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Directional control valves explained

Directional C ontrol Valv es Dire ct io n a l co n t ro l va lve s a re a n in t e g ra l p a rt o f p n e u ma t ic s ys t e ms , t h e y ca n ch a n g e t h e d ire ct io n o f flo w t o it 's o u t p u t s in a s p lit s e co n d . Dire ct io n a l co n t ro l va lve s ca n b e o p e ra t e d in n u mb e r o f d iffe re n t w a ys , t h e mo s t co mmo n in in d u s t ry t o d a y is via s o le n o id , t h is a llo w s va lve s t o b e o p e ra t e d e le ct ro n ica lly b y co mp u t e r p ro g ra ms (P L C ) e n a b lin g a ccu ra t e t imin g o f va lve co n t ro l d o w n t o millis e co n d s . Be lo w is a d ia g ra m o f a 5 p o rt / 3 p o s it io n d ire ct io n a l co n t ro l va lve . 5 p o rt s b e ca u s e t h e re a re a co mb in e d t o t a l o f 5 in p u t s /o u t p u t s a n d 3 fu n ct io n in g p o s it io n s o f t h e va lve , o n e w ill d ire ct flo w t o (A) a n d o n e t o (B) t h e s h u t t le, w h ich is t h e s t e m t h ro u g h t h e mid d le o f t h e va lve w ill w h e n ce n t ra lis e d clo s e a ll p o rt s o n t h e rig h t h a n d s id e o f t h e va lve , e ffe ct ive ly b lo ckin g a n y flo w o f a ir t h ro u g h t h e va lve . (s e e fig . 2 )

Figure 1

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Fig u re 2

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