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Basic Schematic Symbols Chart
(Hydraulic and Pneumatic circuit design)

Other fluid power informational links:

   Lines

Connecting Pressure Lines (usually representing plastic tubing for pneumatic [air] lines with low pressures, metal piping for hydraulic [fluid] lines with high pressure)
continuous line for flow line (Symbol/picture) -continuous line (for) flow line
dashed line for pilot, drain (Symbol/picture) -dashed line (for) pilot, drain
(Envelope) long and short dashes around two or more (Symbol/picture) -envelope (for) long and short dashes around two or more component symbols.

   Circular

-large circle - pump, motor

-small circle  - Measuring devices

-semi-circle - rotary actuator

   Square

-one square  - pressure control function
-two or three adjacent squares  - directional control

   Diamond

-diamond - Fluid conditioner (filter, separator, lubricator, heat exchanger)

   Miscellaneous Symbols

-Spring
-Flow Restriction

   Triangle

-solid - Direction of Hydraulic Fluid Flow
-open - Direction of Pneumatic flow

Pumps and Compressors

(turn rotary torque from an AC or DC electric motor into pressure in a hydraulic or pneumatic system)

   Fixed Displacement hydraulic pump

Fixed Displacement hydraulic pump symbol -unidirectional
Fixed Displacement hydraulic pump (Reversible flow) symbol -bidirectional

   Variable displacement hydraulic pump

Variable displacement hydraulic pump symbol -unidirectional
Variable displacement hydraulic pump (Reversible flow) symbol -bidirectional 

   Compressor

Compressor Symbol

Motors


   Fixed displacement hydraulic motor

Fixed displacement hydraulic motor symbol -unidirectional
Fixed displacement hydraulic motor (Reversible/bidirectional) symbol -bidirectional 

   Variable displacement hydraulic motor

Variable displacement hydraulic motor symbol -unidirectional
Variable displacement hydraulic motor (Reversible/bidirectional) symbol -bidirectional

   Pneumatic motor

Pneumatic motor symbol -unidirectional
Pneumatic motor (Reversible/bidirectional) symbol -bidirectional

   Rotary Actuator

Rotary Actuator hydraulic symbol - hydraulic
Rotary Actuator pneumatic symbol - pneumatic

Cylinders


   Single acting cylinder

Single acting cylinder symbol (pilot return) -returned by external force
Single acting cylinder symbol (spring Return) -returned by spring or extended by spring force

   Double acting cylinders

-single piston rod (fluid required to extend and retract)
-double ended piston rod

   Cylinders with cushions

- single fixed cushion
- double fixed cushion
- single adjustable cushion
- double adjustable cushion

Directional Control Valves


   Directional control valve (2 ports / 2 positions)

-Normally closed directional control valve with 2 ports and 2 finite positions.
-Normally open directional control valve with 2 ports and 2 finite positions.

   Directional control valve (3 ports / 2 positions)

-Normally closed directional control valve with 3 ports and 2 finite positions.
-Normally open directional control valve with 3 ports and 2 finite positions.

   Directional control valve (4 ports / 2 positions)

-directional control valve with 4 ports and 2 finite positions

   Directional control valve (4 ports / 3 positions)

-directional control valve with 4 ports and 3 finite positions
*-(center position can have various flow paths)

   Directional control valve (5 ports / 2 positions) Normally a pneumatic valve

-directional control valve with 5 ports and 2 finite positions

   Directional control valve (5 ports / 3 positions) Normally a pneumatic valve

-directional control valve with 5 ports and 3 finite positions

   Proportional directional control valve

   Electro-hydraulic servo valve

   -The spool positions on these valves is variable allowing for variable flow conditions.

-single-stage direct operation unit which accepts an analog signal and provides a similar analog fluid power output
-two-stage with mechanical feedback indirect pilot operation unit which accepts an analog signal and provides a similar analog fluid power output

Control Methods


   Manual Control

-general symbol (without showing the control type)
-pushbutton
-lever
-foot pedal

   Mechanical Control

-plunger or tracer
-spring
-roller
-roller(one direction only)

   Electrical Control

-Solenoid (the one winding)

   Pilot Operation

-pneumatic
-hydraulic

   Pilot operated two-stage valve

-Pneumatic: Sol first stage
-Pneumatic: Air pilot second stage
-Hydraulic: Sol first stage
-Hydraulic: Hyd pilot second stage

Check valves, Shuttle valves, Rapid Exhaust valves


-check valve -free flow one direction, blocked flow in other direction
-pilot operated check valve, pilot to close
-pilot operated check valve, pilot to open

   Shuttle valve

-to isolate one part of a system from an alternate part of circuit.

   Rapid exhaust valve/Pneumatic

-installed close to an actuator for rapid movement of the actuator.

Pressure Control Valves


   Pressure Relief Valve(safety valve) normally closed

- line pressure is limited to the setting of the valve, secondary part is directed to tank.

   Proportional Pressure Relief

- line pressure is limited to and proportional to an electronic signal

   Sequence Valve

- when the line pressure reaches the setting of the valve, valve opens permitting flow to the secondary port. The pilot must be externally drained to tank.

   Pressure Reducing valve

- pressure downstream of valve is limited to the setting of the valve

Flow Control Valves


   Throttle valve

-adjustable output flow

   Flow Control valve

-with fixed output (variations in inlet pressure do not affect rate of flow)
-with fixed output and relief port to reservoir with relief for excess flow (variations in inlet pressure do not affect rate of flow)
-with variable output
-fixed orifice
-metered flow toward right free flow to left
-pressure compensated flow control fixed output flow regardless of load
-pressure and temperature compensated
-with variable output and relief port to reservoir

   Flow dividing valve

-flow is divided equally to two outputs.

Shut-Off Valve

-Simplified symbol

Accumulators


Reservoir (Tank)


Filters, Water Traps, Lubricators and Miscellaneous Apparatus


   Filter or Strainer

   Water Trap

-with manual drain
-with automatic drained

   Filter with water trap

-with manual drain
-automatic drain

   Air Dryer

refrigerant, or chemical removal of water from compressed air line

   Lubricator

-oil vapor is injected into air line

   Conditioning unit

-compound symbol of filter, regulator, lubricator unit
-Simplified Symbol

Heat Exchangers


-air or water cooled unit designed to remove heat from oil returning to reservoir

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