Pneumatics

Gas-operated reloading

Pneumatic redirects here. For the highest order of humans in Gnosticism, see Pneumatic (Gnosticism).
Pneumatics (Greek:which means breath) is a branch

Holman Projector, a pneumatic anti-aircraft weapon

HVAC control systems
Inatable structures
Lego pneumatics can be used to build pneumatic
models
Pipe organ

Tubular-pneumatic action

Preserved Porter Locomotive Company No. 3290 of 1923.

Player piano

of physics applied to technology that makes use of gas or

pressurized air.

Pneumatic actuator

Pneumatic systems used extensively in industry are commonly powered by compressed air or compressed inert
gases. A centrally located and electrically powered
compressor powers cylinders, air motors, and other pneumatic devices. A pneumatic system controlled through
manual or automatic solenoid valves is selected when it
provides a lower cost, more exible, or safer alternative
to electric motors and actuators.
Pneumatics also has applications
construction, mining, and other areas.

in

Electro-pneumatic action

Pneumatic air guns

Pneumatic bladder
Pneumatic cylinder
Pneumatic Launchers, a type of spud gun

dentistry,

Pneumatic mail systems

Pneumatic motor

Examples of pneumatic systems

and components

Pneumatic tire
Pneumatic tools:

Air brakes on buses and trucks

Air brakes on trains

Jackhammer used by road workers

Air compressors

Pneumatic nailgun

Air engines for pneumatically powered vehicles

Pressure regulator

Barostat systems used in Neurogastroenterology and

for researching electricity

Pressure sensor

Cable jetting, a way to install cables in ducts

Pressure switch

Dental drill
Compressed-air engine and compressed-air vehicles

Vacuum pump
1

5 SEE ALSO

Gases used in pneumatic systems

Compressed gas can be stored, so machines still run

for a while if electrical power is lost.

Pneumatic systems in xed installations, such as facto SafetyThere is a very low chance of re compared
ries, use compressed air because a sustainable supply can
to hydraulic oil. Newer machines are usually overbe made by compressing atmospheric air. The air usuload safe.
ally has moisture removed, and a small quantity of oil is
added at the compressor to prevent corrosion and lubri3.2 Advantages of hydraulics
cate mechanical components.
Factory-plumbed pneumatic-power users need not worry
about poisonous leakage, as the gas is usually just air.
Smaller or stand-alone systems can use other compressed gases that present an asphyxiation hazard, such
as nitrogenoften referred to as OFN (oxygen-free nitrogen) when supplied in cylinders.
Any compressed gas other than air is an asphyxiation
hazardincluding nitrogen, which makes up 78% of air.
Compressed oxygen (approx. 21% of air) would not asphyxiate, but is not used in pneumatically-powered devices because it is a re hazard, more expensive, and offers no performance advantage over air.
Portable pneumatic tools and small vehicles, such as
Robot Wars machines and other hobbyist applications are
often powered by compressed carbon dioxide, because
containers designed to hold it such as soda stream canisters and re extinguishers are readily available, and the
phase change between liquid and gas makes it possible to
obtain a larger volume of compressed gas from a lighter
container than compressed air requires. Carbon dioxide
is an asphyxiant and can be a freezing hazard if vented
improperly.

Liquid does not absorb any of the supplied energy.

Capable of moving much higher loads and providing
much higher forces due to the incompressibility.
The hydraulic working uid is basically incompressible, leading to a minimum of spring action. When
hydraulic uid ow is stopped, the slightest motion
of the load releases the pressure on the load; there is
no need to bleed o pressurized air to release the
pressure on the load.

4 Pneumatic logic
Further information: Pneumatic circuit
Pneumatic logic systems (sometimes called air logic control) are often used for controlling industrial processes,
consisting of primary logic units like:
And Units
Or Units
'Relay or Booster' Units

Comparison to hydraulics

Both pneumatics and hydraulics are applications of uid

power. Pneumatics uses an easily compressible gas such
as air or a suitable pure gaswhile hydraulics uses relatively incompressible liquid media such as oil. Most industrial pneumatic applications use pressures of about 80
to 100 pounds per square inch (550 to 690 kPa). Hydraulics applications commonly use from 1,000 to 5,000
psi (6.9 to 34.5 MPa), but specialized applications may
exceed 10,000 psi (69 MPa).

3.1

Advantages of pneumatics

Simplicity of design and controlMachines are easily designed using standard cylinders and other components, and operate via simple on-o control.
ReliabilityPneumatic systems generally have long
operating lives and require little maintenance. Because gas is compressible, equipment is less subject to shock damage. Gas absorbs excessive force,
whereas uid in hydraulics directly transfers force.

Latching Units
'Timer' Units
Sorteberg relay
Fluidics ampliers with no moving parts other than
the air itself
Pneumatic logic is a reliable and functional control
method for industrial processes. In recent years, these
systems have largely been replaced by electronic control
systems in new installations because of the smaller size,
lower cost, greater precision, and more powerful features
of digital controls. Pneumatic devices are still used where
upgrade cost, or safety factors dominate.[1]

5 See also
Compressed air
Ozone cracking - can aect pneumatic seals
Pneudraulics
History of pneumatic power

Notes

[1] KMC Controls. Pneumatic to Digital: Open System

Conversions (PDF). Retrieved 5 October 2015.

References
Brian S. Elliott, Compressed Air Operations Manual,
McGraw Hill Book Company, 2006, ISBN 0-07147526-5.
Heeresh Mistry, Fundamentals of Pneumatic Engineering, Create Space e-Publication, 2013, ISBN 149-372758-3.

External links
Four Ways to Boost Pneumatic Eciency
Pneumatic Symbols DWG/DXF

9 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

9.1

Text

Pneumatics Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumatics?oldid=694366179 Contributors: Anthere, Heron, Nixdorf, Mac, Theresa

knott, Glenn, Charles Matthews, Jogloran, Gepwiki, HarryHenryGebel, Lumos3, Robbot, JustinHall, Mattaschen, Fabiform, Giftlite,
Lupin, Mark.murphy, Everyking, RatOmeter, Finn-Zoltan, Bluejay Young, Khalid hassani, Brockert, DanielDemaret, Sam Hocevar, Neutrality, Hugh Mason, ELApro, Ta bu shi da yu, Dbach, Frehorse, ESkog, Brian0918, Johnnymo, Femto, Bobo192, Longhair, Smalljim, Nsaa, Alansohn, Atlant, Andrew Gray, Lord Pistachio, RobertStar20, Wtshymanski, Gene Nygaard, CONFIQ, Bushytails, Wackyvorlon, Cbdorsett, Dysepsion, Graibeard, DoubleBlue, Lionelbrits, Margosbot~enwiki, Alphachimp, AnthonyWong, DVdm,
Estr4ng3d, YurikBot, Retaggio, RobotE, Gaius Cornelius, Txuspe, NickBush24, Zzuuzz, Theda, Nae'blis, HelloolleH, SmackBot, Chris
the speller, Smt w, CSWarren, Baa, DARQ MX, Mona, Gracenotes, Madman91, Shoer@smcusa.com, Jtnewsom, Zaytran, DMacks,
Bidabadi~enwiki, Tobias Ahl~enwiki, Pantoine, Maowenjie, Copeland.James.H, Mbeychok, Bjankuloski06en~enwiki, Peterlewis, 16@r,
Citicat, Peter Horn, Wizard191, JMK, Jbolden1517, Jgunn@nfpa.com, Tawkerbot2, Daniel5127, Van helsing, Neelix, Mato, Astrochemist,
Frosty0814snowman, CiaranG, Llort, Bazzargh, Wikiwow, Epbr123, Mbell, AndrewDressel, Marek69, HelenKMarks, WinBot, Luna
Santin, Quintote, 3-14159, Astavats, Golgofrinchian, MER-C, Josephcharlesrichardson, Wasell, Bongwarrior, VoABot II, TheAllSeeingEye, Rich257, Finbar Canavan, Lridol, 28421u2232nfenfcenc, LorenzoB, MartinBot, J.delanoy, DrKay, Ayecee, PWdiamond, Rod57,
Ncmvocalist, Tannkremen, Eatme20005, DMCer, ThePointblank, VolkovBot, Je G., WarddrBOT, Philip Trueman, Zidonuke, A4bot,
GDonato, HarryAla, Qxz, Cyberwriter, Lockmaster, Wikiisawesome, Andy Dingley, Pneumatics19133, Aamackie, Lamro, Falcon8765,
Enviroboy, DigitalC, SieBot, Caltas, MarkBolton, Techman224, Gtadoc, Tai Chi Tech, Elassint, ClueBot, The Thing That Should Not Be,
Quinxorin, Arakunem, Drmies, Uncle Milty, Dylan620, Arunsingh16, Puchiko, Abdullah Krolu~enwiki, Ocyc, Dev-random~enwiki,
Squid tamer, Dekisugi, DyingIce, ChrisHodgesUK, Cp fan, Thingg, DerBorg, Versus22, Apparition11, Crowsnest, Omarr gajanand
sahadeo, Cardatron, Sergay, PL290, Badgernet, ZooFari, Addbot, Srimech, Xtal42, DougsTech, Fieldday-sunday, I K Brunel, Cst17,
MrOllie, Kannanputhuval, LaaknorBot, Pince Nez, Lightbot, Neurovelho, MuZemike, Legobot, Yobot, Branchporter, Derectus~enwiki,
Knownot, AnomieBOT, Aditya, Ulric1313, Bluerasberry, Greg Linn, Materialscientist, Rtyq2, Addihockey10, Conallnd10, Activets, Omnipaedista, Apengineering, Roi5, Erik9bot, Omar35880, GT5162, Wikitanvir, Qwerty696969, Fox Wilson, ..Playa187.., Reaper Eternal,
DARTH SIDIOUS 2, Salvio giuliano, Steven Dudick, Brian S. Elliott, Busby505, Wikipelli, Dpollander, Imperial Monarch, Tkdboy56,
Saadiqr, ElationAviation, Wayne Slam, Tolly4bolly, Tijfo098, Rocketrod1960, Rememberway, ClueBot NG, Ilovelearn1234, Grattepapier, MelbourneStar, Catlemur, Satellizer, P.croaker, Cocotugo, Niarad, Wbm1058, DBigXray, Volvo weiss, Mark Arsten, Ahitchcox,
Zetia001, Shawn Worthington Laser Plasma, Carstenleth73, Kassydiey, GlutMax, Tripnoted, Erictulk, Jianhui67, Aceruler1, Innite0694,
Michaeljsantora1382, Pneumaticshop, Shelleyauto and Anonymous: 351

9.2

Images

File:0-4-0-engine.JPG Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/0-4-0-engine.JPG License: CC BY-SA 2.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: User:Wikibofh
File:Wiktionary-logo-en.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Wiktionary-logo-en.svg License: Public
domain Contributors: Vector version of Image:Wiktionary-logo-en.png. Original artist: Vectorized by Fvasconcellos (talk contribs),
based on original logo tossed together by Brion Vibber

9.3

Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0