The Different Types Of Pneumatic Valves

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9397
Comment this article

To those who are unfamiliar with pneumatic equipment, pneumatic valves may seem like a small and relatively insignificant part of an overall system, but the truth is that these valves are among the most important parts of any pneumatic system. Valves also form one of the weak points in any pneumatic system, since the installation of a valve involves joining several parts together. Any point in a system that does not consist of a single piece of solid material will feature a higher risk of leaks. That is why the components that you use at these joints are of great importance, and Pisco tube fittings and pneumatic valves are among the best choices for any industrial setup.

Pneumatic valves are largely responsible for the control of the pressure, rate and amount of air moving through a pneumatic system. Without pneumatic valves, there would be no way to use pneumatics in as many industrial applications as it is used in today, as it would be too difficult to make pneumatically-powered machinery perform as required without the control provided by these valves. These valves can be found in almost every type of industry, from ...
... pneumatic power tools to combustion engines. There are a few different types of pneumatic valve, and each serves a slightly different function, with applications in different types of industrial equipment.

The most common pneumatic valves are categorized according to the number of openings that they have allowing the entry and exit of air. The two-way directional valve is the simplest of all the valves, with a single opening for air to enter and a single opening for air to exit. This type of valve is used for simple on-off applications, where the flow of air from a single source needs to be shut off until it is required. A pneumatic drill, for example, will feature this type of valve. When the trigger is depressed to operate the drill, the valve’s two ports are open, and when the trigger is released the ports close, stopping the drill from spinning.

The three-way directional valve is basically a two-way valve with an additional exhaust port. When the exhaust port is closed and the other two ports are open, air flows through the valve and whatever component it is connected to will be active. When the port through which air enters the valve is closed and the other two ports are open, the component to which the valve is connected can vent exhaust.

The four-way directional valve is the most common valve found in pneumatic systems. Its 4 ports are split into a port for exhaust, a port for the source of air, and the remaining two ports connected to actuators. This is the most common valve because the two actuator ports effectively allow the component to which the valve is connected to be run in two different directions – forwards and reverse.

Pneumatic valves, while small, play an essential role in any pneumatic system, and with Pisco tube fittings and pneumatic valves in your system, you can better ensure an effective and productive system.

Pisco tube fittings and pneumatic valves are of the highest quality and among the best that you can get anywhere, so head over to the DAS Services Inc website and pick up the Pisco pneumatic components that you need today!