Pneumatic systems use the energy stored in compressed air to do work. By
controlling the release of the air to pneumatic cylinders, we can turn that
energy into movement.
Pneumatics
Pneumatic components are arranged in circuits - much like electronic circuits
- using symbols for each component. You need to be familiar with the operation
of two of most common pneumatic components - a single-acting cylinder with a
three-port valve, and a double-acting cylinder with a five-port valve.
Pneumatic symbols
In your exam, you will be asked to draw pneumatic circuit diagrams using
symbols. The symbols for each of the common pneumatic components are listed
below. You need to be able to recognse these symbols, and understand the
function of the components they stand for.
Pneumatic systems typically involve a source of
compressed air being controlled by valves and causing output devices such as
cylinders to operate in a controlled way.
The compressed air is
typically obtained from a COMPRESSOR, which is usually driven by an electric
motor or an internal combustion engine.
Air is routed through pipes to
VALVES which control the routing of the compressed air. Valves may be operated
by a range of ACTUATORS including levers, rollers and solenoids.
The air
is then passed on to cylinders which convert the energy in the compressed air
into linear motion and do useful work.
Finally, the used compressed air
is released into the atmosphere as EXHAUST.
During the course of the
above, the compressed air may pass through filters and lubricators to clean the
air and add lubricant to ensure that equipment has a long and reliable working
life. It may also pass through regulators to control the amount of pressure
available in the system.
Pneumatics:
Valves
Valves control the switching and routing of the air in a pneumatic
system. From studying the operation of cylinders, you may have already worked
out that valves not only have to control the flow of compressed air, they also
have to control the flow of exhaust air to the atmosphere. There are two main
types of valves used in pneumatic switching circuits, the 3/2 valve and the 5/2
valve.
The 3/2 valve is used to control items such as single
acting cylinders which have a single input. The input to the cylinder is
connected to port 2, the air supply to port 1 and port 3 is allowed to exhaust
to atmosphere.
The number 3 signifies that the valve has three ports,
whilst the number 2 signifies that the valve has 2 directions or states
Pneumatics: Linear motion -
cylinders
Cylinders convert the energy in the compressed air into linear motion.
The air enters the cylinder and pushes a piston from one end of the cylinder to
the other. There are two main types of cylinder - single acting and double
acting. A single acting cylinder has only one air connection, whilst a double
acting has two.
A great website to look at on pneumatics is
http://www.wisc-online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=HYP5008
controlling the release of the air to pneumatic cylinders, we can turn that
energy into movement.
Pneumatics
Pneumatic components are arranged in circuits - much like electronic circuits
- using symbols for each component. You need to be familiar with the operation
of two of most common pneumatic components - a single-acting cylinder with a
three-port valve, and a double-acting cylinder with a five-port valve.
Pneumatic symbols
In your exam, you will be asked to draw pneumatic circuit diagrams using
symbols. The symbols for each of the common pneumatic components are listed
below. You need to be able to recognse these symbols, and understand the
function of the components they stand for.
Pneumatic systems typically involve a source of
compressed air being controlled by valves and causing output devices such as
cylinders to operate in a controlled way.
The compressed air is
typically obtained from a COMPRESSOR, which is usually driven by an electric
motor or an internal combustion engine.
Air is routed through pipes to
VALVES which control the routing of the compressed air. Valves may be operated
by a range of ACTUATORS including levers, rollers and solenoids.
The air
is then passed on to cylinders which convert the energy in the compressed air
into linear motion and do useful work.
Finally, the used compressed air
is released into the atmosphere as EXHAUST.
During the course of the
above, the compressed air may pass through filters and lubricators to clean the
air and add lubricant to ensure that equipment has a long and reliable working
life. It may also pass through regulators to control the amount of pressure
available in the system.
Pneumatics:
Valves
Valves control the switching and routing of the air in a pneumatic
system. From studying the operation of cylinders, you may have already worked
out that valves not only have to control the flow of compressed air, they also
have to control the flow of exhaust air to the atmosphere. There are two main
types of valves used in pneumatic switching circuits, the 3/2 valve and the 5/2
valve.
The 3/2 valve is used to control items such as single
acting cylinders which have a single input. The input to the cylinder is
connected to port 2, the air supply to port 1 and port 3 is allowed to exhaust
to atmosphere.
The number 3 signifies that the valve has three ports,
whilst the number 2 signifies that the valve has 2 directions or states
Pneumatics: Linear motion -
cylinders
Cylinders convert the energy in the compressed air into linear motion.
The air enters the cylinder and pushes a piston from one end of the cylinder to
the other. There are two main types of cylinder - single acting and double
acting. A single acting cylinder has only one air connection, whilst a double
acting has two.
A great website to look at on pneumatics is
http://www.wisc-online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=HYP5008