UNIT 18 INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL

PNEUMAllCSYMBOLS AND SCHEMAllCS

1.
This unit serves an introductionto the ANSI symbolsystem.No attempt is made as to cover the full range of pneumatic symbolsor to develop extensiveskills in representing complexcircuitswith ANSI symbols.
Encourage the students to refer to Figure 18-7,Basic Pneumatic Symbols,while they work on the lab. Students may connect the hose symbols to the wrong air path lines in the direction control valve symbols. Do not consider this an error. Even trained fluid power engineers are inclined to make this mistake.

2. 3.

UNU 18 PNEUMAllC SYMBOlS AND SOffiMA:llCS

Objectives Upon completion of this unit the student will be able to:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Identify a pneumaticcomponent its symbol. by Draw the symbolsfor the pneumaticcomponents the MB 200 System. of Trace the flow of air through the schematic drawingof a circuit. Draw a pictorial of a circuit usingthe schematic a reference. as Draw the schematic a simplecircuit. of

Backg!:ound People who design, build and use pneumatic systemsmust be able to communicate circuit designsand other systeminformation. To make communication easier, symbols are used instead of pictures and words. The standard set of symbols for pneumatics was developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The symbol set is used throughout the world, so people with different languagescan communicate, too.

ANSI usedgeometricshapes linesto createthe symbols.Certain typesof shapes and and lines always meanthe samething. For example, open triangleinside a shapealways an means"pneumatic." A circle alwaysmeanssometype of motor or gauge. The symbolin Figure 18-1is a pneumaticmotor.

Figure 18-1 ANSI Symbol for Pneumatic Motor

18-1

Componentsymbolsdo not try to showwhat the actual componentwill look like. The symbolshowsonly the component's operation. The symbolfor a directionalcontrol valve shows what the individual valvewill do in terms of controlling air flow. Figure 18-2 is the symbolof the MB 200 manualdirectionalcontrol valve,as well as a pictorial of the valve. The directional control valve in the MB 200 Systemhas five flow paths and two positions.

Figure 18-2 Symbol and Pictorial of the MB 200 Manual Directional Control Valve In the ANSI system, squares always represent valves. Other parts of the symbols specify what type of valve is represented. In a valve symbol, arrows are used to show the number of air paths, or "ways,"through the valve body. "T" shapesare used for blocked flow paths. The valve in Figure 18-3 has three positions, each shown by one square. The "T" shapesin the center square indicate that the center position of this valve blocks all air flow.

Figure 18-3 Four-Way, Three-Position, Blocked Center Directional Control Valve

The valve in Figure 18-3 has no actuator shown. Yet this information is needed about a valve. An actuator symbol is attached to the symbol for the valve body. Once the actuator is added, the valve symbol is complete. Figure 18-4showsseveral actuator symbols, including the symbol for the manual actuator used on the MB 200 directional control valve. The illustration also shows a complete valve symbol.

18-2

Spring Return Mechanical Actuator

cs[
G:[

Solenoid Actuator Pushbutton Actuator 5-Way 2-Position

J

Manual Directional

Control Valve

Figure 18-4 Directional Control Valve Actuator Symbols and Complete Symbol

The hosesusedto connectthe components drawn asstraightlines for pipes (see are Figure 18-5). Curvedlines are allowedif flexible hosesare usedin a circuit. If two hoses connecttogether,a dot is usedwherethe lines touch. If two hosescross,an arc or jumper indicatesthat the hosesare not connected.

Air Lines

1-Lines

+
Crossing

Connected

Lines

Figure 18-5 Symbols for Pneumatic Piping

Diamonds are used to represent air treatment devices. An air filter is an air treatment,or air conditioning,device. Its symbolis shownin Figure 18-6.

v
Figure 18-6 Air Filter Symbol

The symbols all the components the MB 200 System givenin Figure 18-7, for of are
1,Q,'"

+ +

ConnectedLines

~_.-

Connected Lines

I - -I --L I

Vented Adjustable Pressure Regulator

CrossingLines

Double Acting Cylinder

~+~

Quick Disconnect Connected

Single Acting Cylinder with Spring Return

~~ ~
@ (2) ~

Quick Disconnect Disconnected

~
I:S[ n--r
r-t>i M

Pushbutton Actuator Solenoid Actuator Mechanical Actuator

Compressor

Electric Motor Pressure Gauge Air Piloted Actuator

Flow Meter

Spring Return

;':::7i~ ~

Needle Valve

Manual Directional Control Valve (S-Way,2-Position)

Flow Control Valve

Solenoid Directional Control Valve (5-Way,2-Position)

Filter With Automatic Drain

Air Piloted Directional Control Valve (5-Way,2-Position) Venturi Vacuum Generator

Lubricator With Drain

Figure 18-7 Basic Pneumatic Symbols 18-4

A schematic is the drawingof a circuit donein symbols.It is like a road map of the circuit. A schematic read by startingat the air power supply. You follow the linesto the is components understand to how the circuit is built. You can alsouse the schematic read to how the circuit will operate. Figure 18-8is the schematic a simple circuit. of

Figure 18-8 Schematic of a Simple Circuit

The circuit in Figure 18-8 works as follows. Air enters a compressor and is pushed into the air line. The air flows through a vented pressureregulator to a manual directional control valve. From the valve the air enters the double acting cylinder. Air from the opposite end of the cylinder flows back through the manual directional control valve. From the manual directional control valve the air is vented to the atmosphere.

PART A: EXPERIMENT

Pu~ose

To read and draw basicpneumaticsymbols and schematics.

Materials

Pneumaticsymbolschart (Figure 18-7).

18-5

2.

Draw the symbols for each of the following components:

a.

Manual directionalcontrolvalve

1]Ill~
b.
Single acting cylinder with spring return

c.

Flow control valve

18-7

d.

Pressure gauge

3.

List the components in the circuit given in Figure 18-9.

Filter with automatic

drain. comoressor. vented adiustable oressure reaulator,

needlevalve. flow control valve. double actinG cvlinder.

Figure 18-9

18-8
~

4.

Study the pictorial drawing in Figure 18-10. Draw the same circuit as a schematic.

Figure 18-10

1R-q

Questions

1.

What is the differencebetweena symboland a picture of a component?

The symbol shows only what Noes of comoonents is needed and the flow oaths

required. The oicture shows what the comoonent actualfv looks like as well as

2.

What is a schematic? A schematic is a drawinG of a circuit which uses the ANSI svmbols for the
com.oonents. A schematic does not attemot show the size or arranGement to of
the com.oonents.

3. a. b.
c.

Identify asTRUE or FALSE:

False True False True True ANSI symbols can be used only by people who speak English.

A diamondrepresents air conditioningcomponent an

Any time two hoses cross. the hoses are connected. The arrows in a valve body show the paths of air flow.

d. e.
4.

An open trianglein a symbolrefersto pneumatics.

Draw the schematic Figure 19-2. of

18-10