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Pneumatic autovalve

December 28th, 2008 Leave a comment Go to comments

A mechanism that blends an electric compressor with a pneumatic valve, so that a single motor can drive the compressor and control the valve at the same time.

The basic idea of this design is to create a remotely controlled pneumatic circuit using a single motor. Since a compressor works the same no matter what direction the motor is running in, I thought it may be used as an advantage. Thanks to the worm gear sliding property, it is possible to control a pneumatic valve with the same motor that drives the compressor, and switch the valve by changing the motor’s direction of rotation.

The entire device is rather small, and can be slightly smaller when used with the older type of pneumatic valves (see a diagram on the photos below). It is easy to build and easy to use, as you can see on the video below. A single device can control a single pneumatic circuit, however, there can be additional circuits connected to the compressor and controlled manually. The main disadvantage of the autovalve is that the valve can’t be set into a neutral position. Personally, I find it very useful though.

Photos:

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Video:

Media reference:

TechnicBRICKs

Categories: Ideas Tags: ,
  1. Sariel
    July 6th, 2015 at 21:10 | #1

    @Ethan Aldington – Hunt
    Well, videos from 2007 tend to do that.

  2. Ethan Aldington – Hunt
    July 6th, 2015 at 19:05 | #2

    So you could easily control this even more remotely by using an IR reciever and an IR-TX remote.
    By the way your video is rather blurry.

  3. thomas
    October 12th, 2013 at 20:52 | #3

    Yea sorry I couldn’t watch the video on my phone but I made one and yea its better than my switch which uses a worm gear and a geared arm with a linkage and it binds up if you hold the motor on too long

  4. Sariel
    October 12th, 2013 at 10:35 | #4

    @thomas
    No, as you can see on the video.

  5. thomas
    October 12th, 2013 at 08:24 | #5

    does the worm hear bind up once the switch reaches the end of its throw

  6. Sariel
    July 19th, 2011 at 18:31 | #6

    @Phillip
    You mean you want to provide air from one pump and have several valves? Then all you need to do is to make one compressor and several motorized valves. There’s no need to combine them into one unit.

  7. Phillip
    July 19th, 2011 at 18:22 | #7

    I would like to propose a challenge to you. Would it be possible to operate 2 or more pnuematic autovalves with just one pump?

  8. Sariel
    October 25th, 2010 at 20:10 | #8

    @Gert
    No, it is not possible.

  9. Gert
    October 25th, 2010 at 19:56 | #9

    My comment was a question @ sariel

  10. Gert
    October 23rd, 2010 at 13:14 | #10

    Is is also possible to pump air with the following item?:

    http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=5116-1

  11. Diamondvise
    June 25th, 2010 at 16:35 | #11

    Great idea! I’m using it just now in my robotic arm. THX Sariel!

  12. Sariel
    August 1st, 2009 at 09:50 | #12

    @Jeffrey D
    No, if you adjust gear ratios well the absorbers should be able to push motor back once it stops. I’ve seen someone doing it with a valve, just can’t remember the link.

  13. Jeffrey D
    August 1st, 2009 at 00:27 | #13

    @Sariel
    If the shocks are enough to overcome the clutch and push the valve closed when the motor is off, then aren’t they also strong enough to just hold it closed while the motor runs? I’ve been working on this all morning and can’t for the life of me find a solution I like

  14. Sariel
    July 31st, 2009 at 10:23 | #14

    @Jeffrey D
    Use a clutch gear and two opposing shock absorbers.

  15. Jeffrey D
    July 31st, 2009 at 09:49 | #15

    Me again, been looking around online for a pf controlled valve that automatically resets to the neutral position when the motor is not running. If you have anything it would be extremely useful, thanks.

  16. Sariel
    July 24th, 2009 at 13:21 | #16

    @Tom
    I think there will be a great chance of knobs getting jammed against each other and against the switch.

  17. Tom
    July 24th, 2009 at 13:02 | #17

    This is a fantastic invention, well done! I’m planning to use it soon on a model of a Schaffer wheel loader. I have a suggestion that might improve it – instead of using the single cams for pushing the pneumatic switch could you use a cross shaped 4-way cam, maybe the black technic knob wheel – 32072 – http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=32072 ?
    I think this would minimise the delay in changing the switch direction as it would push the switch with 4X the frequency. I haven’t tried this yet, but what do you think?

  18. teunj
    May 11th, 2009 at 17:28 | #18

    this idea is great 🙂

  19. LuVi
    February 20th, 2009 at 15:19 | #19

    Nice idea! And thanks for your suggestion on Youtube! 😉

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