I’m designing a new prop, which requires air flow to be controlled from one input, to one of three possible outputs. When one output is open, the other two need to be closed. The pressure involve is extremely low, about 2 or 3 psi (about what a person produce blowing hard). In searching online, I’m not sure if such a thing exists.
It needs to be relatively small and hand operated. I first envisioned a “sliding gate” with two rectangular panels. One panel has one hole, the other three. They would slide back and forth so that the one hole could line up with one of the other three. I’ve also seen toggle switches online with four input/outputs, but they don’t seem to direct air the way I need, and often need much higher psi. Link to photo
If that’s not an option, I could use something similar that offered a choice of two outputs, and use a second switch on one of the outputs.
Does a product exist that would work this way?
I have an alternate design that works at higher pressures using CO2 cartridges, but would require a valve the controlled the rate at which air was released, and push button operated. The valve would only be open when the button was pushed and closed immediately on release. Does this type of control valve exist? If the push button open/close feature exists without the pressure control, I would be open to adding the pressure reduction AFTER the push button valve with another device.
Thanks!
Aren’t most automobile airflow systems built like this?
A manually controlled device that directs flow to 3 outputs. Feet, vent, or window blocking off the other two when one is used.
Seems to be a pretty common set up that you should be able to find from anyone dealing in used car parts.
The product you pictured is Clippard which is an excellent product; they also make components that allow you to build pneumatic logic circuits if that could be useful. Their mechanical valves DON’T have a minimum low pressure.
Why won’t this work for you? Do you know your desired port size or flow rate?
It seems that if you’re inventing a propeller system that a custom control valve would be a minor side project. Here are some ideas from slide valve fuel injectors that are similar to your description.
http://www.rothsport.com/Products/Engine/Fuel-Injection-Systems/FI-Systems-Slide-Valve.html
The problem with the ones in the picture, and all others I’ve found, is that they are designed for use with pistons and such, and there for only involve two air paths at a time. Sometimes a third for exhaust bleed, but that doesn’t help. I’m need one ingress port, and three egress ports where only one is open at a time. Three positions for the egress ports:
open closed closed
closed open closed
closed closed open
To clarify what I’m doing, if it helps:
Lets say I have a device similar to an e-cig, only it produces vapor when you blow through it rather than pulling air through. It operates at similar air pressure levels, which to my understanding is 1 -2 psi. The device is connected to an air bladder, so that when the air bladder is squeezed, it forces air through the device and vapor comes out. Now imagine that I want to be able to operate three similar devices from the same air bladder, but only one at a time. I need to have a small, hand operated switch that will divert airflow to the desired device, while blocking airflow to the other two.
My alternate design (which I would also like to build and test) replaces the air bladder with a mini CO2 cannister. The line exiting the CO2 cannister splits into three, and each of these three lines leads to a push button control valve the allows air to pass through, ONLY when pushed (like a water fountain). The problem with this is that the air pressure is too high. I’m not sure if I can put ONE flow control BEFORE the three way split to reduce air pressure to 2 psi and still have the buttons operate properly, or whether I have to have THREE air flow controls AFTER each of the buttons.
I don’t know enough about pneumatics, and I need to keep costs down. I can’t use large industrial equipment. Preferably none of the devices is larger than a two inches square. The smaller the better.
