions that the internals of the valve can have when it is actuated. Port 1 or 'P' will be the port to which the compressed air supply will be plumbed. The port will be a female NPT or female metric threaded hole into which will be installed an appropriately sized fitting. The fitting thread size must match the port in the valve, and the other side of the fitting must correspond to the air line type and size that will be connected to that fitting. Ports 2 and 4, (possibly marked B and D) will be the female working ports that are plumbed to the two ports in the actuator using the appropriately sized fitting and air lines. The last port number 4, or perhaps marked E, is the exhaust port. The typical 4/2 valve will have one supply port, two actuator ports and one exhaust port. If this valve is air-piloted, meaning that the external valve actuator for that valve is an air signal, then there will be an air port on one or both ends of the valve depending on whether it is single or double air piloted. Since one 4/2 valve is supplying air to one of two ports on the actuator, while at the same time, exhausting air from the other port, they are not normally considered to be NC (normally closed) or NO (normally open). All 4/2 valves have external (on the outside and accessible) valve actuators, that will be used to operate or 'shift' the air valve when required. It could be a button, a toggle, a lever or perhaps a solenoid actuator. A 4/2 valve may have two external actuators, such as the double air-piloted valve referred to above, and shown in this graphic.

Almost all 4/2 valves will have an internal spring actuator, to return the valve to its "resting state" when the external valve actuator is released or no longer operated.

Draw a 4/2 air valve; simple step by step.

Drawing a 4/2 Air Valve; if you have had a moment to visit and read drawing a 2/2 valve, and drawing a 3/2 air valve, you will be well on your way to understanding how easy it is to draw a 4/2 air valve.

Once again you will start by drawing a square on your paper, a couple of inches square. You will find it easier if you use graph paper to help keep the lines straight. Make it easy on yourself and use a light pencil, and have an eraser handy.

Once you have drawn the basic box, which represents the valve body, you will insert the lines as shown in Fig. 27. Remember, the four in a 4/2 valve means that there will be four air ports, and the two in a 4/2 valve means that the valve will have two positions. Each of the two positions will be represented by a box like that in Fig. 27, and each will show that one same valve in one of its two positions. In Fig. 27 the supply is travelling from the compressed air source to port four. Port two is open from the air actuator to exhaust. The black circle identifies the compressed air source - the line from the air mains, or the compressor and compressor receiver. Therefore, the two ports shown at the top of the drawing are air cylinder / actuator ports, the port in the bottom right is the single supply port for this 4/2 valve, and the port at the bottom left represents the single exhaust port for this valve. When this 4/2 valve is shifted, the air flow paths switch. See Fig. 28.

This is the same 4/2 valve but it has been shifted, and in this other of its two positions, Fig. 28 represents the flow paths now. The supply of air is still at the same port, but the

inner mechanism of the valve has shifted so that the flow paths inside the valve change as shown. In a 4/2 air valve the supply port never gets shut off, nor does the exhaust port. They simply alternate one from to the other as the valve is operated. With the supply line alternately flowing from port two to four, then four to two, and with the air alternatively exhausting via the same two actuator ports, you can see how this compressed air valve would effectively supply a double acting air cylinder or double acting rotary actuator.

To finish drawing the valve, we simply bring the two drawings together as shown in Fig. 29. This is the complete valve schematic, but without any valve actuators. By now, if youve looked at earlier pages regarding drawing valves, you will know that even though there are two drawings, the two are the same valve, just showing the internal flow paths of that valve when it has been shifted to either of its two positions. Note that only one supply is shown, as both sides of the schematic show the same valve, and you don't have two supplies flowing to the same 4/2 air valve. It is customary to draw a valve in the position that it will be at rest. That is, when the valve in not being acted upon by an exterior valve actuator, or when the air circuit that the valve is part of has stopped functioning. Without the actuators not shown in the above valve schematic, and since it's not in an actual valve circuit, a viewer cannot tell where this valve should be when it is at rest. In that case the supply circle is drawn on the right side of the valve schematic. Sometimes when an air circuit stops functioning, one or some of the valves may be left in an actuated position. The supply line may be on the left in these circumstances. The circuit schematic will show the details if that is the case. You will need valve actuators to complete the drawing of the 4/2 valve schematic. Here's how to draw them.

5/2 Air Valves

The 5/2 compressed air valve functions similarly to the 4/2. It will have one compressed air supply port, two working or application ports to supply air to the application, and two

exhaust ports through which air will flow to atmosphere alternately from each of the application ports, in turn. Click here for more information on the 5/2 configured air valve and then click here to learn how to draw a 5/2 air valve.

5/2 Valves; if you are supplying air to a double acting air actuator of some sort, perhaps an air cylinder or a 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 one valve will normally cost less than two, circuit designers will opt for a single 5/2 or 4/2 solenoid valve to operate the double acting air actuator. 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 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.

When the 5/2 valve is shifted, the spool or poppet inside the valve moves, and air is directed to the other actuator port. Then the previously charged line is opened to atmosphere allowing it to become the exhaust line from the actuator. In this manner, the actuator can be extended or retracted alternatively; hence the term double acting. The home position for the actuator (whether it's an extended or retracted rod or, if a rotary actuator, rotated in one direction or the other) will be determined by the requirements of the application. The 5/2 valve will be plumbed to ensure that air is supplied to the appropriate actuator port when the air valve is at rest based on the demands of that particular air circuit.

We know that the first number in a valve number designation refers to the number of ports, and the second number is the number of positions. Therefore, a 5/2 air valve will have five ports and two positions. Two of the ports are for the actuator supply as noted above, one of the ports will be the supply air to the valve, and the other two and this is the difference between the 4/2 and 5/2 the other two will be exhaust ports. A 4/2 has one exhaust port, but the 5/2 valve has two exhaust ports. The additional exhaust port provides significant benefit to the system designer, and thats 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. Assuming that the valve is 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. A 4/2 valve, with its single exhaust port, can only provide one speed adjustment which will affect the actuator similarly in both extend and retract. 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 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 use. If its your job to select a valve for a double acting cylinder application, picking the 5/2 over the 4/2 provides some benefits, all other things being equal.

Draw a 5/2 air valve; step by step.

Draw a 5/2 Air Valve; if you have had a moment to visit and read the other pages on this site about drawing air valves, then moving up to drawing the 5/2 compressed air valve should be pretty easy. If you haven't, here are the links to those pages. You may want to start with the 2/2 and work your way up. Start by drawing a 2" (or so) square on your paper. If you have been drawing valves right along with reading the other pages, you can probably do this in your sleep by now!

It's always good to use graph paper, and keep your pencil sharp and your eraser handy.

Once you have drawn the basic box, which represents the valve body, you will insert the lines as shown in Fig. 51. As always, the first number in a valve designation, in this case a five, indicates the number of working air ports a valve will have. The second number, in this case a two, indicates how many positions a valve will have. Therefore, a 5/2 air valve will have five air ports and two positions. Fig 51 shows the flow paths of this 5/2 valve when it is in one of it's two positions. Note the supply of air (depicted by the black circle) flowing through the valve to one of the two cylinder ports. The other cylinder port is open to one of the two exhaust ports in the typical 5/2 air valve. On the left, the other exhaust port is closed. Each of the two positions will be represented by a box like that in Fig. 51, and each will show that one valve in one of its two positions.

Fig. 52 shows the same 5/2 valve but it has now been shifted, and in this second of it's two positions, the flow paths change as shown. In a 5/2 air valve the supply port never gets shut off. The supply line simply alternates between one cylinder port and the other as the valve is shifted. With the supply line alternately flowing from actuator port to port, you can see how this would effectively supply a double acting air cylinder or double acting rotary actuator.

You can also see that the air that is exhausting from the air cylinder alternately flows through each of the exhaust ports. Each of the cylinder ports "has" it's own exhaust port, which allows the 5/2 air valve to have two exhaust flow controls installed, each controlling the speed of the cylinder in one direction. This is one of the significant benefits of selecting a 5/2 valve rather than a 4/2 to control a double acting air actuator.

To finish drawing the one valve, we simply bring the two drawings together as shown in Fig. 53. When the "right side" of the valve is in control, the compressed air path will be as shown on the right side of Fig. 53. When this valve is shifted, and the "left side" is in control, the flow paths will change. The actual ports don't change, just the flow of air through the valve does. It is customary to draw a valve in the position that it will be at rest, when the valve in not being acted upon by an exterior actuator or the position that the valve will be in when the air circuit that the valve is part of has stopped functioning. Sometimes when an air circuit completes its cycle and stops, one or some of the valves may be deliberately left in an actuated position. The supply line may be drawn on the left in these circumstances. The circuit schematic will show the details if that is the case. Without the valve actuators being shown in the above valve schematic, and since it's not in an actual valve circuit, a viewer cannot tell where this valve should be when it is at rest. In that case the supply circle is drawn on the right side of the valve schematic. To complete the schematic of this 5/2 valve, it will need valve actuators. Here's how to draw them.

5/3 or 4/3 air valves: Definition and application.

An even more complex air valve is the 5/3. The 5/3 valve will have five ports (2 exhaust ports, 2 working or power ports and 1 supply port), just like the 5/2 valve. Rather than the two positions that most valves have however, the 5/3 valve will have three operating positions. The centre positions are; pressure centre, centre exhaust, centre blocked. For more information on the 5/2 and 5/3 configured valves and their applications, click here. And click here to see how to draw 5/3 and 4/3 air valves. 5/3 or 4/3 air valves: Like their cousins, the 5/2 or 4/2 air valves, the 5/3 or 4/3 configured air valves are used to power double acting air actuators. The directional-control nature of 5/3 and 4/3 valves allows them to supply compressed air to one port of a double acting air cylinder while simultaneously allowing air to exhaust from the other port on the same air actuator. By shifting the 5/3 and 4/3 air valve air can be sent alternatively to each of the two actuator ports and exhausted alternatively from the other, thus allowing the double acting air cylinder to function. You may recall from reading some of the other pages on this site that the first number in a valve designation will identify the number of working ports that the valve has. Therefore, their valve designation indicates that the 5/3 or 4/3 air valve will have either five or four working ports respectively since the first number is a 5 or a 4. The 5/3 ports are; one supply, two air cylinder and two exhaust ports. The 4/3 ports are: one supply port, two air cylinder ports, and one exhaust port. The second number in the valve designation indicates how many positions that valve can have. The 5/3 or 4/3 will have three positions. The extra position inside a 5/3 or 4/3 air valve means that the spool can be shifted to a centre position. Each of the three positions is selected to accomplish a desired result in the action of the air cylinder. Since three position air valves are more expensive than their two position counterparts, the selection of a three position valve will be deliberate. The circuit designer will have a particular scenario in mind for the action of the air cylinder when the valve that controls it is shifted, and that circuit will require the selection of a specific three position valve to accomplish the goal. Normally, a 5/3 or 4/3 valve will supply air to one cylinder port and exhaust it from the other when the valve is in one position. When it is completely shifted, the air flow path through the valve changes, and now supply air goes out to the other actuator port, while the other valve port becomes an exhaust path, similar in function to the 2 position air valves.

A 5/3 or 4/3 valve will normally have two internal spring actuators that, when the valve is not being operated by an external valve actuator, shifts that valve to the centre position; the third position. So, its when the 5/3 or 4/3 valve is at rest that the third of the three positions comes into play. In that third, or centre position, there are three things that can happen to the air flow through that particular valve.

Blocked centre In this position all the valve ports are blocked. Air cannot flow through the valve to either actuator port as the supply path to those ports is closed. Air cannot flow from either actuator port to either exhaust port as those flow paths too are blocked. The exhaust ports are blocked.

In this position, since air cannot travel through the valve to the air cylinder or from the cylinder back through the valve, then when the valve shifts into Blocked Center, the air cylinder will freeze. That is the intent of the circuit designer when selecting a Blocked Centre 5/3 or 4/3 valve. When this valve is at rest, they want the cylinder to be frozen. Air cannot get in or out of the cylinder, and it stops.

Open Centre When the 5/3 or 4/3 air valve is shifted into its centre position in an Open Centre three position style valve, the supply line to the valve is blocked, and both cylinder ports are open through the valve to exhaust. With this selection, the circuit designer has decided that when the valve is at rest, it will be necessary to move the cylinder rod (and of course the end of rod tooling) by hand, or perhaps another operation will move the rod and tooling, and since there is no air on either side of the piston inside the cylinder, this can happen relatively easily.

Pressure Centre In the Pressure Centre position, air will flow from the supply to both air actuator ports, and the exhaust port(s) are blocked. In this scenario the designer wants to have air to both sides of the air actuator when this valve is at rest. The air actuator might be a rodded air cylinder, but it also might be a rodless type, perhaps being used in a vertical application. By exerting pressure on both sides of the piston inside the rodless cylinder, the end of rod tooling can be held in one location. As an added advantage, if there are small leaks

in the lines or through the seals of the rodless cylinder, a pressure centre valve means that the air pressure will be maintained inside the cylinder regardless of small leaks. Not all valve manufacturing companies offer three position valves, and those that do, not all of them offer all three of the possible valve configurations. Drawing a 5/3 or 4/3 is a bit of a challenge.

Draw a 5/2 air valve; step by step.

A valve schematics purpose is to show all of the possible positions for that one air valve, to allow the system designer to insert a particular valve in an air circuit, and to show system builders the condition of that valve when it is at rest in the circuit, and the valve actuators necessary to ensure that the valve will work as desired. On the page drawing the 5/2 air valve, the final schematic for the 5/2 was as shown in Fig. 53.

Fig. 53 shows both positions of this 5/2 valve and the corresponding flow paths, depending on the valve position. You can see how the flow paths change whether its the right side or the left side of the valve that is currently in control. We know that the first number in a valve designation, in this case a five, shows that this valve will have five ports. The second number indicates the number of positions for that valve, so a 5/3 valve will have three positions, not two as shown in Fig. 53. Where does that third position get drawn? Please see Fig. 55, below.

We split the 5/2 valve schematic, and added a space in the centre, where we will add the flow paths determined by the type of 5/3 valve this is.

I do note that splitting the schematic is a whole lot easier done electronically. This is why, when drawing valves with pencil and graph paper, a good eraser is essential. Be optimistic! As you get comfortable with drawing different styles of valves, fewer errors will occur and youll have to correct fewer mistakes.

Draw a 5/3 or a 4/3 air valve

Drawing a 5/3 air valve; Please, if you havent already done so, take a few minutes to look at the other pages on this site about drawing air valves. They are: drawing drawing drawing a a a 2/2 3/2 4/2 air air air valve valve valve

drawing a 5/2 air valve If you have reviewed these pages and understand how to draw all the valves up to a 4/2 or a 5/2, then drawing the 5/3 or the 4/3 will not be complex. A valve schematics purpose is to show all of the possible positions for that one air valve, to allow the system designer to insert a particular valve in an air circuit, and to show system builders the condition of that valve when it is at rest in the circuit, and the valve actuators necessary to ensure that the valve will work as desired. On the page drawing the 5/2 air valve, the final schematic for the 5/2 was as shown in Fig. 53.

Fig. 53 shows both positions of this 5/2 valve and the corresponding flow paths, depending on the valve position. You can see how the flow paths change whether its the right side or the left side of the valve that is currently in control. We know that the first number in a valve designation, in this case a five, shows that this valve will have five ports. The second number indicates the number of positions for that valve, so a 5/3 valve will have three positions, not two as shown in Fig. 53. Where does that third position get drawn? Please see Fig. 55, below.

We split the 5/2 valve schematic, and added a space in the centre, where we will add the flow paths determined by the type of 5/3 valve this is.

On the page that discusses 5/3 and 4/3 valves it is noted that the third position in a 5/3 valve is a centre position. The air control mechanism inside 5/3 valve (usually a spool of some sort) is shifted into the centre position inside the valve by one of two internal spring valve actuators. There is a spring located inside the valve at each end of the internal spool. When no external valve actuator is being exerted on the valve these springs centre the spool into the valves third position. The spool is the air-path-control device found inside most 4 or 5 ported valves, and some 3 ported valves. Normally spools are not found in 2 position valves. The internal valve spool might have O rings installed on it. It might have a bonded Buna-rubber surface, it might be all aluminium or plastic and slide back and forth inside a tube packed with O ring type seals, or it might be a high tolerance, machined metalto-metal spool. Each has their benefits and their negatives. Each type might be made by a different manufacturer, and they will attest to the superiority of their design over every other valve manufacturers, of course. The third position in a three position valve can be one of the following: Blocked Centre, Open Centre or Pressure Centre

These valve flow path options may not be available from all valve manufacturers so if you are looking for a specific type of 5/3 valve, you may have to shop around. In order to complete the schematic for our 5/3 compressed air valve, we have to determine which of these three configurations we need for our valve, and insert the schematic for that flow path between the other two positions shown in Fig. 55.

Here are the schematics for the three positions:

Solenoid Actuator; electrical air valve actuator

Solenoid Actuator; There are a host of ways to operate compressed air valves; manual levers, push buttons, palm buttons, roller cams, whisker switches...many others including solenoid actuators. When I write about the various methods to actuate an air valve I use the term actuator for the mechanical device that shifts the internal workings of the air valve, and I use the term operator for the person that moves the lever or pushes the button to actuate the valve. For some background information on air valves please click here for more general information. There are two kinds of solenoid actuators for air valves. One is covered here on this page, the Direct Acting Solenoid Operator and the other will be covered on this page Air Pilot Solenoid Operators.

Quick Definition of a Solenoid

As it relates to compressed air valves, a solenoid is a device that, when energized with electricity, creates a magnet inside itself that moves something. Depending on the type of air valve, the item that moves could be a device to control air flow through the valve, or a device to control air flow within the solenoid to do work.

Direct Acting Solenoid Actuator

In the drawing above, #1 is the coil itself, and inside the black exterior are the actual coil windings, depicted by the gold color. Item #2 is the depiction of the compressed air supply to the valve, in this case a 2/2 normally closed air valve. Note how the compressed air (depicted in blue) enters the valve through the supply port, but is blocked from flowing by a poppet (purple color) that is sitting on an "O" ring, sealing the incoming air from flowing through the valve. The coil is de-energized, and the internal valve actuator, the spring, is in control at this time. The solenoid coil, when it's energized, will form a magnetic field which will move the pole piece (#3 - brown color) inside the coil housing. In this example, the pole piece will move to the right. Since it's attached to the poppet, when the coil is energized, the poppet will move. Item #4 depicts the outer valve body, and the arrow is pointing towards the internal valve actuator, the coil spring.

Once the direct acting solenoid valve is energized the coil creates a magnetic field and the pole piece inside the solenoid coil (#1) is magnetically pulled to the right as shown in the drawing just above. The poppet, since it's connected directly to the pole piece, also shifts (#3), moving off one seat and onto another, and allowing the compressed air to flow through the valve. Item #2 depicts the inner valve actuator, the coil spring, which has now been compressed by the force generated by the coil, and the movement of the pole piece and the poppet.

When this direct acting solenoid valve is de-energized, the return spring shifts the poppet and the pole piece the other way inside the valve, and the compressed air is, once again, blocked, as shown in the first drawing above.

Limited Capacity
A solenoid actuator is a pretty neat device. Maybe it makes you wonder, if all you need is a solenoid and electricity to make things move, why compressed air circuits even use air actuators at all? Why not just use solenoids to do work? While a solenoid coil can generate sufficient force to move a small device over a short distance, the nature of the coil itself is that it would take a huge coil to move any meaningfully sized device over a distance greater than a few tenths of an inch. In order to have a coil actuator that would do physical work, moving tooling 18" for example, the solenoid coil would dwarf the tooling and maybe the machine it was situated on. Not very practical.

Read more: http://www.about-air-compressors.com/solenoidactuator.html#ixzz1QBmzInD9

Valve Actuators
Regardless of the type of air valve your application demands, all of them will have a valve actuator, or valve actuators. If you have experience with compressed air valves, youll be comfortable with the term manual actuator, This simply means that the valve is actuated by an operator (person) that pushes at button, moves a lever, toggles a switch, and so on. For complex air circuits that demand multiple and sequential operation of devices, the valve of choice will be solenoid operated.

Operator Vs Actuator
Please note that I define an operator as a person that actuates a valve, and an actuator (sometimes noted as external actuator) as the device on the valve that actually shifts it. This is my personal definition, and you may find that other people have different terms for the same thing. Make sure when you are talking to folks about valves that you understand their terms, will you? For much more information on compressed air valve actuators, please click here.