MEC2407 : ELECTROMECHANICS

Fluid Power System - Pneumatic

System
Report

Group no.
Group members

: 4B
: SHAHVEZ UL HAQ - 27406148
KOK KAH CHUNG - 26074834
EDWIN JESU DASS - 25373404

Aims
-

Identify the basic components of fluid power circuits

Analyse simple pneumatic circuits

Components used in pneumatic circuit

Experiment Part A
Double Acting Pneumatic Cylinder
This component is a type of actuator. It
has two inlets which air supply input to
both the inlets is essential in order to
allow the piston to be extended or
retracted. Air can either enter through the
left or right valves, depending on the
input condition. It functions using the
force
of
the
highly-pressurized
compressed air that enters on either the
left or right half to extend or retract the
piston. Thus, the air supply valves
determine the motion of the component.
Based on the figures, the piston extends
when air is supplied to the left and
retracts when air is supplied to the right.
3/2 Push Button Directional Control Valve
with Spring Return
This component functions as an on/of
switch in the pneumatic system. A push
button is used in the component, whereby
it can only be activated manually. The
default position of the component is set
at an of state (airflow is blocked when
the button is not pressed). However,
manual activation of the switch allows the
switch to be set to an on state (airflow
is cleared when the button is pressed).

Check Valve
This component acts as a condition
checker, which is comparable to an OR
gate in an electrical circuit analogue. It
requires two separate inputs and returns
a single output. It also functions to
prevent backflow in the pneumatic circuit,
whereby the ball incorporated in the
component moves to the left or right to
allow a one-directional free flow of the
highly-pressurized compressed air.

5/2 Pilot-Pilot Directional Control Valve

This component controls the direction of
the highly-pressurized compressed air
that flows in the pneumatic system. It
does not throttle, meter or depressurize
the airflow. It consists of two spool
positions and five ports. It has two
actuator port, each located on the left
and right sides of the component. It is
actuated in both directions through the
activation
of
pneumatic,
highlypressurized compressed air in both the
pilot ports.

Experiment Part B

Double Acting Pneumatic Cylinder

This component is a type of actuator. It
has two inlets which air supply input to
both the inlets is essential in order to
allow the piston to be extended or
retracted. Air can either enter through the
left or right valves, depending on the
input condition. It functions using the
force
of
the
highly-pressurized
compressed air that enters on either the
left or right half to extend or retract the
piston. Thus, the air supply valves
determine the motion of the component.
Based on the figures, the piston extends
when air is supplied to the left and
retracts when air is supplied to the right.
3/2 Push Button Directional Control Valve
with Spring Return
This component functions as an on/of
switch in the pneumatic system. A push
button is used in the component,
whereby it can only be activated
manually. The default position of the
component is set at an of state (airflow
is blocked when the button is not
pressed). However, manual activation of
the switch allows the switch to be set to

an on state (airflow is cleared when the

button is pressed).

Check Valve
This component acts as a condition
checker, which is comparable to an OR
gate in an electrical circuit analogue. It
requires two separate inputs and returns
a single output. It also functions to
prevent backflow in the pneumatic circuit,
whereby the ball incorporated in the
component moves to the left or right to
allow a one-directional free flow of the
highly-pressurized compressed air.

Two-Pressure Valves
This component acts as a condition
checker, which is comparable to an AND
gate in an electrical circuit analogue. It
requires two separate inputs and returns
a single output.

5/2 Pilot-Pilot Directional Control Valve

This component controls the direction of
the highly-pressurized compressed air
that flows in the pneumatic system. It
does not throttle, meter or depressurize
the airflow. It consists of two spool
positions and five ports. It has two
actuator port, each located on the left
and right sides of the component. It is
actuated in both directions through the
activation
of
pneumatic,
highlypressurized compressed air in both the
pilot ports.

5/2 Pilot-Spring Directional Control Valve

This component controls the direction of
the highly-pressurized compressed air
that flows in the pneumatic system. It
does not throttle, meter or depressurize
the airflow. This component works
similarly
with
the
5/2
Pilot-Pilot
Directional Control Valve, with the only
diference being that it consists of an
actuator port controlled by air and an
actuator port controlled by spring, instead
of both being controlled by air.

3/2 Roller-Lever Directional Control Valve

with Spring Return
This component acts as an on/of switch
in the pneumatic system. It consists of a
roller lever which detects the physical
presence of an object. When an object is
physically present, the roller lever is
activated and it is switched to an ON
state. Once the object is removed, i.e. it
is physically absent, the roller lever is
returned to its default original position
with an OFF state. It serves as an
automatic sensor which requires no
manual input.

Results and Discussion

Experiment A

Figure A2 - Path of Air Flow

Initially, both the actuators A and B were retracted. The conditions given
in the lab guide for the four manually operated valves are numbered
according to the functionality of the two actuators. Air flows to all of the
four 3/2 Directional Control Valves via a valve that splits one input to two
from the manually operated valves.
Figure A2 above shows the airflow path throughout the circuit. When the
supply is switched on, air flows to four manually operated valves. Air flows
to further components in the circuit according to the push buttons/switch.
A splitter is then used to split air into two outlets, after which, air enters
the 3/2 Directional Control Valves. These two outlets are connected to the
four manually operated valves as shown in Figure A2 above. A constant

flow of air is maintained to the two 5/2 Directional Control Valves which is
directed from the supply and the airflow from the 3/2 Directional Control
Valves helps in directing the airflow from the 5/2 Directional Control Valves
to the actuators. This depends on which switch is turned on.
The function of all the four switches used in Experiment 1 is described
below.
Switch 1: As switch 1 is pressed, air flows to the two 3/2 Directional
Control Valves. As a result, the actuator A extends and actuator B retracts,
no matter what the initial positions were.
Switch 2: As switch 2 is pressed, actuator A retracts and actuator B
extends, no matter what the initial positions were. This is because switch
2 is placed near the supply.
Switch 3: As switch 3 is pressed, both the actuators A and B extend, no
matter what the initial positions were.
Switch 4: As switch 4 is pressed, both the actuators A and B retract, no
matter what the initial positions were.

Experiment B

Figure B1 - Pneumatic Circuit for clamping and drilling work bench

Describe the operational sequence based on your observation.

Clamping:
1. Signals must be sent from component 3 and received by
component 2.
2. Component 4 and 5 must be actuated in order to actuate
component 3.
Unclamping:
1. Signals must be sent from component 6 and received by
component 2.
2. Component 7 must be pressed and the drilling operation sensor
must not be actuated in order to actuate component 6.
3. Fluid will flow through component 8 and sends a signal to
component 6 when drilling is taking place.
4. Unclamping only takes place when drilling is not in progress and
the unclamp button is pressed.
Identify and rectify any error(s) found in the circuit.
Error 1

: Only 1 switch is used to control the clamping process.

Solution: An extra switch with an OR gate shuttle valve has to be added

along component4.

Error 2
: Work Piece Sensor must be actuated to enable the clamping
process to take place.
Solution: Replace component 3 with a shuttle valve that has AND logic
implementation.

Final Circuit

1. Component 12 satisfies parameter 1.

2. Component 6 helps to ensure that parameter 2 is satisfied such that
if either components 7 or 8 do not allow fluid to pass, the cylinder
retraction would not be possible. Hence, if component 9 is actuated,
component 8 does not allow fluid to pass.
3. Component 14 ensures that parameter 3 is satisfied by controlling
the flow of fluid out of the piston.

Conclusion

The experiment was conducted to analyse and observe the function of

each component in the hydraulic and pneumatic system. It was conducted
to further understand the hydraulic and pneumatic power devices.
Pneumatic circuits were constructed and modified in both the experiments
until the requirements were achieved. Both the experiments were
successful and the aims were met.