Basic Pneumatics: Module 5: Double Acting Cylinder

Basic Pneumatics
Module 5: Double acting cylinder
PREPARED BY
Academic Services
April 2012
Applied Technology High Schools, 2012

ATM 1132 Basic Pneumatics
Module 5: Double acting cylinder

Module Objectives
After the completion of this module, the student will be able to:
Explain the function of double acting cylinder.
Describe the main mehods of controlling double acting
cylinder.
Explain the difference between direct control and indirect
control of Double acting cylinder.
Explain the differences between single and double acting
cylinder.
Draw the required circuit diagram as per the given
specifications.
Simulate the pneumatic circuit as per the given
specifications by using FluidSIM software.
Module Contents
Topic Page No.

1 Comparison between single and double acting cylinder 3
2 Function of double acting cylinder 4
3 Control circuit of a double acting cylinder 5
4 Types of control of pneumatic cylinders 6
5 Practical task 1 (Stopping milk bottles) 7
6 Supplementary resources 10
7 References 10
8 Worksheet 12
2 Module 5: Double acting cylinder

1 Double acting cylinder
Double acting cylinder is considered to be as a main actuator in any

pneumatic systems. Double acting cylinders are more expensive than
single acting cylinders, but double acting cylinders are superior to single
acting cylinders by many other important measure. Double action
cylinders are faster and stronger. In industrial applications, single
action cylinders are used in few applications, but when speed and force
are important double acting cylinders are employed.
Applications of a double acting cylinder include
1. Opening and closing doors,

2. Taking things off conveyor belts and putting things on conveyor
belts.
3. Lifting and moving packages around.
4. Presses and punches.
1.1 Comparison between single acting cylinder and double acting

cylinder
Serial Single acting cylinder Double acting cylinder
1 It has one port. It has two ports.
2 It has a spring. It has no spring.
It exerts force in one It exerts force in two directions

3
direction only. (forward and backward).
4 It uses compressed air in It uses compressed air in both

the forward stroke while strokes forward and backward.
the return stroke is
Module 5: double acting cylinder 3

achieved by the spring.

2.1 Function of the double acting

cylinder
Double acting cylinder is an output device
that converts the pressure energy to a
mechanical energy (linear motion in
two directions). The double acting
(a) Double acting
cylinder is shown in Fig. (5.1.a) cylinder
The ISO symbol of the double acting
cylinder is shown in Fig. (5.1.b)
2.1 Way of operation
Double acting cylinder as mentioned has
two ports and the air is applied in both (b) ISO symbol of
double acting cylinder
directions (forward and backward)
2.1.1 Forward (advance) stroke

The air is supplied to port (1) and the
exhaust air is forced out through port (2)
as illustrated in Fig. (5.1.c)
2.1.2 Backward (return) stroke:
The air is supplied to port (2) and the (c) Double acting cylinder
advanced stroke
exhaust air is forced out through port (1)
as illustrated in Fig. (5.1.d)
Note: The force produced by the

piston during the advance stroke is
greater than the force produced
(d) Double acting cylinder
during the return stroke due to the return stroke
area difference between the two sides
of the piston. Fig. 5.1

Control circuit for the Double-acting cylinder 3
The piston rod of a double-acting cylinder is to advance when a 5/2 selector

valve is operated and to return to the initial position when the selector switch is
back to the normal position. The double-acting cylinder can carry out work in
both directions of motion, due to the full air supply pressure being available for
extension and retraction.
The direct control circuit in Fig. 5.2 includes the following primary
:features
Double-acting cylinder.
5/2-way valve (selector switch)
Supply air source connected to the 5/2-way valve.
Tube connection between valve and cylinder.
Fig 5.2 control of double acting cylinder

4 Types of control of a pneumatic cylinder
1- Direct control
2- Indirect control
Direct control of a pneumatic cylinder 4.1
The simplest level of control for the single or double-acting cylinder

involves direct control signals. With this, the cylinder is actuated
directly via a manually or mechanically actuated valve, without
any intermediate switching of additional directional control
valves. If the port sizes and the flow values of the valve are too large,
the operating forces required may be too great for direct manual
operation.
:Reference values for limits of direct cylinder control

Cylinder with piston diameter smaller than 40 mm
Valves with connection sizes smaller than 1/4"
Indirect control of a pneumatic cylinder 4.2
Cylinders with a large piston diameter have a high air

requirement. A control element with high nominal flow rate must be
used to actuate these. If the force should prove too high for a manual
actuation of the valve, then an indirect actuation should be constructed,
whereby a signal is generated via a second smaller valve, which will
provide the force necessary to switch the control element.

Practical Task 1: Stopping milk bottles 5

5.1 Learning objectives:
Upon the completion of this task, the student will be
o Able to explain and setup indirect control.
o Familiar with the mode of operation of a 5/2 way-valve with

pneumatic actuation.
o Familiar with the difference between direct and indirect control.
5.2 Task description:

A filling system fills bottles with milk. The bottles are fed to the system on
a conveyor belt and are stopped underneath the filler using pneumatic
cylinders. The double acting cylinder 1A1 (due to its large size) has to be
controlled indirectly. Fig; (5.5) shows the positional sketch of this
machine
Fig. (5.5) Positional sketch

5.3 Task requirements:

1. Draw pneumatic circuit that controls the double acting cylinder
(1A1) indirectly. You may use the provided space below.
2. Simulate the circuit using FluidSIM software.
3. Assemble the circuit practically and check its operation.
4. Write down your observation below
Draw the pneumatic circuit here

5.4 Solution
Fig. 5.6 Solution of practical task 2

5.5 Solution description

In the initial position, the double-acting cylinder 1A1 is retracted.
A 5/2-way single pilot valve is used to actuate the cylinder. Connection 2

& 4 of the valve 1V1 is connected to the cylinder; connection 4 is
exhausted to atmosphere via connection 5.
The valve 1S1 is actuated when the push button is activated and pressure
is applied to the control port 14 of the control valve 1V1.
The control valve 1V1 is actuated against spring force and is thus
switched to flow.
The pressure building up at the cylinder piston causes the cylinder piston
rod of the double-acting cylinder to extend.
The signal at the control port 14 remains as long as the push button is
operated. Once the piston rod has reached end position, it returns only
after the push button has been released.
When the push button is released, the valve 1S1 returns to its initial
position. Control port 14 of the control valve 1V1 exhausts to atmosphere
and the signal is reset. The control valve also returns to initial position.
The return spring causes the cylinder to retract. The air from the cylinder
chamber is exhausted to atmosphere via the control valve.
6. For further reading, you can use the following links:

1- www.Fest-didactic.com
2- http://www.eng2all.com/vb/t28932.html
3- http://www.logiclab.hu/lesson.php?fe=2
7. Supplementary recourses
1. Pneumatics video from Festo.
2. FluidSIM software.
8. References
1- Festo manuals and workbook TP101
2- Festo manuals and textbook TP101

Students notes
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Worksheet 1
Draw the symbol of double acting cylinder
What is the function of double acting cylinder?
It converts the pressure energy to a mechanical energy to give linear

motion in two directions.
What is the difference between single and double acting cylinder?
Serial Single acting cylinder Double acting cylinder
1 It has one port. It has two ports.
2 It has a spring. It has no spring.
It exerts force in one It exerts force in two directions

3
direction only. (forward and backward).
It uses compressed air in

the forward stroke while It uses compressed air in both
4
the return stroke is strokes forward and backward.
achieved by the spring.
Draw a simple circuit to control a double acting cylinder directly.


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Basic Pneumatics

Module 5: Double acting cylinder

Applied Technology High Schools, 2012

Module 5: Double acting cylinder

Topic Page No.

2 Module 5: Double acting cylinder

1 Double acting cylinder

Double acting cylinder is considered to be as a main actuator in any

Applications of a double acting cylinder include

1. Opening and closing doors,

3. Lifting and moving packages around.

4. Presses and punches.

1.1 Comparison between single acting cylinder and double acting

Serial Single acting cylinder Double acting cylinder

1 It has one port. It has two ports.

2 It has a spring. It has no spring.

It exerts force in one It exerts force in two directions

4 It uses compressed air in It uses compressed air in both

Module 5: double acting cylinder 3

achieved by the spring.

4 Module 5: Double acting cylinder

2.1 Function of the double acting

2.1.1 Forward (advance) stroke

Note: The force produced by the

Module 5: double acting cylinder 5

Control circuit for the Double-acting cylinder 3

The piston rod of a double-acting cylinder is to advance when a 5/2 selector

Fig 5.2 control of double acting cylinder

6 Module 5: Double acting cylinder

4 Types of control of a pneumatic cylinder

Direct control of a pneumatic cylinder 4.1

The simplest level of control for the single or double-acting cylinder

:Reference values for limits of direct cylinder control

Indirect control of a pneumatic cylinder 4.2

Cylinders with a large piston diameter have a high air

Module 5: double acting cylinder 7

Practical Task 1: Stopping milk bottles 5

o Familiar with the mode of operation of a 5/2 way-valve with

o Familiar with the difference between direct and indirect control.

5.2 Task description:

Fig. (5.5) Positional sketch

8 Module 5: Double acting cylinder

5.3 Task requirements:

Draw the pneumatic circuit here

Module 5: double acting cylinder 9

Fig. 5.6 Solution of practical task 2

10 Module 5: Double acting cylinder

5.5 Solution description

A 5/2-way single pilot valve is used to actuate the cylinder. Connection 2

6. For further reading, you can use the following links:

Module 5: double acting cylinder 11

12 Module 5: Double acting cylinder

Draw the symbol of double acting cylinder

What is the function of double acting cylinder?

It converts the pressure energy to a mechanical energy to give linear

What is the difference between single and double acting cylinder?

Serial Single acting cylinder Double acting cylinder

1 It has one port. It has two ports.