Valve for Air Blaster

[newmechengineer]

So we are thinking about implementing an air blaster (Like those found in silos and hoppers) like component into the machine we are modify for cleaning purposes. All the commercial air blasters I could find would be too large for our purposes and as such we were think of building our own basic version with a small air tank and a valve. I would have been thought some type of butterfly valve could be used but one of they guys does not believe it would open quick enough to provide an "explosive force" require for the cleaning. From what I can tell most commercial air blaster system use a normally closed solenoid controlled diaphragm valve as it needs that quick release for its concussive action.

Is that what they normally use and by what name should I call it to get good search results for suppliers. I've tried "solenoid diaphragm valve" but the results which appear not to be really for my application. I see a lot of suppliers for 3 way solenoid valves but they don't state what type of valve is used. From the looks of them we could connect the exhaust port to the machine to be cleaned and that could work but then again I'm not sure whether a concussive force would occur. Some hints in the right direction would be great as I don't have any experience yet with pneumatics.

 

[gerhardl]

I am guessing that you are looking for something like this:

http://www.buschjost.com/valves/product-category/dust-filter-valves/

It would help if you could be more detailed in your description, describing sizes, pressures, air amounts and construction type.

 

[Compositepro]

On almost all bag houses I've seen the "diaphragm valves" you mention are actually "quick exhaust valves", which were initially designed for operating pneumatic cylinders more quickly.

http://www.parker.com/literature/Li...Valve/Service_Quick-Exhaust-Shuttle-Valve.pdf

In your application you would use a solenoid valve to supply the air to the quick exhaust valve, which is connected directly to an air storage tank rather than an air cylinder. When the solenoid valve is pulsed to vent the air supply briefly, the quick exhaust valve opens and closes very rapidly to release a large pulse of air from the tank.