Mounting components at an angle in the AV03 makes efficient use of internal space, cutting valve size nearly in half. Unfortunately, common pneumatic valves are usually too large and heavy to mount near the actuator in handling applications, where cylinders, grippers, or vacuum cups sit on a moving arm or gantry. A valve bank’s added mass could reduce the arm’s speed and load capacity, and possibly affect positioning accuracy. Or it might require more-powerful drives and more-massive structures, negating any benefits of decentralized pneumatics and increasing energy consumption of the overall machine.
Engineers at Bosch Rexroth reportedly have overcome these issues with their new AV03 valve. The AV03 offers high flow in a package lighter and more compact than traditional air valves. This makes it especially suited for handling equipment and other applications where the pneumatic hardware moves.
Cutting weight and size
Compared to conventional valves, the AV03 valves are half the weight, attributed to using high-performance polymers and reducing the number of parts, explains Marchelle Forish, senior product specialist at Bosch Rexroth Pneumatics, Lexington, Ky. The valve housing is made of glass-fiber-reinforced polyamide, which is substantially lighter than aluminum and other common valve materials. The polymer material also offers higher resistance to attack from chemicals compared to aluminum manifolds.
In addition, the valve’s size has been reduced 45% by orienting the spool at an angle within the housing. Mounting internal components diagonally makes optimum use of internal space, says Forish, letting engineers pack more functions into a smaller area. Working ports are only on the side where needed, and the valve has a smaller footprint, useful for base-plate mounting.