This type of valve includes an inlet port, two outlet ports, and two exhaust ports. This is the most popular directional control valve because it can extend and retract double-acting cylinders, providing a wide range of control capabilities. This is mainly done to simplify valve construction. A 5-port valve is technically a 4-way valve since there are two ports open to exhaust. While exhausting pressure is important for cylinder movement, this type of valve only works well in applications such as single-acting cylinders with a spring return or in air blowoff applications such as blowing chips in a machining process.Īdding two more ports turns the valve into a 5-port (4-way), 2-position valve. The three ports are air in, air out, and exhaust. The number of different pathways for air to travel in or out of the valve are referred to as “ways” while the different available states are called “positions.” Valves commonly used in industrial applications are either 2-, 3-, or 4-way configuration 2- and 3-way valves have 2 positions while 4-way valves can be either 2- or 3-position.īy adding a third port, the 3-port or 3-way, 2-position valve can both supply and exhaust pressure. This type of valve is on or off, with no way to vent air pressure unless that is its only function. A 2-port or 2-way, 2-position valve has one inlet port and one outlet port. The number of ports and positions defines the type of work a valve is designed for, so selecting these options is a critical design decision. The flow path can also be blocked, indicated by a “T” symbol. To determine the number of ports, one must count a single box of the symbol. The point where each path touches a box is called a port. I: Body-ported 5-port (4-way).Įach valve position has one or more flow paths and the arrows in each box represent flow of air and exhaust. H: Body-ported 3-port (3-way) spool valve. E: 4-way (5-port), 3-position closed center, double-piloted solenoid with spring centering.
![3 way electric solenoid valve 3 way electric solenoid valve](https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1c0OEagDqK1RjSZSyq6yxEVXac/U-S-Solid-1-4-3-Way-2-Position-DC-24-V-Pneumatic-Electric-Solenoid-Valve.jpg)
![3 way electric solenoid valve 3 way electric solenoid valve](https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1SwiYQpXXXXXPXpXXq6xXFXXXr/NPT-Air-1-8-DC-12V-3-way-2-position-Pneumatic-Electric-Solenoid-Valve-Aluminum.jpg)
D: 4-way (5-port), 2-position, piloted solenoid valve with spring return.
#3 way electric solenoid valve manual#
C: 4-way, 2-position, detented rotary manual valve. B: 3-way, 2-position, normally closed, direct-acting solenoid valve with spring return. A: 2-way, 2-position, normally closed, direct-acting solenoid valve with spring return. Flow of supply air or exhaust for each position is defined by the information in each box. The number of boxes indicates the number of positions - typically two or three. The actuation methods are on the left and right of the symbol and can be thought of as pushing the boxes left or right. The pneumatic symbol for a valve has three parts: actuation (how the valve is actuated), position (the number of positions and ports), and flow (how the air flows through the device). Valve configuration symbols must be interpreted. This configuration has a strong influence on the device the valve is controlling and understanding this is critical for specifying the proper valve for the application. With pneumatic valves, the configuration or valve type indicates how air is connected to the device and switched through the valve. The valve can also be internally air-piloted, enabling use of a smaller integrated electric solenoid to provide an air pilot signal to control the larger valve spool. Typical solenoid control voltages are 12 VDC, 24 VAC/DC, 120 VAC, or 240 VAC.Īir-piloted valves are operated by an external air source such as a solenoid-operated valve in a remote location. Solenoid-operated valves use an electrical coil to control the position of a poppet, plunger, or spool to open or close a valve. An operator controls the activated position of the valve and a spring, or the operator returns the valve to its home position. Manually activated valves are typically switched open and closed by a foot pedal, toggle actuator, handle, knob, or pushbutton.
![3 way electric solenoid valve 3 way electric solenoid valve](https://www.covnagroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/VX31brass-solenoid-valve-..jpg)
Another very common valve is a 4-way valve, which switches supply and exhaust between two outlet ports. In their simplest form, 2-way and 3-way valves can be normally open (NO) or normally closed (NC) - terms that refer to their normal states without power applied. Pneumatic valves, also called directional control valves, are activated in a variety of ways including manual, solenoid-operated, and air-piloted (Figure 1). Instead of distributing electric power to motors, drives, and other devices, pneumatic valves distribute air to cylinders, actuators, and nozzles.
![3 way electric solenoid valve 3 way electric solenoid valve](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FpEAAOSwoudW-rER/s-l400.jpg)
In the pneumatic world, valves are the equivalent of relays controlling the flow of electricity in automation systems.