How Do Pneumatic Systems Work?
Pneumatic systems are as diverse as there are applications for them. There is one common thread however that binds them all together, and that is the power of air. Compressed air to be exact is the way that these systems function. A simple bicycle tire pump is a very good example of how compressed air works. The force of pushing the handle down is compressing the air inside of the pump and forcing it to leave the chamber through a small diameter hole. This action creates compressed air by rapidly and consistently decreasing its volume, creating an expansive force of air leaving the chamber that is controllable. Compressed air runs pneumatic drills, hammers and sprayers. Pneumatic jacks and forklifts use that compressed energy to perform their work functions, which distributes that power as needed in their different applications. Industries such as mining, construction, dentistry and the medical profession all use one form of pneumatic systems or another. Perhaps the most familiar use o
