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6.1.2 Symbols in Pneumatic Circuit Diagrams

Pneumatic circuit diagrams are used in the same way as electric circuit
diagrams. They are drawn by the design engineer during layout and design
of a new system and serve the following purposes:

■ The manufacturer uses the circuit diagrams to build and assemble the
actual system.

■ The user can obtain valuable information for operation and

troubleshooting from the circuit diagrams supplied by the
manufacturer in manuals and documentation.

In pneumatic circuit diagrams each element of a pneumatic system is

represented by a symbol which indicates its function. Pneumatic connections
between the elements are also drawn.

To enable all users to understand pneumatic circuit diagrams the symbols

are standardised.

6.1.2.1 Symbols of Lines, Air Supply and Working Elements

Pneumatic lines, i.e. the connections between pneumatic elements, are

drawn as lines. Connections are drawn with a dot, crossing lines which are
not connected are drawn without a dot.

Connection points to other diagrams are represented by short crossing lines.

The general symbol of a shut-off valve is used for manually operated valves
which allow to disconnect a system or part of a system from the pressure
source.

In complex circuit diagrams the pressure source (compressor, reservoir) is

often drawn on an extra sheet. In the main diagram the pressure source is
then represented by a circle with a dot in the center.

In pneumatic systems the air is usually exhausted to the atmosphere. This is

represented by a triangle. If there is a pipe connection (thread) for a silencer,
the triangle is drawn with a short line.

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Figure 1 Symbols of Pneumatic Lines and Connections

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Figure 2 Symbols of Pneumatic Air Supply

The triangle in the compressor symbol indicates the pressure outlet and the
flow direction.

Air treatment elements, e.g. filters and lubricators, are represented by

squares with additional symbols inside.

The simplified symbol of a service unit is not standardised. It comprises the

symbols for filter, pressure gauge and lubricator. The water separator and the
pressure regulating valve belonging to this unit are not represented.

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Figure 3 Symbols of Pneumatic Working Elements

In the symbol of a cylinder with cushioning the additional cushioning pistons

can be seen. The inclined arrow represents the adjustability of the
cushioning.

The symbol of a pneumatic motor contains a triangle to indicate the flow

direction at the pressure inlet. A reversible motor has two triangles to
represent the possibility to apply pressure to both connections.

6.1.2.2 Symbols of Directional Valves

The symbols used for the representation of valves in pneumatic circuit

diagrams only indicate the function, not the design. Different valve designs
can be represented by the same symbol if they perform the same function.

Directional valves are the most important elements in pneumatic control

systems. There is a great variety of functions performed by directional valves.

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Figure 4 Principle of Pneumatic Valve Representation

Directional control valves may assume various control positions, e.g. open
and closed. Each control position is represented in the symbol by one square
as shown in detail a) for two and three positions.

Optionally, the control positions may be designated by alphabetic characters.

The position which the moving parts of the valve assume in the non-operated
condition is known as the ’normal’ position. In valves with three or more
control positions, the normal position is designated by 0. The sequence of the
control positions a, b, c ... is specified alphabetically from left to right
(detail b)).

The ports, i.e. the connections to the valve, are drawn to the square which
represents the normal position. In detail c), for example, the basic symbol for
a directional valve with four ports and two control positions is depicted.

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The directions of flow are shown within the squares by means of arrows.
Shut-off points are designated by cross-lines (T-shaped symbols) within the
squares (detail d)).

The control symbols are drawn to the side of the squares, e.g. spring and
manual control in detail e). The drawing shows a 3/2-way valve. The outlet is
drawn as a line.

Equally it is standard practice to draw the valves mirror-inverted, i.e. the

mechanical release on the right and the square with the ports and the
compression spring on the left.

These principles of valve representation allow to identify the function of a

valve by its symbol.

Tracing the path from one connection port to the other shows that in the
example of detail e) air connection 1(P) is connected to working line 2 (A),
while exhaust 3 (R) is disconnected. This is the normal position of the valve.
In this case the working line is normally connected to the air supply and the
valve is therefore a normally open 3/2-way valve.

The following happens when the actuating force is applied to the manual
control: the ports in the symbol remain in the same position, but the block
with the squares is shifted (detail f)). Now working line 2 (A) is exhausted to
3 (R), while air connection 1 (P) is shut off.

Note: In pneumatic circuit diagrams the representation of the actuated state

is not common. It is shown here only to illustrate the function of the
valve in the actuated position.

The directional control valves are named according to the number of ways
(ports) and the number of control positions (a, b etc.). Thus, for example, the
valve shown in detail e) has three ways (ports) and two control positions. It is
then named a 3/2-way valve (spoken: three-stroke-two-way-valve).

To identify the valve more accurately, it is also specified whether the valve is
of the normally open or of the normally closed type. In the case of the valve
drawn in detail e), port 1 is open in the normal position and connected to 2.
The exact name is therefore: 3/2-way valve, normally open (NO).

Designation of Ports
The ports are designated by numbers. There is another standard still in use,
where the ports are designated by capital letters. Both systems can be found
on the valves in the ’Pneumatic Laboratory’.

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Figure 5 Symbols of Pneumatic Directional Valves

Figure 5 shows the symbols of some widely used directional valves. The
actuating elements, e.g. manual controls and springs, are not drawn. There
are, of course, many more directional valves available. Their symbols are
drawn according to the same principles.

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