A 3 way solenoid valve is a type of flow control valve that has three connections and two orifices. Most 3 way solenoid valves are manufactured for air and gas flow regulation, which results in mostly pneumatic valves; however, hydraulic 3 ways solenoid valves are also available. Three way solenoid valves are powered by natural pressure and electromagnetic force; having fewer moving parts is considered good design, since moving parts require maintenance. 3-way solenoid valves are also easily operated by remote devices that activate the solenoid coil, making 3 way solenoid valves extremely useful for operating potentially dangerous machinery or inaccessible lines.
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3 Way Solenoid Valves
The most common application for three way solenoid valves is applying pressure to and exhausting pressure from either a valve actuator or a single acting cylinder. Other applications for 3-way solenoid valves include mixing, diverting and venting for various types of machinery and equipment. A long list of industries that benefit from the use of 3-way solenoid valves include climate control, paintball, medical, semiconductor, HVAC, analytical instrumentation, food and beverage, electronics and transportation. 3 way solenoid valves are commonly made from materials such as stainless steel, ductile iron, polypropylene, polystyrene, brass, copper, cast iron and PVC.Operated electromechanically by a solenoid, which is a magnetized coil activated by electrical charges, three way solenoid valves control the flow of gases or liquids through targeted electrical charges, sensor cue or by hysteresis (device memory). 3-way solenoid valves may be either normally closed (NC) valves or normally open (NO) valves, but not both. In NC 3-way valves a plunging pin or rod within the valve is held blocking the passage of air or fluid by a solenoid coil. NO 3-way valves are the opposite; they remain open until the solenoid is activated and pushes down the plunger, blocking flow and creating pressure to keep the valve closed. 3-way solenoid valve manufacturers make two general types of valves: direct-acting and pilot-operated. Direct-acting plastic solenoid valves have a plunger that is used to open and close the orifice, which permits or hinders flow. The pilot-operated 3 way solenoid valve works with a diaphragm rather than a plunger, using differential pressure to control the flow of gases or fluids. Generally, 3-way solenoid valves are able to switch the outflow between two outlet ports; when one outlet is closed, the other is open. There are also 2-way solenoid valves and 4-way solenoid valves. A two-way solenoid valve uses one inlet and one outlet in order to permit and shut off fluid flow. A 4-way solenoid valve has four or five pipe connections featuring one pressure inlet, two cylinder ports and one or two outlets.
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3 Way Solenoid Valves Image Provided by Gems Sensors & Controls
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3 Way Solenoid Valve Image Provided by Lee Company
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