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If 3-way air valves seem confusing, you’ll find that they are in fact very simple once you know how they work. These are the valves used to regulate airflow in a pneumatic system. They have three ports, allowing the air to flow in various orientations depending on how the valve is positioned.
An air powered 3-way valve operates by applying pneumatic pressure to guide the path of the air. When blowing air into the valve, it causes a mechanism inside the valve to shift around, controlling where the forced air exits out of the valve. You can turn the valve to direct the air where you want it to go, so you can control the motion of the pneumatic cylinders or other pneumatic devices in your system.
There are a number of advantages to using air operated 3-way valves in your pneumatic system. They are easy to use and maintain One of the main advantages of these materials is that they are straight forward and reliable. They also permit rapid and accurate adjustment of air flow, when such an ability is important for an application. What’s more, they are the most economical compared with other types of valves, which is beneficial for users.
The applications for a 3 way air operated valve are endless. One example is in industrial production where they are employed to actuate, or move, pneumatic cylinders on manufacturing lines. They are used in the automotive, food, and pharmaceutical industries. In the automotive field, for instance, they can be employed to control air flow in various portions of an automobile pneumatic system.
Troubleshooting Your Air-Operated 3-Way Valve If you are experiencing issues with an air-operated 3-way valve, there are a few things you can check to try to diagnose the problem. First, check to see that the valve has an abundant supply of compressed air. The valve will fail to operate if the air pressure is not sufficient. You will also need to look for any leaks in the system that could be causing the valve to malfunction. Lastly, ensure that the valve is adequately lubed, failure to do so can lead to the movement inside the valve to seize solid.
