A compact directional pneumatic valve that can operate as two independent valves in a single body (or in conjunction with a manifold) is now available in a new size. Originally launched by Hoerbiger-Origa in a one-eighth inch size, the S10 valve is now also available as a one-quarter inch valve.
The S10 addresses user requirements for smaller valves and also offers many other advantages, as Hoerbiger-Origa's Product Manager, Jochen Krinn explains: "In recent times, the volume market trend for pneumatic control valves has swung away from the universal standard designs (like ISO), as companies can gain a competitive advantage by using more compact, efficient and economic valve designs. This is being achieved in the S10 by the adoption of new materials, better manufacturing, higher precision and optimised designs."
The S10-1/8in is less than two-thirds the size of the equivalent standard S9 valve, yet it offers a 30 per cent increase in flow rate. Its life expectancy is in excess of 25 million cycles, so it can be installed with confidence in continuous process plants where it may receive no maintenance for literally years.
Krinn adds: "And perhaps best of all, they are up to 30 per cent cheaper than previous models."
Hoerbiger-Origa offers the S10 in a wide range of options, variants and configurations. All come with the option of threaded ports or push-in connections, and manual overrides are standard with electrically actuated versions. There are 2x3/2, 5/2 and 5/3-way versions and a choice of mono-stable or bi-stable formats, all with nominal flow rates of 650l/min for 1/8in, 1100l/min for 1/4in, and nominal power of 1.1W. Options include an LED indicator and external pilot air.
The simplicity of the S10's mounting manifold design makes it compact yet able to provide a common air supply for up to 16 valves. Several different valve functions can be combined on the same manifold, which offers the potential for considerable cost savings.
Innovations on the manifold include flow dividers and an intermediate compressed air connection. These can be set up such that one section feeds valves at one pressure and another section supplies other valves at a different pressure. It is possible to supply maximum three different pressure zones. This is simply achieved by setting the flow dividers at two selected points and plugging the additional pressure port in between, such that each port of the manifold can then be fed with different pressures.