Automation and Control Lab
Experiments 5: Introduction to Pneumatics
Dr. Eng. Baha’eddin Alhaj Hasan
Department of Industrial Engineering
What are pneumatics
Mechanisms which use
Retracted
air pressure to apply
Cylinder
mechanical force and
displacement (work)
The pneumatic devices
we use are basically
binary actuators – either
retracted or extended
Extended
Cylinder
What are pneumatics good for?
Mechanisms requiring (2) discrete states
Gear shifters
Gripper articulation
Lifters
Brakes
…and a significant force or displacement
Strengths
High durability and reliability
Simple design and Easy to control
High effectiveness : can apply a lot of force from a
small, light package, and force is limited by air
pressure and cylinder diameter
High adaptability to harsh environment
Safety aspects
Drawbacks
Relatively low accuracy
Not well suited for non-binary actuation
Low loading
Noise
Processing required before use.
Uneven moving speed – As air can easily be
compressed, the moving speeds of the pistons are
relatively uneven.
Pneumatic Actuators
An actuator is an output device for the conversion of
supply energy into useful work.
The output signal is controlled by the control system, and
the actuator responds to the control signals via the control
element.
The pneumatic actuator can be described under two
groups, linear and rotary :
Linear motion: Single-acting cylinders and Double-acting
cylinders.
•Rotary motion : Air motor, Rotary cylinders and Rotary
actuators.
Single Acting cylinders
With single-acting cylinders compressed air is applied on
only one side of the piston face. The other side is open to
atmosphere.
The cylinder can produce work in only one direction.
The return movement of the piston is effected by a built-in
spring or by the application of an external force.
The spring force of the built-in spring is designed to return
the piston to its start position with a reasonably high speed
under no load conditions.
Single Acting cylinders
Single Acting cylinders
For single-acting cylinders with built-in spring, the stroke is limited
by the natural length of the spring.
Single-acting cylinders are therefore only available in stroke lengths
of up to approximately 80 mm.
The construction and simplicity of operation of the single-acting
cylinder makes it particularly suitable for compact, short stroke
length cylinders for the following types of applications:
a.Transferring
b.Branching
c.Clamping
d.Ejecting
Double Acting cylinders
The construction principle of a double-acting cylinder is similar to
that of the single-acting cylinder. However, there is no return
spring, and the two ports are used alternatively as supply and
exhaust ports.
The double-acting cylinder has the advantage that the cylinder is
able to carry out work in both directions of motion. Thus,
installation possibilities are universal.
The force transferred by the piston rod is somewhat greater for the
forward stroke than for the return stroke as the effective piston
surface is reduced on the piston rod side by the cross-sectional area
of the piston rod.
Double Acting cylinders
The pneumatic system
Directional Control Valves
Directional Control Valves
3/2 way DCV –NC ( Normally Closed)
3/2 way DCV –NC ( Normally Closed)
3/2 way DCV –NC ( Normally Open)
3/2 way DCV –NC ( Normally Open)
3/2 way Roller Lever Valve ( N/C)
3/2 way Roller Lever Valve ( N/C)
3/2 way DCV –NC ( Normally Open)
3/2 way Selector Valve
Different Types of Actuators
Manual Actuators
Mechanical Actuators
Electrical Actuators
Pneumatic Actuators
5/2 way Directional Control Valve
5/2 way Directional Control Valve
5/2 way SelectorValve
5/2 way Single PilotValve
5/2 way Double PilotValve
