Pneumatics: Pressure switch designs, and compressors

[Nazgarot]

Hi,

I'm starting this tread to gather different pressure switch and compressor designs. Please add your designs to the thread, or link to them.

I've been tinkering with a pressure switch design for a couple of days (only have time for a few hours a day...) and have come up with a compact functioning design for relatively high pressure applications (will be presented soon). I know there are many other designs out there, and would very much like to see others designs to get ideas to improve my design, or maybe finding a design that is better suited.

I also faced some problems with half stud alignment of the old small pumps to make a efficient compressor, so I would very much appreciate if you could show your designs here.

I hope this topic can be a resource for the community on pneumatic ideas, especially pressure switches and compressors.

-ED-

Edited July 7, 2015 by Nazgarot

[Nazgarot]

Nazgarots compact pressure switch

I needed a very high pressure for a project I've been planning for several years and never found time for... The first ideas and test builds where completed several years ago, but I never had time to look into using pneumatics with it, or at all get out of ideas stage. At the time pneumatic pieces where insanely expencive, so it was never a priority. As there has been coming more and more sets with pneumatics the last years I found it was the right time to take the challenge and move on with the model. But first I needed a pressure switch...

This is what I came up with:

It's made up of a primary unit consisting of two parts, the spring from a "shock absorber 6,5 L - hard spring" and a "Pneumatic Cylinder - Medium". Some may say that modifying parts is an illegal technique, but as non of the parts was damaged in the process and it's all original Lego, so I think this should be ok even for purists.

It's a compact design containing only 12 pieces including bracing and pins, but hose excluded. It works very well, and the pressure can be controlled by adding different springs. I don't have a manometer to test the switching pressure, but hope that someone can test the pressure using different springs...

Making the spring loaded cylinder was quite easy when I first had the idea. The spring was easy to get out. You only need to apply pressure to both sides at the bottom of the black rod, and push slightly to get the spring out. Se picture:

Dismantling the Pneumatic Cylinder took a bit more of thought. I came up with this method:

1: Lift one of the corners of the cylinders top and insert a piece of flexible plastic or strong thin cardboard as I used.

2: Pull the cardboard/plastic along around the cylinder, and the top will pop off undamaged.

3: To install he spring you simply bend the rubber seal til it comes of the steel rod, and pull off the washer and the top. Then reassemble the cylinder with the spring in place. I forgot to take a picture of the disassembled Cylinder, but found this on google:

Hope this can come in handy, and that you post your own designs.

-ED-

Edited July 10, 2015 by Nazgarot

[9v system]

very interesting. I will see if I can get this moved into the general discussion