Real Life Application for the Mini 1 Valve


The application described below comes to us through Randy Russell, Sales Manager for Pneumatic Automation in Pelham, Alabama. Randy's application is using Lexair's Mini 1 Valve series model M3821301 (single air pilot, 3-way, three port).

The pneumatic schematic found on page two is for a windshield holding fixture that utilizes Lexair Mini 1 air piloted valves as a vacuum break. The end effectors on this fixture can pivot 360 degrees or more to enable the operator to affix a seal around the edge of a windshield. In addition to this rotation, the fixture allows the operator to maneuver the windshield so it can hang inverted from the suction cups. The windshield is held in place with suction cups powered by venturi style vacuum pumps. The venturi vacuum pumps would continuously consume compressed air when there is a windshield present. The task was to incorporate Vaccon "Air Saver Pump" venturi systems at the end effectors to replace the standard venturi style units to conserve compressed air. The Vaccon units only consume compressed air when the desired vacuum level falls below a chosen set point. When the set point is reached the compressed air is shut off. The Vaccon system works well on non-porous surfaces such as windshields. The problem with the original circuit (less the Mini1 valves) arose when the operator was finished with the task of applying the seal around the windshield and it was time to remove the windshield from the fixture. The operator could remove the air from the fixture via the foot peddle operated valve, but would have to wait for the decay of the vacuum which could take several minutes due to the Vaccon units that are being used. Therefore, the Lexair Mini 1 pilot operated valves were introduced to serve as vacuum breaks. The application required an air piloted valve that would not leak (bubble tight construction) when subjected to vacuum.

All of the directional control valves used in this circuit could actually have been Lexair Mini 1's. However, the customer had originally specified a competitor's brand that features a lapped spool design. This type of valve could not be used where the Mini 1's are located in the circuit due to the fact that lapped spool designs are not bubble tight by design which necessitated the use of our product.

For more information on Lexair Mini 1 valves please visit our website at www.lexairinc.com and click on the "Valves" section and scroll down to the Mini 1 section.

Thanks again to Randy for sharing this application with us. We hope that others will find it useful.

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