Festo Pneumatic Shut-Off Valves
Figure 1: Festo shut-off valves from left to right: hand slide valve, lock-out valve, and ball valve.
Festo offers three types of valves designed specifically for a shut-off function: VBOH hand slide valves, HE lock-out valves, and QH and QHS ball valves. Each type of valve is designed to work in pneumatic systems, shutting off compressed air flow. Therefore, the materials used are all suitable for compressed air systems. When choosing between the different types of valves, the primary selection criteria to pay attention to is flow rate. This article will provide a brief overview of each type of valve and then guidance on selecting between them.
Hand slide valves VBOH
Festo hand slide valves control compressed air flow by moving a slide plate within the valve body. These valves are versatile and can be applied in various settings, including pneumatic cylinders, air tools, and in-line flow control. Constructed from durable materials such as anodized wrought aluminum alloy and PBT, they feature threaded pneumatic connections and a wide operating pressure range. The operation involves opening, closing, or regulating airflow through the movement of the slide plate, with seals ensuring no air leaks when the valve is closed.
- Connections: Threaded
- Flow rate: 236 - 7691 l/min
- Pressure rating: -0.95 to 12 bar (-13.7 to 174 psi)
- Temperature range: -10 to 80 °C (14 to 176 °F)
Learn more in our Festo VBOH hand slide valve article.
Figure 2: Festo's VBOH hand slide valve
Lock-out valves HE
Festo offers two lock-out valve styles, HE-2 and HE-3; the former is a 2/2-way valve, and the latter is a 3/2-way valve. These are manual quarter-turn valves designed for fast and efficient flow shut-off. Here are some key features of each valve type:
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Connections
- HE-2: Push-in connectors at both ends, push-in connector/male thread
- HE-3: Push-in connectors at both ends, push-in connector/male thread, male threads at both ends
- Flow rate: 278 - 840 l/min
- Pressure rating: -0.95 to 10 bar (-13.7 to 145 psi)
- Temperature range: 0 to 60 °C (32 to 140 °F)
Figure 3: Festo's HE lock-out valve
Ball valves QH, QHS
Festo also offers two styles of ball valves specifically designed for shutting off flow in a pneumatic system: QH and QHS. QH ball valves have in-line or screw-in mounting options. QHS ball valves have bulkhead fittings, meaning they are designed to make a leak-proof connection through a hard surface (e.g., the wall of a tank). All of these ball valves are 2/2-way ball valves. Here are their key features:
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Connections:
- QH: in-line, screw-in
- QHS: lock-nut
- Flow rate: 148 - 560 l/min
- Pressure rating: -1 to 10 bar (-14.5 to 145 psi)
- Temperature range: 0 to 60 °C (32 to 140 °F)
Figure 4: Festo's QH ball valve
Selecting Festo shut-off valves
Hand slide, ball, and lock-out valves all serve the same purpose; therefore, it can be challenging to choose between them. This section offers some guidance to help with this selection. The primary difference between the valve types is their different max flow rates.
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Max flow rate
- Hand slide valves: 7691 l/min
- Lock-out valves: 840 l/min
- Ball valves: 560 l/min
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Typical applications
- Hand slide valves: Pneumatic cylinders, air tools, and in-line flow control
- Lock-out valves: Safety and isolation. Lock-out valves are commonly used in safety applications where it's necessary to prevent accidental activation of machinery.
- Ball valves: System isolation and quick isolation, similar to lock-out valves
FAQs
What are Festo pneumatic shut-off valves?
Festo pneumatic shut-off valves are devices designed to control and stop the flow of compressed air in pneumatic systems.
What types of shut-off valves does Festo offer?
Festo offers VBOH hand slide valves, HE lock-out valves, and QH and QHS ball valves for pneumatic systems.
How do I choose the right Festo shut-off valve?
When choosing a Festo shut-off valve, consider the flow rate as the primary selection criterion.