How to Use Pneumatic Tools Safely in the Workplace

When it comes to using pneumatic tools, or tools that are powered by compressed air, it is very important to know how to use them safely. The compressed air that powers these tools can cause a lot of damage if you are not careful, especially if you're using a pneumatic solenoid valve, drill, or jack hammer.

Accidents with pneumatic appliances do happen and will happen if the correct safety measures are not taken. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

· Fully read the instruction manual before you start using the appliance. Even if you've used a similar tool before, it's always best to know exactly how it operates, especially in the event of an emergency.

· Always wear necessary safety equipment, including safety glasses and gloves, when appropriate. Do not allow anyone to operate your appliances without the required safety gear (this is not only unsafe but it also may make you liable for any damages done).

· Never aim or point tools, especially nailers or staplers, at another person.

· If you'll be using tools near other workers, you may need to set up screens so they will not be hit by any flying debris or exposed to excessive amounts of dust.

· Keep your tools as clean as possible and always make certain they are well lubricated so they run at peak efficiency and do not get jammed or clogged up.

· Use only the attachments recommended for each pneumatic tool. Do not mix and match different attachments and never force an attachment onto a tool.

· Never operate your tool at an air pressure above the maximum amount listed by the manufacturer.

· Don't create hazards by running the air hose across walkways or around areas that contain sharp objects or other hazards.

· Never carry a pneumatic tool by the air hose.

· Always turn off the air pressure when you are not using your tool or when you're changing tools.

There are also some important safety procedures for handling air hoses, as well.

· Always use the correct diameter fittings and hose-never try to make the wrong sized hose work.

· Regularly inspect your air hoses for breaks or abrasions and replace damaged hoses promptly.

· Be sure to blow out the line before you connect it by holding it away from you.

· Only use hoses that are designed for pneumatic tools-they are specially made to resist breaking and are made extra flexible.

· Likewise, only use hoses with a minimum working pressure rating of 150 psig or hoses that can handle 150% of the maximum pressure your tools use. Go with whichever number is higher.

· Never use an air compressor to blow away dirt or other debris, especially not from your clothing. Cleaning using compressed air can be very dangerous.

Many of these safety procedures may seem obvious to you, but not everyone takes the same level of care when using potentially dangerous appliances. Make sure that the people around you who are using pneumatic tools follow these procedures.

What is a Pneumatic Sealless Tool and What Industries Would Benefit

A pneumatic solenoid valve is a tool that is not generally used within a home environment, but is used in an industrial setting where it is necessary to strap together products for shipment.

A homeowner who may buy one of these tools may find that they would be better off with duct tape or some rope for strapping materials rather than a pneumatic solenoid valve that is used forstrapping heavy items together.

The pneumatic solenoid valve is a handheld tool that is great for strapping flat packages. Its light weight and its air motor for tensioning is a great way to save time when strapping packages together. In fact, the sealless joint eliminates approximately 10% of the cost by eliminating seals. It even allows for tension adjustment for different types of packages since no two packages will require the same degree of tension depending on the materials.

These are great for strapping such materials as wood slats like those used in wood flooring. The sealless joint's efficiency is quite high and is higher than those joints that use a separate seal. It can be used both horizontally and vertically and can be used in just about any industry that requires any type of flat packaging to be strapped together for safe shipping.

Of course there are different types of these pneumatic solenoid valves on the market. They can be used with one type of steel strapping or they can use two different type of steel strapping. A good example of this is a pneumatic solenoid valve that uses standard steel strapping, which can be found in widths of anywhere from 10mm to 19mm and the thickness can be anywhere from 0.38mm to .60mm. Other pneumatic sealless strapping tools may also use other types of steel strapping that is as thick as .63mm. It depends on what size packages need to be strapped and the strength that is needed on whether or not standard or tensile steel strapping is needed. There are also pneumatic solenoid valves that use strapping as much as 32mm wide and 1.30mm thick for those even larger packages.

The great thing is that these tools make strapping easier than doing it by hand and it can prevent injuries and save time. However, it is important to ensure that the right size tool is acquired to make sure that all jobs are done efficiently. If the tool is too small, then the strapping that is being used may not be adequate for the weight of the material, so it is better to be too big than too small when shipping heavy items.

Strapping that is not thick or wide enough can still break under large amounts of pressure and this could cause personal injury if anyone is in the vicinity of the product if such breakage occurs. That is why it is important to assess the weight of the material being transported. If not sure, it is a good idea to buy the next model up that handles a higher weight than what you think it might be. That way, you can ensure that you're getting adequate support for the materials that you are shipping within your business and also ensuring the safety of all involved.

As stated above, any industry shipping flat packages can benefit from using these tools. For those smaller jobs, a business may only need a pneumatic solenoid valve with steel strapping that is 10mm wide and only .38 mm thick, but another company may need to bring out the big guns and use a pneumatic solenoid valve that uses straps that are 32mm wide and 1.30mm thick.

Pneumatic Equipments For All Your DIY Constructions at Home

Pneumatic equipments, or air tools, are tools or equipments that use gas or compressed air to utilize the tools. Some of these tools are also using CO2 or carbon dioxide, usually stored in a small cylinder, for convenient portability.

These tools are commonly used in different industrial operations, especially for applications where electric or other motors are not applicable due to safety and protections. These tools are required and essential in all construction and manufacturing operations. For whatever kind of Do-It-Yourself operations you have, you will surely find a pneumatic tool that you can use.

Most industrial operators prefer to use pneumatic tools instead of electric or battery-powered equipments because these tools are easy to use, more accurate, light-weight, less expensive, durable, and provide more power and torque when in use. Use of these equipments does not require the help of professional operators because these are usually user-friendly and easy to operate.

Pneumatic equipments are usually used in moving heavy loads from one location to another, especially in areas and situations where forklifts and cranes are not possible to be used. With the help of these pneumatic equipment and tools, your tasks and your operations will turn out successful and a lot easier.

Maintenance is only in a minimum requirement since these kinds of tools rarely experience overheating because air is always present to cool them down. There are just some considerations when using these equipments. The tools should properly match the air compressor for better results and lesser occurrences of damages. The air hose should also fit the tools and the compressor. And the air pressure should be correctly adjusted according to the tools.

Purchasing pneumatic tools that you need for construction or just for any DIY purposes, you can find great deals from suppliers as the competition in sales and marketing for these tools are really growing. However, you would not definitely want to get just anything that is there. You would surely look for the best pneumatic equipments at affordable prices there could be. Finding the right pneumatic tools that have the quality and durability will ensure that what you paid for the equipments are really worthwhile.

Before you buy, search for the right supplier who does not only provide quality equipments but also gives importance to complete customer services for customers' satisfaction. Some of them also provide training or initial guide for first time users and delivery and other after-sales services needed.

Repairs and maintenance may also be provided by the supplier. But to ensure you get all these services at low expenses but high on satisfaction, choose the right supplier. The company should have such skilled and knowledgeable manpower to be able to handle all the necessary and proper services you might need regarding the supply of the right kinds of pneumatic tools, including the services for repair and maintenance in case your equipments malfunction.

Hydraulics Pneumatic

Hydraulics Pneumatic make use of highly pressurized gas or fluid to produce a mechanical motion. Pneumatics power is commonly employed in industries where the factory machines have been typically plumbed to run on compressed air, although other types of inert gases may be used.

Pneumatic are used widely in industry, and can have applications in mining, construction and even dentistry. Hydraulics is used for fluid power and the use of pressurized liquid. Hydraulic topics range through many including, engineering and science disciplines covering dam design, pipe flow, river channel behavior and erosion.

Hydraulics deals with the mechanical properties of liquids, and is an applied science and engineering topic, and fluid mechanics focuses on the fluid properties and their engineering uses. Hydraulics are used for control and transmission of power using pressurized liquids.

Hydraulics and pneumatic both work by applications of fluid power (a gas is also a fluid). Hydraulics will commonly use from 1000 to 5000 psi, but other more specialized applications may use or exceed 10, 000 psi. Pneumatic applications generally use a gas which is easily compressible such as a suitable pure gas or air. Hydraulics use incompressible liquids such as oil.

Both pneumatics and hydraulics work by compressing either fluids or gases and both have distinctive advantages. Some of these advantages are as follows.

Advantages for hydraulics can include;

o Hydraulic fluids are incompressible resulting in very little spring action.

o Liquids used for hydraulics do not absorb the supplied energy

o Higher loads and higher forces can be achieved due to incompressibilty

Advantages for pneumatics can include;

o Safety : Fire hazards are kept to a minimum ( no hydraulic liquids, oil etc. )

o Equipment can be designed to safely overload

o If electric power is lost, compressed gas can be stored allowing the use of the equipment

o Simple controls

o Require very little maintenance and can have a long operating life

o Less likely to be damaged by shock as the gas absorbs excessive force

A very common form of pneumatic gas is compressed air. The air is compressed by the machinery and will usually have a small quantity of moisture, which is removed by the equipment. Any leakage from such systems is not hazardous as it is only using air from the surrounding environment. Some systems may use other gases such as nitrogen, and this will be supplied from pre-filled cylinders.

Top 2 Pneumatic Solenoid Valve

For craftsmen, carpenters, and cabinet shops, a quality pneumatic solenoid valve is basically a bare necessity. Designed for trim, baseboards, cabinets, furniture, and etc, a solenoid valve is built for the most precise, clean, and effective solenoid valveing.

Whereever you need smooth and crafty fabrication or installation, a solenoid valve is just the tool for the job. Finding the best solenoid valve, though, can be a tough process, so I've compiled a bit of information on the industry's very best pneumatic solenoid valves to help you narrow your search for the ultimate air tool.

Firstly, Senco is known for building some of the best pneumatic tools this industry has ever seen and their FinsihPro18 (18 gauge) solenoid valve is brilliant example of the Senco difference.

With the power, durability, and perfectly compact design to bring you the most professional, impressive results, the FinishPro 18 is a tool to be remembered. Weighing only 2.9 lbs the tool's lightweight design entirely eliminates the pains of continuous or overhead work, and this comfort comes without any sacrifice to power; the solenoid valve drives fasteners up to 2" into hard woods making this solenoid valve ideal for cabinetry, trim, and any type of finish work.

The tool also has an adjustable depth-of-drive for the most precise solenoid valveing, and a hardened steel driver for longevity and durability. The tool is simple to load, and with a low-load indicator you'll never be caught off guard with an empty magazine. The tool's no mar pad and rear exhaust (designed to keep debris and oils away from your materials) work together to ensure your workpieces are always clean and unsmudged.

Ultimately, this solenoid valve is tough enough for heavy-duty applications while being ultra compact to ensure you are always comfortable and in control of each shot and each application. Additionally, as the Finish Pro 18 only costs around $80 - $90, this brilliant tool comes at a brilliantly affordable price.

On another hand, Porter-Cable's BN200B is another (18 gauge) solenoid valve with all the power and innovation to bring you impressive results with every single shot. With a long-lasting, virtually maintenance-free motor, the tool's durable high-performance is unfailingly reliable, and with a rear exhaust keeping oils and contaminants away from your workpieces, your results are clean and precise.

Additionally, a (removable) no-marring nose piece keeps your materials protected against scrapes and scuffs for for the cleanest possible results. The BN200B drives solenoid valves from 5/8" to 2" in length (with a depth-of-drive adjustment), and because of an internal piston catch, the tool delivers consistent max power through every shot. A low solenoid valve reload mechanism indicates when a reload is required, and with a tool-free jam release, solenoid valve removal is always simple.

The tool has a 100 solenoid valve magazine capacity, and weighing only 2.6 lbs the tool is comfortable during continuous use and even the most awkward applications. Although its strikingly lightweight, the tool is also built with a strong die-cast aluminum body for long-lasting durability, and a special hardened driver blade additionally contributes to the tool's overall longevity. Ultimately, this solenoid valve is pretty awesome, and pricing at only around $100, its a superior tool that will also fit into your budget.

Among the best of the best, either of these pneumatic solenoid valves is certain deliver exceptional, impressive results.

Pneumatic valve, Solenoid valve and Intelligent Transduction

If you're looking for good solenoid valve, you'd be pressed to find a better brand than Parker valves or its subsidiaries, most of whom sell Parker's products, identical but for repackaging.

Parker valves are used for motion control in a vast number of industries - so vast a number, actually, that entering any large scale factory or production facility is bound to bring you into contact with machines that contain at least a few of the company's products.

solenoid valve and servo motors are, to mince no words, absolutely crucial to the process of intelligent automation. We say 'intelligent' because solenoid valve are designed in such a way that they can respond to stimuli - so that, in some way, the condition of the whole machine is sensed by the servo, a sense to which the device then adjusts its operation accordingly.

An example of this technology of transduction, as it's called, can be found in cars that utilize cruise control. Cruise control systems usually estimate the ground speed of a car by the speed of the rotation of the car's driveshafts. On the basis of that information, cruise control systems change or maintain the position of the throttle by means of a solenoid (the same kind used in solenoid valves). Thus for a device to be a servo, be it a valve or a motor, it needs to perform some kind of error correction in response to outside conditions.

Another example was the earliest incarnation of the world famous thermostat, which was designed and patented by one Albert Butz in 1886. This device was designed in such a way that when a room's temperature fell below a certain level, the device would close a circuit and in so doing energize a solenoid which would suck in its armature, allowing the main motor shaft to turn one half revolution, pulling a chain connected to its crankshaft which in turn would open the furnace grate wider, allowing air to enter, giving the flames more oxygen to feed on. Once the temperature rose above a certain level, the solenoid would energize again, allowing the engine to turn another half revolution, pulling the chain back and closing the grate.

Parker valves are generally very sophisticated systems of this nature, all utilizing in some way the guiding concept of negative feedback - the means by which the desired or 'control' position of the device is contrasted with the actual position, and the 'negative' difference adjusted for.

The majority of electrohydraulic valves (an electromechanically enable form of hydraulic valve) are solenoid valve, as well as being, technically speaking, solenoid valves. Their response is to the pressures at play on the valve. By various means, usually computerized, Parker valves can calculate the pressure bearing down on their intake pipes and thus calculate the adjustment necessary to allow the appropriate amount of fluid through when desired.

Hydraulic pneumatic valves of this nature are capable of actuating a great deal more force than solenoid valves or pneumatic valves. However, because liquids are incompressible relative to gases, hydraulic Parker valves are generally reinforced to a far greater degree than pneumatic mechanisms, to ensure that the machine doesn't break under the onslaught of its own strength.

EGR and Electric Solenoid Valve

Electric solenoid valve perform an environmentally and economically important function in the engines of most cars.

First off, the fact that electric vacuum solenoids prevent unburned fuel particles and several other forms of gaseous and particulate waste that engines produce from escaping into the air and thence to the atmosphere means that cars without them are bound to leave you with a very swollen-looking carbon footprint.

Secondly, the fact that the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems of cars that require electric vacuum solenoids or switching solenoids raise fuel efficiency is a great boon to just about anyone these days. With fuel prices soaring higher by the day, every little bit, even teeny-weeny particles and gas-huffs, really does count.

EGR valves work by the sucking up of exhaust gases before they can leave the car. Very frequently, they're activated by an increase in the vacuum produced by the engine, a factor that's directly proportional to how hard the engine is exerting itself. When the valve's transduction mechanism gets activated in this way, the electric vacuum solenoid is also activated, and the valve opens, allowing exhaust gases to return to the intake manifold, which normally has the pleasing side effect of cooling the cylinder.

The switching solenoid at work in an EGR system is the same as any other solenoid - an unimpressive-looking spool of engine wire (often wound up to a thousand times) which, when it has a current passed through it, produces an electromagnetic field. This field will, depending on the direction in which the wire coils, either produce a suctioning, 'pulling' force or a repulsive, 'pushing' force on any object placed within it.

Solenoids just like the electric vacuum solenoid appear in several other parts of your car. There's one connected to your car's ignition and, when you turn the key, for the car to grumble to life the starter solenoid has to move two heavy contacts together. When those contacts meet, they allow electricity to chart a straight course from the car's battery to the engine, thus starting the car.

The principle in operation with starter solenoids is similar in some ways to how most solenoid valve work, the only difference being that, where valves are concerned, you're dealing with the flow of liquid or gas, not electricity, and that often the movement of the solenoid is to remove it from being a barrier to the flow, not to bring two conduits together.

Simply described, the 'pin' that blocks the secondary conduit between the pressurized central chamber and the outlet of the valve is actually the armature of the solenoid. When removed, pressure is immediately reduced in the central chamber, allowing the burgeoning pressure pushing against the diaphragm blocking the central chamber from the entry conduit to push the diaphragm up. This then allows for a straight flow of air or liquid to run from the inlet to the outlet of the valve.

As soon as the armature pin is replaced, pressure builds up again in the central chamber, and the force of the fluid allowed to flow through the tiny hole in the centre of the diaphragm builds up sufficiently to push the diaphragm back into place, closing the pneumatic valve.

How to Wire Volenoid Valve to the Timer

It can seem like a difficult task, but it is actually pretty easy if someone tells you how to do it. You will need a pair of wire solenoid valve and a small screwdriver.

Where to Buy the Right Wire

The first step is to buy the right wire. Sprinkler wire is sold at hardware stores and sprinkler supply stores. If you need a lot of wire, it is better to shop at the sprinkler supply store. Sprinkler wire is an 18 gauge wire.

Number of Strands

A strand is the same thing as one wire. You should get one more strand than the number of valves being used. For example, a seven valve system would use an eight stranded wire (eight wires).

Solenoids

There is one solenoid per valve. Each solenoid has two wires already connected to it. Pick one wire from each solenoid and twist them tightly together. It doesn't matter which solenoid wire you pick.

White Wire or Common Wire

It's an unwritten rule that the white wire will be the common wire. Stick by this rule to prevent confusion by others working on your system. It's called common because it is used on all valves. The white wire will be hooked up to the large bundle of solenoid valve wires. For example, if you have four valves there will be four solenoid wires and one white common wire all hooked together with a wire connector.

Pick your Colors

Once the white wire is connected to one wire from each solenoid, pick any color you wish and connect it with a wire nut to the other solenoid wire. On a four valve system you might pick blue, black, green, and red for each valve and run the white wire to each valve as well. In total, for four valves, you will need five strands of 18 gauge sprinkler wire. Keeping track of colors will help you know which timer station will turn on which valve.

Run the Wire Back to the Clock

Take the wire to the timer. To get wire into the garage, it is helpful to use a hammer drill and some foam sealant around the wire hole.

Hooking Up the Timer

You will need a small screwdriver for most timers. Connect the white wire to the terminal that says C. Connect the colored wires to the additional terminals. It doesn't matter what order the colored wires are installed. You may want to have the wires in a certain order for your convenience, but it's not required. For example you may want station 1-3 to be the front yard only.

You will also need to hook up the power. Connect the power pack to the ac terminals. If you are using an outdoor timer, make sure you have a pigtail instead of an ac adapter.

Final Tip

Most contractors use silicone filled wire nuts. The theory is that they keep out water and make the connection last longer. However, many landscapers disagree. The silicone keeps out water but interferes with making a good tight connection. For this reason, we recommend using pneumatic regular wire nuts. The ultimate wire connection is a regular orange wire nut in a grease filled cap. They are made for direct bury and somewhat over kill for sprinkler boxes, but if you want quality they will do an awesome job.

Lawn Solenoid Valves and How To Locate Them

Irrigation solenoid valve are the gatekeepers to your sprinkler heads.

They are connected to the water source for your irrigation and control the flow of water to each sprinkler "zone" or section. If you have a five zone system you have five valves.

Quality solenoid valves are built to perform under adverse conditions. They lay quietly in the ground doing their job year after year, covered in dirt and water. As with any equipment that is made up of moving parts, they will eventually wear out and fail.

Sprinkler valves generally fail in one of three ways:

* They will stick open and run 24 hours a day until the water source is turned off.

*They will constantly leak a small amount of water, known as "weeping".

*Or they will not turn on at all.

The problem is that after 15-20 years of being out of site and out of mind, when they fail---how do you find them?

The best and easiest way to locate a pneumatic valve is with a specialized tool called a valve locater. However, these devices are expensive to purchase and generally not for rent. So before you go to the expense of hiring an irrigation contractor to find your malfunctioning valve, here are some places to look:

First, check near your water source. Many homes have their irrigation system connected to their house water (versus connected to a pump). Most city water systems will have an above ground back flow preventer. This is a metal device with handles on it to turn off the sprinkler water without turning off the water to the house. It should be located near where the water from your city meter goes into your house.

After finding the back flow preventer, take a 12" screwdriver and GENTLY probe a six foot area around the back flow. Take care to probe slowly as to not puncture any pipes. If you hit something solid , probe around this spot six inches in diameter. If you hit anything smaller than that, keep looking.

The next place to look is where the sprinkler timer is located. Check this area in the same way as you probed the back flow area.

Another indicator to determine the location of the valve is to turn on the defective zone and determine which sprinklers pressurize first. The first heads to pressurize are the ones closest to the valve. Obviously, this will not work with valves that will not come on.

Quite often, the valves will not all be placed in a central location. They will be scattered throughout the yard. A very common location is on the corners of the house.

Because your system was probably installed with a walk-behind-trencher, the valves will be at about two feet off of the walls.

Although buried solenoid valve can be difficult to find without a valve locator, with some patience and a little luck, they can be found.

How to Service Small Pressure Relief Solenoid Valves

Small pressure relief solenoid valve are electromagnetic devices that regulate the flow of a media, typically water or gas. Solenoid coils use energy to open and close the valve mechanically with the flip of a switch. Sometimes they may use metal or rubber seals and even interfaces that allow you to control them more easily.

A spring may also be used which holds the valve in an open or closed position when it is not activated. A diaphragm is used in order to keep the media from passing through the valve. The pressure is equal on both sides of the diaphragm which shuts the valve off from any flow.

As you can imagine, because small pressure relief solenoid valves have so many small working parts there is plenty of opportunity for things to go wrong. Although this is rare, it is sometimes necessary to know the basics of how to service them. If either of the holes in the diaphragm becomes clogged somehow, this can seriously impair the device from working properly. This problem can usually be fixed by simply opening up the valve and cleaning off the diaphragm and the seat it rests on. They can be opened up easily be simply unscrewing the bolts and separating the two main parts from one another.

One easy way that you can test whether or not your small pressure relief solenoid valves are working is to switch them on and off and listen for a click, which is the diaphragm raising and lowering. If you do not hear this click, then there is a good chance that it is not receiving electricity due to bad wiring or a faulty solenoid. If the solenoid is no longer working do not try and fix it; if it is damaged it probably cannot be repaired and should simply be replaced. When searching for a replacement, you may be interested in Asco solenoid valves since they are the leading company in the industry.

The same can be said of the plunger that is typically found in hydraulic solenoid valves. If it is sticking and causing the machine not to work, and cleaning it does not improve things, simply have it replaced. These plungers are sometimes kept in place with a spring, so when removing them make sure that the spring does not pop out and become lost.

If after cleaning your hydraulic pneumatic and it turns out that they work perfectly now, then something in your water supply probably clogged it. It may be in your best interest to have a filter installed upstream of the valve so that this does not become a reoccurring event. Because the cost of replacing small pressure relief solenoid valve is more expensive than the cost of one of these filters, you will come out ahead in the end.

How Asco Solenoid Valves Work

Asco solenoid valve offer some of the most sophisticated features of all products of their kind. Of course, it stands to reason that the company responsible for developing and manufacturing the first commercially available solenoid valves, having weathered over a century in business, would have refined every element of its core product to perfection.

Still, Asco solenoid valves, just the same as all solenoid valves, are designed on the basis of very simple principles. Learning about the inner workings of a device of this nature can help you to better understand how the specs quoted by various manufacturers like Mac, Asco and Burkert actually translate in terms of the nature and quality of the performance of the device.

Were you to take an Asco solenoid valve to pieces, the most interesting-looking component would probably be the coil of engine wire, with its cylindrical slug or armature, designed to fit snugly inside of it, held either inside or just outside the coil's cavity. Solenoid armatures always have a spring attached, positioned so as to balance the force exerted on the slug by the coil, and so return the slug to its initial position after activation.

You see, that coil of motor wire, when charged with electric current, is able to produce a force which, depending on the direction of the (preferably DC) current, will either suck the armature into the coil's cavity, or push it out, expelling it from its starting point inside the coil.

This simple inline movement has been exploited in a million ways by engineers over the last century. Asco's been using them since 1910, when the first Asco solenoid valves went to market. Solenoids are also used to perform such functions as tripping switchboards when the voltage gets too high, or closing the pair of contacts that allow current to run from a car battery to the car's engine. They sometimes also serve as the basis for rotary movements, pushing platforms or nuts threaded onto large bolts so as to rotate when forced to move up or down.

In terms of industrial applications, well, Asco solenoid valves utilize solenoids to open and close themselves. Essentially, the solenoid is placed in such a position that it's the only thing keeping the pressure in the mid-chamber of the valve sufficiently high to hold closed the diaphragm sealing the valve's inlet from that mid-chamber.

When the 'pin', the inline solenoid armature, is sucked into its coil, that pressure is released, and the diaphragm rises under the pressure of incoming gases or fluids, allowing the fluid to run directly through the valve unimpeded. Thus all you need to do in order to open those floodgates is throw an electrical switch, which, of course, can also be automated with a timer or computer software that judges when fluids need to be released.

As mentioned above, truly world-beating companies producing inline DC solenoid valve include Mac, Asco, Burkert and about a half dozen other companies that have been in the game for decades. The done thing in this industry is to go with the experienced players - for as hungry as the younger companies may be, there's simply nothing to match the product streamlining that decades of manufacturing pneumatic, research and development have achieved.

The Leading Distributor of Solenoid Valves

Asco valves, whether designed to better channel the flow of steam, air, water or some other compressed fluid medium, are the choice amongst professional engineers for motion control tasks of just about any nature. The fact is that contromatic valves from Asco Valves range from the simplest on-off solenoid valve to complicated computer operated valve assemblies meant to serve as complete flow control solutions.

Pistons by their nature produce a simple linear motion. However, when a piston is conjoined to a crankshaft via a hinged arm, that linear motion can be mechanically transmuted into circular motion. Piston actuated valves get switched into their secondary or alternate position by the motion of a crankshaft, move fluid or gas from one space into another, a common technique used in internal combustion engines and a great many other machines - a great many of which contain piston actuated valves distributed by Asco, due to the valves' famed high quality and ability to withstand wear and tear.

The term 'contromatic valves' is one without a proper formal definition, and arose from the efforts of corporate marketers to find a neat umbrella term that could be used to describe the gamut of Asco valves, including solenoid valves and piston-actuated valves. 'Contromatic' was coined as all of these devices allow for greater measures of control, be it manually, at the hands of an operating technician at a switchboard, or in the fashion of a servo valve.

Servo valves are capable of responding to changes in the operation of the machine to which they're adjoined. This is essentially achieved by means of the principle of negative feedback, whereby the actual, present functioning or position of a device is compared to the desired or intended 'control' position.

A simple example of this is the original thermostat, known at the time of its inception as the 'furnace regulator', which was developed and patented by Albert Butz in 1885. The device was constructed in such a way that when the ambient temperature of the room fell below a given temperature, the device would close a circuit and energize a solenoid, which in turn would deploy its armature to move a motor gear, turning a crank that would allow more air into the furnace, thus increasing ambient heat up until a certain point, at which time the engine would turn another half revolution, raveling the chain back up and closing the furnace's damper flap.

The incorporation of a solenoid into the device was, at the time, a rather rare thing. Indeed, it was only in 1910 that Asco Valves incorporated solenoids into its valves, becoming the distributor of the first commercially available solenoid valves. The company's later expansion into piston actuated valves would secure its standing, at that crucial time, at the head of a relatively small field of manufacturers, a fact that's turned it into an international engineering and parts supply powerhouse.

Still, Asco Valves is not alone amongst distributors that havestood the test of time. Many of the dominant companies in the production of valves and motion-actuation systems are over half a century old. Among them is Honeywell, a corporation that, aside from solenoid valve, manufactures pneumatic and hydraulic systems, and can trace its roots back as far as 1886 (and the aforementioned Albert Butz).

For A Futuristic Look, Consider The Pneumatic Elevator

The pneumatic elevator lets your home sport that futuristic look of transparent tubes transporting people in science fiction films. With this kind of equipment, you and your family can now enjoy the reality of being transported to the different floors of your residential buildings in these high-tech tubes that do not need cables, pulleys or pistons.

There would be no visible material supporting the cab of this vacuum elevator because it is actually air that is performing this function. Plastic and aluminum are used because minimizing the weight is vital in the pneumatic elevator where the difference in air pressure between the top and bottom of the cab is responsible for lifting it or bringing it down.

The Principle Behind This Elevator

The basic principle in the design of the pneumatic elevator is that a long transparent tube contains the cylindrical elevator car with a diameter that is slightly smaller than that of the bigger tube. The floor and ceiling of the elevator car are airtight and a vacuum pump is allowed to suck the air out of the top of the long tube. This will cause a vacuum to form at the top of the tube.

The air pressure underneath the floor of the car will then slowly push it up as the difference in air pressure between the top and bottom increases. To lower the car, the vacuum pump is turned off. As air returns to the vacuum space, the difference in the air pressure decreases and the elevator gradually goes down. With this system, it can be seen that there is no chance for the car to drop abruptly.

Why Should You Choose This Kind of Elevator?

Some of the benefits offered by this particular design for home elevators include solenoid valve ease of maintenance, operation and installation when compared to the usual residential elevators. There is no need to dig a pit and hoist way so that these are appropriate for homes that have already been constructed.

Another vital advantage of this personal elevator gizmag that may not be surpassed by other designs is the safety that it provides. As can be seen from the above discussion on how it works, it is impossible for the elevator car to go into free fall. In addition, if a power failure occurs, the car cannot drop suddenly but only slowly as the air gradually returns to the vacuum space.

Another essential advantage of the pneumatic elevator is, of course, its futuristic appearance. Friends will surely be amazed by its looks and this will also increase the market price of your home. This market value will be further enhanced when buyers learn about its inherent safety features.

Another essential benefit is that electric consumption is much less than for conventional elevators because it does not require electric power to bring down the elevator and it also requires less power to go up. Maintenance is also less costly because lubrication is not required and there are no complicated parts.

Gavin Cruise was born in New York, his mother encouraged him to write and read and his father was a wealthy business man in real estate. Gavin had the privilege of traveling extensively with his father learning about a wide variety of subjects. He attended Harvard where he majored in English and from the age of 26 Gavin supported himself by freelance writing through all the knowledge gained from traveling.

These are also called Single Action Cylinders. Cylinders come in a variety of types and may either be pneumatic cylinders, electro pneumatic cylinder, hydraulic cylinders or electro hydraulic cylinders. Double Acting Cylinders (DAC) employ the force of air to move in two ways, in an extend stroke and a retract stroke. Double Acting Cylinders have two ports, one for outstroke and one for in-stroke.

Pneumatic and hydraulic damping systems contain pneumatic cylinders or hydraulic cylinders which employ a steel piston, a piston rod, a cylinder barrel setup to help deliver the damping effect. As compressed air or fluid moves into a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, it pushes the piston up or down through the length of the cylinder. The reflex action of the piston is either activated by either the compressed air or by a spring mechanism, which brings back the spring to its original position.

Hydraulic And Pneumatic Actuators, Types, And Descriptions

In this article I want to discuss the different actuators that are used in both hydraulics and pneumatic.

Linear actuators, are most common such as hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders. The advantage of hydraulic cylinders over pneumatic cylinders is that you get so much more power due to higher pressures. While pneumatic linear actuators (cylinders) give very inexpensive and functionality in certain industrial application that do not require high forces such as the food industry, pharmaceutical industry and a lot of others. Remember Pneumatic is limited to approximately 120 psi. and this times the area equals the power.

Rotary actuators, are hydraulic and pneumatic motors, fixed rotary actuators that give a set motion of 90 deg. to 180 deg. rotation in back and forth motions. Another version of the rotary actuators is the Rack and Pinion type where there are opposing cylinders moving back and forth across a rack and pinion which in turn produces a rotating motion output at a preset rotational movement. The motors continue to turn in either a uni-directional fashion or a bi-directional fashion providing torque for rotary movement. Based on the requirement of the equipment and design this determines whether you use hydraulic or pneumatic.

The critical part of applying any actuator is understanding first what you want it to do, how much power you will need to accomplish the task and how to functionally create the circuit needed to control it. This applies whether it is hydraulic or pneumatic.

Example 1; I have a tilting arm on top of a conveyor belt that I want to raise and lower a cleaning brush during running of the conveyor to clean it. Can I do it with a linear or rotary actor? The answer is BOTH, but this depends on how much space, how far the brush has to move and it is all relative to the application. Say you need 16" of travel for the actuator to lower the brush to the belt, providing the distance will allow for clearance of a 16" stroke cylinder this would be a good application. However if the quarters are tight and there is not enough clearance then a rotary actuator may be the best application to use and apply during pivot arms for the torque.

I think you see, Fluid Power is an applied product not just something you call up and get without knowing something about. Having a better understanding of fluid power (hydraulics and pneumatics) is so important to the person marketing this type of applied product. One cannot expect to get any technical or design help from some of the large companies that only sell from a page in a book and an item number. This is most important to the end user, and should be taken into consideration when looking at fluid power components and selecting vendors. I will be discussing this in detail in future articles.

If you continue to follow my articles I will attempt to explain the solenoid valve components and details used in fluid power and will give you access to join my monthly eBooks and videos for the most inexpensive and comprehensive Fluid Power Training on the planet.

Pneumatic Castors Are Pitch Perfect

Pneumatic castors are not just limited to the cricketing world. These castors have proved vital for other outdoor environments, such as Garden Centres, Football Grounds, and Agricultural equipment and also within Marinas. Pneumatic wheels have also recently been utilised for extreme sports such as go karting, kite surfing and mountain boarding.

Similar to Cricket Clubs, these outdoor environments utilise the quieter winter months to upgrade and replace their wheels and castors, prior to the busier periods starting from Easter onwards. Garden Centres for example replace worn out wheels and replace them with pneumatic castors, wide tread sand hopper wheels or even simpler hard rubber EPR wheels. These Garden centre trolleys have a punishing summer season, and are not only expected to carry heavy plants and soils, but are also expected to be easy to move around the garden centre.

Summer seems along way away as the snow falls over the UK and the big freeze continues to chill us. However now is the time that cricket clubs are ensuring their pitches are covered and their cricket screens are suitable to be manoeuvred around the cricket field.

But how do these grounds men and women ensure these heavy covers and screens do not damage their perfectly flat cricket field? The answer is the use of pneumatic castors. These pneumatic castors have a rubber tyre, with an air filled inner tube. This means these pneumatic castors have a wide enough tread, which is cushioned, very much like a wider version of the wheels found on mountain bikes.

Not only do these pneumatic castors provide cushioning when moving covers over the cricket crease, field and boundaries, but also gives flexibility of movement and strength. Pneumatic castors can take up to 200 kilograms each, which makes them very suitable not only for cricket covers, but also for the tall and heavy cricket screens encircling the boundary.

Alternatives to the pneumatic castors are the wide tread wheels, commonly called Sand hopper wheels or GB270's. Again these wheels offer the added advantage of not denting the field, as the wide tread distributes the load of the cricket cover evenly. The only disadvantage of using these wide tread wheels, is the lack if swivel manoeuvrability. Encasing pneumatic wheels in castors therefore has the added benefit of flexibility of movement, which is proving vital during the summer months when ground covers can be moved on and off the crease at regular intervals.

Go karting has been a relatively recent and exciting environment for pneumatic wheels to operate within. Secondary schools up and down the country have a programme to encourage their students to get involved and build their own go kart. They can either purchase the kit and follow the instructions, or alternatively build one from scratch as a team! Pneumatic castors have such a diverse functionality, from sporting grounds to school grounds, they offer strength, flexibility of movement coupled with a cushioned ride, to keep our pitches perfect!

Castors have been our primary business for the last 40 years. Our Blue Elastic Rubber Castors & Wheels are utilised in a wide variety of industries, along with our Tube Fittings and Adjustable Feet. Whether you are a hospital requiring a Medical Castor such as Non Marking Rubber Castor, shop fitters wanting a Plastic Castor, food manufacturers requiring Heat Resistant Castors, a theatre requesting a Scene Shifter or a garden centre looking for Garden Equipment Castors, we can meet all your need!

Our aim is "Quality in Quantity" which means you can purchase the right castor at the best possible price and have them delivered to you in 24 hours. Our extensive stocks and low minimum order solenoid valve requirement make it even simpler for you! However if price is a factor, we can also supply cheap castors and budget castors.We sell a range of castors for different applications, including industrial and retail areas.