Recommendation of pressure/vacuum valve manufactures

[ritchie888]

Hey all,

I need some advice and recommendations on what to search for in regards to my project.

The best way to think of my project is to think of inflating and deflating a balloon. I will have a partially inflated balloon of which I need to use a vacuum valve to suck all the air out and leave it flat, after six seconds I then need to re-inflate the balloon to the same size it was originally, and then repeat this process.

The problem I have is that I'm not sure what I should be searching for or who to get it from. I've tried searching for pressure/vacuum valves, automation and control valves, and the such, but not getting anything helpful.

I will be using a DAQ and LabVIEW to control the valves and need to know what I need to achieve this. Links and recommendations will be most appreciated.

 

[btrueblood]

Direct acting 2-way or 3-way solenoid valve(s).

Personally, I would use two 2-way valves, teed to the balloon inlet.

http://www.grainger.com

http://www.mcmaster.com

http://www.ascovalve.com

 

[MintJulep]

Parker-Hannifin, SMC, Fabco-air, micro-air and about a million others.

 

[ritchie888]

Thank you very much for your responses, this is exactly what I need!

If anyone else has any recommendations then keep them coming!

I've been having a look at those solenoid valves and they look very promising. Does anyone else have any other valve suggestions so I can have some comparison?

I started with looking at Festo and their valves but I think it's a bit too automated (and expensive!) for my needs, you guys agree or would you say that Festo may have something to offer?

 

[MintJulep]

Too automated?

Open or closed.

Or common-to-A / common-to-B

Basic solenoid valves are essentially commodity items.

 

[ritchie888]

By 'too automated' I meant that their uses and features far exceed what I require them to do, if they do what I want at all. Plus, having found a vacuum solenoid valve for £30 they're a tenth what Festo are charging.

 

[HDS]

clippard

 

[TheTick]

Maybe I missed something... I thought pumps moved fluids... Valves work as pumps now?

 

[ShaggyPE]

I think searching "vacuum" will take you down the wrong path. That will get you into the realm of Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) and into vendors like VAT, MDC, and Varian.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks