Butterfly valves from jjautomation.com
Butterfly valves from jjautomation.com
Butterfly valves from jjautomation.comButterfly valves are an underrated valve type that creates a switch triggered seal that stops the flow of water or other products through the opening. One of the best values for using, it's basically a plate of metal that spins inside a pipe or similar object, creating an open flow when flat and perpendicular to the opening, or a tight seal when spun and blocking the pipe fully. They can be controlled by knobs, dials, or other manual mechanisms, or sealed with electricity for instant control. As they are simple valves, they tend not to fail often, but depending on the pressure or weight of the material they are stopping in place, you may find that they bend, or the pin that holds them in place breaks.
Butterfly valve basics
Butterfly valves are designed to open and close with a simple mechanism. They can be used in a variety of designs and systems to create a checks and balances. Used in various systems they are ideal for projects that require a simple stop/start mechanism which makes them incredibly valuable in designs that require mechanisms to control or stop flows, or as a mechanism for protection or venting.
They can be used individually in the design and creation of systems such as water flow systems. Basic water flow systems including watering systems on farmland, or other designs that require the stop and start of water based on other criteria, such as heat. In those cases, you can set it up to trigger a solenoid that turns the valve to on or off.
You could also use it in parallel to measure an amount of material, and then release it. Some common uses could include corn or food measurement for animals, holding back material on a timer or ensuring that food or water is distributed to animals or other areas on time.
Finally, they can be designed to only open or close under certain conditions. You could rig them to open when a certain pressure has been reached this can be very handy if you need to vent or otherwise release pressure, such as steam or air pressure. Or they could close under certain conditions, sealing the space above or below, such as when rain falls, to protect the contents below. This can be especially valuable in conditions that you want to keep either moist or dry or can be used to collect samples, such as on roofs and then seal and preserve the contents.
Butterfly valves are not a complex component but can be used in complex systems. They are used in all kinds of environments, from nuclear power plants to simple mechanisms. Their maintenance is easy, but they may need to be replaced on occasion.