Cascade Control Method

1
Introduction
• Cascade system uses signal cut out by
means of reversing valves
• Air supplied to switches are from reversing
valves
• Reversing valves are control by limit
switches

2
Design of Cascade
• Only one output line is pressurized at any
one time
2 Groups & 1 Reversing valve

Group 1
Group 2

Change to group 1 Change to group 2

3
Design of Cascade
3 Groups & 2 Reversing valves
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3

Reversing
Valve 1

Reversing
Valve 2

4
Design of Cascade
4 Groups & 3 Reversing valves
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4

Reversing
Valve 1
Reversing
Valve 2
Reversing
Valve 3

5
Controlling the reversing valves with limit switches

Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4

6
Procedure for constructing a
Cascade system
1) Define the sequence of motion
2) Divide them into minimum group
3) Supply lines
4) Reversing valves
5) Limit switches
a1 b0 a0

A + B + B - A - C+ C -
I b1 II c1 III c0
7
Transposition into circuit
1) Limit switches/valves which cause change over of groups
are drawn below the supply lines
2) Limit switches within the same group are drawn above the
supply lines
3) Include an “AND” valve when a cylinder extend more than
one time (eg. A + B + B - A - C + A + A - C - )
4) Auxiliary conditions and additional interlocks are added
only after the basic sequence design has finished

a1 b0 a0

A + B + B - A - C+ C -
I b1 II c1 III c0
8
Auto-start and auto stop modes

9
Advantages of cascade system
• Circuit can be designed and checked
quickly
• Easier to trace faults
• System ensure that signals are inherently
of sufficient duration to perform their
require tasks

10
Disadvantages of cascade
system
• May not yield the simplest solution for
certain circuits
• the pressure drop becomes significant as
the number of stages increase
• great care to be exercised when limit
switch is depressed by external source

11
Example (Punching fixture)

12
Example (Punching fixture)
B-
A+ B+ C+ D+ C- A-
D-
0
Cylinder 1.0 (A)
1
0
Cylinder 2.0 (B)
1
0
Cylinder 3.0 (C)
1
0
Cylinder 4.0 (D)
1

13
Example (Punching fixture circuit )

B-
A+ B+ C+ D+ C- A-
D- 14