DOI: 4/23/11

General Description of the RF Valve® with Integrated Air-Spring Actuator

For Fail Open, On/Off RF Valves Page 1

General Description of the RF Valve® With Integrated Air-Spring Actuator

For Fail Open, On/Off RF Valves

Figure 1 shows a general schematic of an RF Valve®  with an integrated air-spring actuator. The integrated air-
spring actuator looks like a double-acting actuator  except there is an air spring chamber  provided.

Figure 1: Schematic of the RF Valve® with Integrated Air-Spring Actuator

RF Valves, Inc. • 1342-A Charwood Road • Hanover, MD • USA

Tel: +1 (410) 850-4404 • Fax: +1 (410) 850-4464 • Email: support@rfvalve.com
WWW.RFVALVE.COM
 DOI: 4/23/11
General Description of the RF Valve® with Integrated Air-Spring Actuator
For Fail Open, On/Off RF Valves Page 2

Initial Set-Up

The RF Valve® is installed to the pipeline and then connected to plant air. The pressure regulator  is then
adjusted to the minimum, necessary pressure to open the RF Valve®. (This adjustment has already been done at
the factory – consult RF Valves, Inc. if you think it requires further adjustment.) Note that the RF Valve® will open
during this initialization. See Figure 2.

Figure 2: Initial Set-Up

RF Valves, Inc. • 1342-A Charwood Road • Hanover, MD • USA

Tel: +1 (410) 850-4404 • Fax: +1 (410) 850-4464 • Email: support@rfvalve.com
WWW.RFVALVE.COM
 DOI: 4/23/11
General Description of the RF Valve® with Integrated Air-Spring Actuator
For Fail Open, On/Off RF Valves Page 3

Opening and Closing the RF Valve®

Once properly initialized, the RF Valve® can be commanded to close by energizing the solenoid valve  (see
Figure 3). Note that the pressure gauge reading for the air spring chamber  will become greater than the setting
of the pressure regulator. This is because the air within the air spring chamber is trapped by the check valve 
and its volume decreased when the piston within the actuator moved downward. Note that the plant air pressure
must be greater than the reading of the air tank’s pressure gauge otherwise the RF Valve® will not fully close.

To open the RF Valve®, simply de-energize the solenoid valve.

Figure 3: Closing the RF Valve®

RF Valves, Inc. • 1342-A Charwood Road • Hanover, MD • USA

Tel: +1 (410) 850-4404 • Fax: +1 (410) 850-4464 • Email: support@rfvalve.com
WWW.RFVALVE.COM
 DOI: 4/23/11
General Description of the RF Valve® with Integrated Air-Spring Actuator
For Fail Open, On/Off RF Valves Page 4

Plant Air Failure

When the plant air fails, there is insufficient air pressure to hold the piston inside the integrated air-spring actuator
which normally keeps the RF Valve® closed. Then the higher pressure inside the air spring chamber
automatically expands and pushes the piston within the integrated air-spring actuator upward thus opening the RF
Valve®. This action will happen regardless if the solenoid valve is energized or not. See Figure 4.

Figure 4: Plant Air Failure

RF Valves, Inc. • 1342-A Charwood Road • Hanover, MD • USA

Tel: +1 (410) 850-4404 • Fax: +1 (410) 850-4464 • Email: support@rfvalve.com
WWW.RFVALVE.COM
 DOI: 4/23/11
General Description of the RF Valve® with Integrated Air-Spring Actuator
For Fail Open, On/Off RF Valves Page 5

Vent the Air Tank

If necessary, the manual relief valve  can be opened to reduce the air pressure inside the air tank if it has been
accidentally over-pressurized.

Figure 5: Vent the Air Tank

RF Valves, Inc. • 1342-A Charwood Road • Hanover, MD • USA

Tel: +1 (410) 850-4404 • Fax: +1 (410) 850-4464 • Email: support@rfvalve.com
WWW.RFVALVE.COM