Summary

Pressure Control Valves

Flow Control Valves
Pneumatic Control Valves Directional Control Valves
Logic Valves

Pneumatic Valves
Pneumatic valves are found in 4 main categories:
1. Pressure Control
2. Flow Control
Pressure Control Valves
3. Directional Control
4. Logic Valves
 Pressure Control Valves

Pressure control valves were covered in Lesson

IMM2450-4 Air Preparation

Flow Control Valves

Flow Control Valves

This family of valves affect the rate of air flow through
them. Common flow control valves are:

1. Check Valves
2. Flow Regulating Valves Check Valves
3. Quick Exhaust Valves
 Check Valves Check Valves

• Used as a one way valve • Used as a one way valve

• Will allow flow in one direction only • Will allow flow in one direction only

No Flow Flow

Flow Regulating Valves

Flow regulating valves enable
both extension and retraction
speed of a cylinder to be
controlled independently

Speed is regulated by
Flow Regulating Valves controlling the flow of air to
exhaust

In pneumatics we only “meter-
out” we don’t “meter-in”
 In-Line Flow Regulating Valve

Uni-directional, line mounted
adjustable flow regulator

Free flow in one direction

Adjustable restricted flow in
the other direction
In-Line Flow Regulating Valve

Uni-directional, line mounted
adjustable flow regulator

Free flow in one direction

Adjustable restricted flow in
the other direction

Cylinder Mounted Flow

Regulating Valve

Designed to fit directly into
cylinder ports

More responsive than the
in-line type
Quick Exhaust Valves
 Quick Exhaust Valve Quick Exhaust Valve

In some applications
Port 2 is connected directly to 2
cylinder speed can be the end cover of a cylinder 1

increased by 50% when

Port 1 receives air from the
using a quick exhaust valve
control valve 2

The air is allowed exhaust

Air flows past the lips of the
almost directly at the
seal to drive the cylinder
cylinder port

When the control valve is
exhausted, the seal flips to
the right opening the large 1
direct flow path

Air is exhausted very rapidly
from the cylinder for
increased speed

Quick Exhaust Valve

Port 2 is connected directly to
the end cover of a cylinder 2
1

Port 1 receives air from the

control valve
2

Air flows past the lips of the Directional Control Valves
seal to drive the cylinder

When the control valve is
exhausted, the seal flips to
the right opening the large
direct flow path 1

Air is exhausted very rapidly

from the cylinder for
increased speed
 Valve symbol structure Valve symbol structure

The function of a directional valve is given by
A 3/2 valve therefore has 3 ports (normally
a pair of numerals separated by a stroke, these are inlet, outlet and exhaust) and 2
e.g. 3/2.. states (the normal state and the operated

The first numeral indicates the number of state)
main ports. These are inlets, outlets and
exhausts but excludes signal ports (pilot)

The second numeral indicates the number of
states/positions the valve can achieve. Position 1 Position 2

Valve symbol structure Valve symbol structure

A valve symbol shows the pictures for each
A valve symbol shows the pictures for each
of the valve states joined end to end of the valve states joined end to end

Position 1 Position 2 3/2 Valve

 Valve symbol structure Valve symbol structure

The port connections are shown to only one
The operator for a particular state is
of the diagrams to indicate the prevailing illustrated against that state
state

Operated state
normal produced by
pushing a button

Valve symbol structure Valve symbol structure

The operator for a particular state is
The operator for a particular state is
illustrated against that state illustrated against that state

Operated state Normal state Operated state Normal state

produced by produced by produced by produced by
pushing a button a spring pushing a button a spring
 Valve symbol structure

The valve symbol can be visualised as
moving to align one state or another with the
port connections
Valve symbol structure

The valve symbol can be visualised as
moving to align one state or another with the
port connections
Valve symbol structure

The valve symbol can be visualised as
moving to align one state or another with the
port connections
Valve symbol structure

A 5/2 valve symbol is constructed in a similar
way. A picture of the valve flow paths for
each of the two states is shown by the two
boxes. The 5 ports are normally an inlet, 2
outlets and 2 exhausts
 Valve symbol structure

The full symbol is then made by joining the
two boxes and adding operators. The
connections are shown against only the
prevailing state
Valve symbol structure

The full symbol is then made by joining the
two boxes and adding operators. The
connections are shown against only the
prevailing state

Valve symbol structure Valve symbol structure

The full symbol is then made by joining the
two boxes and adding operators. The
normally normally
connections are shown against only the closed open
prevailing state
 Valve Symbols DCV Designs

What would a water hose gun symbol look like? Directional Control
Valves
First, how many states/positions would it have? 2
Second, how many ports would it have? 2
Third, what is it’s normal state? Closed Poppet Valves Sliding Valves

Fourth, What activates it? Lever

Sliding Spool Rotary

Poppet Valves

The Poppet valve is a

simple design used mainly
Poppet Valves in 2/2 and 3/2 functions

Illustrated is a 2/2 air
operated poppet valve
 Poppet Valves

The Poppet valve is a

simple design used mainly
in 2/2 and 3/2 functions
Sliding Spool Valves

Illustrated is a 2/2 air
operated poppet valve

Sliding Spool Valve Construction Sliding Spool Valve Construction

General sliding spool valve construction: Other components include springs, an operator and
seals

The valve bodies vary depending upon the application

Valve Body
The spools also vary depending upon the seal type
Spool

Ports
5 4 1 2 3
 DCV Body Types
The main types of DCV bodies are:
1. Body Ported Valves
2. Manifold Body Types
3. Sub-Base Body Types
Body Types
Manifold Body Types
• Usually a less rugged design than
the previous
• Mounts directly to an
supply/exhaust manifold
• A and B port comes from the valve
• Generally, lower supply volumes
than the body ported
• For applications requiring many
valves
Body Types
Body Ported Valves
• Usually rugged in design
• Designed to be mounted
directly to the equipment
• For applications requiring
large volumes
• For applications requiring
only one valve
Body Types
Sub-Base Body Types
• Usually a less rugged design than
the body ported
• Mounts directly to a sub-base
which has all ports
• Generally, lower supply volumes
than the body ported
• For applications requiring many
valves
 DCV Spools

Pneumatic DCV spools are usually balanced to prevent

unwanted valve shifting.

Spools come in three main types:

DCV Spools
1. Elastomer Seal Fitted
2. Elastomer Seal Sliding
3. Seal-Less

Balanced Spool Elastomer Fitted Spool

In a balanced spool valve the pressure acting at any port will
This 5/2 valve has a spool fitted with elastomer seals
not cause the spool to move because the areas to the left and
The seals move with the spool
right are equal and will produce equal and opposite forces
Current position: P port is joined to B and A is joined to

P1 and P2 are the supply and exhaust pressures EA

A B

P
EA EB

P1 P2

EA A P B EB
 Elastomer Fitted Spool Elastomer Sliding Spool

This 5/2 valve has a spool fitted with elastomer seals

The seals move with the spool
This 3/2 valve has a plain sliding spool and the seals are static

Current position: P port is joined to A and B is joined to
The O Ring seals are fixed in the valve bore and positioned by
EB spacers (not shown)

A
A B
A

P
EA EB

EA P

14 12
5 4 1 2 3
EA P

Elastomer Sliding Spool Elastomer Sliding Spool

This 3/2 valve has a plain sliding spool and the seals are static
This 5/2 valve has a plain sliding spool and the seals are static

The O Ring seals are fixed in the valve bore and positioned by
The O Ring seals are fixed in the valve bore and positioned by
spacers (not shown) spacers (not shown)

A B A
A

B A

EA P

EB P EA

EA P EB P EA
 Elastomer Sliding Spool Seal-less Spools

This 5/2 valve has a matched spool and sleeve. The fit is
so precise that seals between them are unnecessary

This 5/2 valve has a plain sliding spool and the seals are static

The tiny amount of air crossing the spool lands provides

The O Ring seals are fixed in the valve bore and positioned by
an air bearing
spacers (not shown)

The result is low friction and long life

B A
B A
B A 1 2

EB P EA

EB P EA
1 EB B P A EA 2
EB P EA

Seal-less Spools Three Position Spool Valves

This 5/2 valve has a matched spool and sleeve. The fit is
This type of valve has a B A
so precise that seals between them are unnecessary normal state where the

The tiny amount of air crossing the spool lands provides spool is in a mid position EB P EA

an air bearing
The characteristic in the

The result is low friction and long life centre position is B A

determined by the land

EB P EA
spacings on the spool
B A

The three types are: B A
1 2
All ports blocked
Open exhausts EB P EA
EB P EA
Open pressure

1 EB B P A EA 2
 5/3 Valve (all ports sealed) 5/3 Valve (all ports sealed)

With the spool in the mid (normal) position all ports are
Spool right, P port is joined to B, port A is joined to EA
sealed

B A B A

EB P EA EB P EA

EB B P A EA EB B P A EA

5/3 Valve (all ports sealed) 5/3 Valve (open exhausts)

Spool left, P port is joined to A, port B is joined to EB
With the spool in the mid (normal) position the supply port
is sealed and outlet ports are to exhaust

B A
B A

EB P EA
EB P EA

EB B P A EA EB B P A EA
 5/3 Valve (open exhausts) 5/3 Valve (open exhausts)

Spool right, P port is joined to B, port A is joined to EA
Spool left, P port is joined to A, port B is joined to EB

B A B A

EB P EA EB P EA

EB B P A EA EB B P A EA

5/3 Valve (open pressure) 5/3 Valve (open pressure)

With the spool in the mid (normal) position the supply port
Spool right, P port is joined to B, port A is joined to EA
is connected to both outlet ports

B A B A

EB P EA EB P EA

EB B P A EA EB B P A EA
 5/3 Valve (open pressure)

Spool left, P port is joined to A, port B is joined to EB

Rotary Valves
B A

EB P EA

EB B P A EA

Rotary Valves Rotary Valves

Have no sliding synthetic
Have no sliding synthetic
rubber seals rubber seals

The rotary slide (red) is ground
The rotary slide (red) is ground
flat with the base flat with the base

Pressure supplied at port 1 2 3 4 1
Pressure supplied at port 1 2 3 4 1
pushes the plate down to seal, pushes the plate down to seal,
also supplies outlet port 2 2 4
also supplies outlet port 2 2 4

The cavity in the plate connects
The cavity in the plate connects
outlet port 4 to exhaust port 3 outlet port 4 to exhaust port 3
1 3 1 3

Versions 4/2 and 4/3 with
Versions 4/2 and 4/3 with
2 4 2 4
detented centre position detented centre position
1 3 1 3
 Operators

An operator is the mechanism that
causes a valve to change state

They are classified as manual, Push Mushroom Twist
Button Button
mechanical, piloted and electrical
DCV Operators

Switch Emergency Key Key Plunger Roller

Stop Released Operated

One Way Air Pilot Solenoid

Tip

Manual Controls Manual Controls

• Buttons • Buttons
• Keys • Keys
• Levers • Levers
 Electrical Control Electrical Control

• Electro-Magnetic Solenoid • Electro-Magnetic Solenoid

Mechanical Mechanical
• Bi-Directional Cam • Bi-Directional Cam
• Uni-Directional Cam • Uni-Directional Cam
• Plunger • Plunger
• Pilot • Pilot
 Air Piloted Air Piloted

Logic “OR” Shuttle Valve

2

An air signal given to
either the left hand port
1 or the right hand port 1 1
1 will result in an 2
output at port 2
Logic Valves

The sealing disc
moves across to seal
the exhaust signal line 1 1
to prevent loss of
2
signal pressure

1 1
 Logic “And” Shuttle Valve
2

A single air signal at either
of the ports 1 will cause the
shuttle to move and block 1 1
the signal 2 2

If a signals are applied at
both the left hand AND
right hand ports 1 only one 1 1 1 1
of them will be blocked the 2 2

other will be given as an

output at port 2
1 1 1 1

If the pressures are not
equal the one with the
lowest pressure is switched