How do spool valves work?

[Gadget]

I think I've got a decent idea of how Angel style valves (Ego/Timmy et al) work:

- lpr feeds low pressure air to back of ram via solenoid
- ram moves forward (taking linked bolt forward at same time)
- bolt closes breech, pushing ball forward
- front of ram/hammer hits valve, opening it
- open valve permits high pressure air behind it to be released, travelling via bolt to fire ball
- solenoid directs low pressure air to other end of ram, returning it to start of cycle
- valve closed via spring/magnet

Hope that's roughly correct....but I've no idea of how spool valves operate - can anyone describe it in idiot-speak for me?

 

[Devrij]

Egos aren't spoolies, they're poppet valves. They work like this:
http://www.zdspb.com/media/tech/animations/ego1_large.gif

Your description is pretty much spot on though. Spoolies such as DMs Geos etc work along the lines of this:

http://www.zdspb.com/media/tech/animations/dm4_medium.gif

 

[John C]

Spool valves use a cork in a bottle type valve.
Apart from that, all the principles are the same.

In a spool valve you dont need to build up momentum to knock open your valve concistently.
The bolt can move much slower, meaning less kick and ball breakages.


Bang valves are more reliable because they seal on a flat face. Like the piston inside a regulator, which we know are very reliable.

Because the air closing the valve is the same air thats about to fire the ball, they self regulate to some degree.




Modern spool valves are almost all blow forward.

This just means the air inside the gun is trying to push the bolt forward.
Then you use solenoid controlled air to move it back.
Creating A simpler more reliable system.

 

[spangley_special]

Simplest definition I can think of is

A marker where the bolt it's self acts as the valve

 

[Tom Allen]

the spool valve guns that sp make work by deceit, false patents and lies, oh yes and a valve and air.

 

[John C]

Simplest definition I can think of is

A marker where the bolt it's self acts as the valve

Thats a very paintball oriented way of looking at it.

For example, inside alot of solenoids there are spools which act as the output valve.
That doesnt mean they have a paintball bolt in them.

Its just a cylinder that moves axially in a bore and seals around its outside diameter.

IE a cork in a bottle.

 

[John C]

the spool valve guns that sp make work by deceit, false patents and lies, oh yes and a valve and air.

Tom Im with you on the first 3 but the last 2 im not sure on

 

[Gadget]

Egos aren't spoolies, they're poppet valves. They work like this:

Yep, OP not worded very well - meant to say that I know how poppet valves (such as Angel/Ego/Timmy) work.

Thanks for the explanation of spoolies - so basically a complex 'mag valve, with air being fed to specific parts of the bolt to shift it, rather than a mechanical sear and spring.

 

[Devrij]

Yep, essentially the solenoid releases the air that is holding the bolt back, and the high pressure air behind the bolt pushes it forwards. As the bolt travels forwards vents that high pressure air through it to fire the ball. The solenoid then closes and forces the bolt back into its open position while the rear chamber recharges for the next shot.

 

[John C]

Yep, OP not worded very well - meant to say that I know how poppet valves (such as Angel/Ego/Timmy) work.

Thanks for the explanation of spoolies - so basically a complex 'mag valve, with air being fed to specific parts of the bolt to shift it, rather than a mechanical sear and spring.

The Mag IS a spool valve marker.

Really you should have asked how a spool valve marker works.

Its slightly OCD I know, But the only person who answered your original question correctly (how does a generic spool valve work) is me