FAST AND ACCURATE PRESSURE CONTROL USING ON-OFF VALVES

Authors

  • Ronald Van Ham Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
  • Björn Verrelst Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
  • Frank Daerden Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
  • Bram Vanderborght Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
  • Dirk Lefeber Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium

Keywords:

pressure control, pneumatic muscles, bang-bang controller

Abstract

Pneumatic cylinders and pneumatic muscles are lightweight, clean and multifunctional actuators, requiring pressureregulating valves for positioning. To use them in mobile applications commercial pressure-regulating valves are quite heavy and rather slow. Therefore an intelligent controlled array of fast switching on-off valves is presented as an alternative. The speed of the on-off valves determines the performance of the pressure-regulating valve. To reduce the opening time of the valves, a higher voltage is applied on the coil for a short time. The influence of this method on the heating of the valve will be discussed. A diode, which drains away the electromagnetic power from the coil, reduces the closing time. When working with pneumatic muscles, it is in some cases justified to remove the internal spring to enhance the opening time. A modified bang-bang controller, with more than one level and a dead zone is presented. Experimental results on a fixed volume are discussed. A special designed collector combines 6 on-off valves into a lightweight pressure control valve island, which is perfectly suited for walking robots such as the pneumatic actuated biped Lucy.

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Author Biographies

Ronald Van Ham, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium

Ronald Van Ham (1976) Study of Electro-Mechanical Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, graduated in 1999. Since 1999 researcher and teaching assistant at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The focus of his research is the use of adaptable compliance of pneumatic artificial muscles in the walking biped Lucy.

Björn Verrelst, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium

Björn Verrelst (1972) Study of Mechanical Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, graduated in 1996. Since 1998 researcher and teaching assistant at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The focus of his research is the use of pneumatic artificial muscles in the walking biped Lucy for dynamically balanced walking.

Frank Daerden, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium

Frank Daerden (1966) Study of Mechanical Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. PhD in Applied Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1999. Research and teaching assistant at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1991–1999. Doctor-Assistant at the dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel since 1999, visiting Professor since 2003.

Bram Vanderborght, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium

Bram Vanderborght (1980) Study of Mechanical Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, graduated in 2003. Since 2003 researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, supported by the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (Belgium). The focus of his research is the use of adaptable compliance of pneumatic artificial muscles in the dynamically balanced biped Lucy.

Dirk Lefeber, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium

Dirk Lefeber (1956) Study of Civil Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. PhD in Applied Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1986. Professor at the dept. of Mechanical Engineering, head of the Multibody Mechanics Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

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Published

2005-03-01

How to Cite

Ham, R. V., Verrelst, B., Daerden, F., Vanderborght, B., & Lefeber, D. (2005). FAST AND ACCURATE PRESSURE CONTROL USING ON-OFF VALVES. International Journal of Fluid Power, 6(1), 53–58. Retrieved from https://journals.riverpublishers.com/index.php/IJFP/article/view/577

Issue

2005: Vol 06 Iss 1

Section

Original Article