Working cylinder, switch valve and pressure-actuated working unit

Abstract

A working cylinder (A) having at least one working chamber ( ) defined by the cylinder barrel ( ), at least one of the end sections ( ) and a piston ( ), at least one supply port ( ) and a exhaust port ( ) for the working medium. The exhaust port ( ) has a valve ( ) that may be regulated by the pressure of the working medium, which is applied at the supply port ( ) in order to obtain a smaller dimension of at least the valve and to better utilize the already existing space, specifically within the cylinder, and to better and more efficiently adjust the output capacity of the individual elements. A valve (V), particularly a switch valve (W) of a rocker valve design has therefore at least one inlet ( ) and at least one outlet ( ) for the working medium, as wells as at least one control port ( ). The cylinder is characterized by a discharge channel ( ) for the working medium, originating from a location between the valve element ( ) of the valve and at least one outlet ( , ), whereby this discharge channel has a discharge or exhaust valve ( ), which may be regulated electrically or by the pressure applied to the control port. The pressure-actuated working unit comprises a pneumatic working cylinder (A) with exhaust valves ( ), a valve (V, W) and exhaust control valves ( ) as well as only one pressure line ( ) to each working chamber ( ) in the cylinder (A).