Hi EB,

I'm looking into good, compact pneumatic compressors for use in an air suspension using 4 small pneumatic cylinders. Are there any ones out there more compact/less parts intensive AND higher capacity (2+ of those little pneumatic cylinders)?

This is the best one I have found so far. Compactness is my main want.

thanks!

(PS, this is for my little Hard Truck Contest (HTC) event.)

Does it need to include the valve, or are you just needing a compressor, without the valve? Having to control both is no simple feat. If it just has to be a compressor, I've got a way to make it even smaller.

Does it need to include the valve, or are you just needing a compressor, without the valve? Having to control both is no simple feat. If it just has to be a compressor, I've got a way to make it even smaller.

What is the valve? I don't need to control anything which is not controlled in that video. The M motor (I see no reason to use another motor, considering the M motor's relatively small power consumption) will be controlled via SBrick. Thanks! Does this answer your question? I feel like there should be a way to make this smaller.

What is the valve? I don't need to control anything which is not controlled in that video. The M motor (I see no reason to use another motor, considering the M motor's relatively small power consumption) will be controlled via SBrick. Thanks! Does this answer your question? I feel like there should be a way to make this smaller.

You have linked to movie showing an autovalve with compresor. And your question was about compressor without valves.

So? What exactly are you looking for?

Clarification: The 'valve' is the pneumatic switch.

In the video that you posted there are two things going on. The motor is turning a gear, and attached to that is a pneumatic pump (compressor). However, using the same motor it also turns a worm gear that changes the direction of the pneumatic switch. This allows a single motor to both act as a compressor as well as extend or contract a pneumatic cylinder via he switch (valve).

If that is the functionality that you need, then you need each of those components shown in the video you posted. If you are building this into a larger model (truck), then you can use some of your chassis to hold these components in place, but you still need all of those components.

You may also be interested in these threads that show 'autovalves' that are functionally the same, however they look a bit smaller:

http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=87307

http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=77468

Sariel also has an 'autovalve' that you can see here:

http://sariel.pl/200...atic-autovalve/

If you are going to use two pneumatic pumps, you would want to run them 'out-of-phase'. That is, while one pneumatic pump is extended, the other should be contracted. This will put the least strain on the motor.

See here: http://www.brickshel..._compressor.jpg

Edited April 16, 20159 yr by Splat

I dont think he needs this kind of autovalve compressor that doubles as a switch. He just needs something to pump and hold air for his air ride suspension. The Autovalve works differently to how an air suspension should work. Here the main difference between the two, instead of using air to move the suspension down as with the Autovalve you instead open a valve up and release the air from the cylinder to bring the suspension down.

@TheLegoExpert - are you able to give us some more information about what you are trying to create?

Do you want the raising and lowering of the suspension to be fully remote controlled (compressor and pneumatic switch)?

or

Do you only want a motorized compressor, and you will turn the motor on and off manually, and move the pneumatic switch manually too?