7.

DISCUSSION

The single acting cylinder and double acting cylinder of pneumatic circuits are
correctly set up based on the pneumatic diagram given in the lab sheet. The air pressure
supplied effectively through every components which are well connected among each others.
Figure 7.1 below show the direct control of a single acting cylinder, as the push button
was pressed, the system starts to operate. The air from the compressor will directly flow
through the cylinder and subsequently causing the cylinder to extend until the maximum
position. At the same time, the spring will compressed at the maximum limit. As the push
button are released, the acting cylinder will be retracted to its original position and causing
the compressed air to return to the exhaust.

Figure 7.1: Direct Control of a Single Acting Cylinder Circuit

Normally Closed Valve and Normally Open Valve are the examples of indirect control
of single acting cylinder is The location of the air tube at the output channel at the pilot 2 is
the main difference between the closed valve and open valve. Channel 2(A) is the place
where the pneumatic is actuated. The air will be compressed and flow through the circuit as

the push button is pressed. The closed valve system used 3/2 DCV push button and 3/2 single
pilot DCV which is resulting in extending the cylinder when the push button is pressed. The
cylinder then will be retracted by the spring if the push button is automatically released. The
cylinder is extending without pressing the push button for the open valve. It is due to another
channel where the air will continuously flow and fill the cylinder in the initial condition.

Figure 7.2: Diagram of Indirect Control of a Single Acting Cylinder

5/2 DCV with Single Pilot Operated and One Push Button and 5/2 DCV with Double
Pilot Operated and Two Push Buttons are the examples of Indirect Control of a Double
Acting Cylinder. In fact, double acting cylinder is different with the single acting cylinder as
it does not have any spring inside and it has two air input channel. When the push button is
pressed for the single pilot, port [12(Z)] will activated and automatically move the piston
forward as the compressed air was continuously flow through port 2(B) during the initial state
of the setup. The spring will automatically push the DCV back to its actual position as the
push button is released and on the same time causing the piston to retract. This 5/2 DCV
single pilot in this system is mainly used to control the air flow that react to the retraction and
extension of the cylinder.
For 5/2 DCV with double pilot or also known as Memory Valve, it allow the cylinder
to be operated using two push buttons compare to the single pilot which is using only one
push button. The output signal activated the signal pilot port [14] of final control valve by the
actuation of forward push button. As a result, the cylinder produces a forward motion. The

compressed air now will not continuously flow as it has been controlled with the second push
button. To ensure the cylinder will retract, the second push button must be manually operated
by pressing it subsequently.

Figure 7.3: Diagram of Indirect Control of a Double Acting Cylinder