Tuesday, 10 January 2012

Pneumatics Revision

Today we looked at this circuit and answered the questions below.   I will leave the answers as a comment so that you can attempt the questions again first before reading:




You may also find this website useful.

1 comment:

  1. Names of Valves/components:

    1 - 3/2 Solenoid, Spring Return Valve
    2 - 3/2 Low Pressure (not pilot!) spring return valve (diaphragm valve)
    3 - Shuttle Valve
    4&9 - 3/2 push button, spring return valve
    5&7 - Unidirectional Flow Control Restrictor
    6 - 5/2 Pilot, Pilot valve
    8 - Double Acting Cylinder
    10 - Single Pole, Single Throw Switch.

    Function of the coloured boxes:

    orange - AND control
    blue - OR control (note that you can combine logic functions in pneumatics just like you can in digital electronics)
    green - Air Bleed (note that the FCR is required before the air bleed to ensure that high pressure air is not released into the atmosphere as this can be very dangerous!)

    Description of how the circuit works:

    * Valve 1 is actuated by an electrical signal caused by closing the switch, activating the solenoid. When actuated main air flows from port 1 to port 2 and to valve 2.
    * An air bleed has been created by using a Unidirectional Flow Control Restrictor to slow down main air and then a T-Piece to allow this air to escape into the atmoshpere
    * Valve 2 is actuated by low pressure air caused by covering the air bleed described above.
    * When both valve 1 and valve 2 are actuated air can flow through the shuttle valve (which creates OR control) and to valve 6.
    * Valve 4 is also connected to the shuttle valve so when actuated sends signal air to valve 6.
    * Either signal through the shuttle valve actuates valve 6 to its 1,4 state allowing main air to flow from port 1 to port 4, instroking the cylinder.
    * The unidirectional Flow Control Restrictor (valve 7) restricts the exhaust of the cylinder as it instrokes, causing the cylinder to instroke slowly.
    * When the push button on valve 9 is pressed this actuates it and main air can flow from port 1 to port 2 giving a signal to valve 6.
    * Valve 6 is then actuated to its 1,2 state, allowing main air to flow from port 1 to port 2, outstroking the cylinder at full speed.

    Calculations:

    Force = Pressure x area so first the area must be calculated:

    A = pi r(2)
    = 3.14 x 12.5(2)
    = 491mm

    F = PA
    = 0.3 x 491
    = 147N

    Area on instroke is less due to the piston rod taking up some of the effective area.

    A = pi R(2) - pi r(2)
    = (3.14 x 12.5(2)) - (3.14 x 2.5(2))
    = 491 - 19.6
    = 471.4mm

    F = PA
    = 0.3 x 471
    = 141N

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