Mechanical Valves

Mechanical valves are an essential component of any application that needs to control the flow of fluid and/or gas passing through a system. There are many different types, including electric valves and pneumatic mechanical valves, and you can rest assured that here at RS we stock a vast array of products to suit all kinds of projects.

We have thousands of mechanical valves for you to choose from and you can use the filters on the left-hand side of this page to help you narrow down your search to those that are most suited to your requirements.

You can browse by any number of features, from operating pressure and dimensions to thread type and manufacturer. We only partner with industry-leading brands, so you can be confident the mechanical valves you select will be the very best in the business. Read on for more information on how they work, the different types available as well as their typical applications.

What are mechanical valves and how do they work?

Mechanical valves regulate the flow of liquid and/or gas through an application. Their typical functions are stopping and starting the flow, reducing and increasing the rate, and controlling its direction. They do this by opening and closing various ports to control access to any connecting tubes, pipes, or other conduits. Most of the valve is made up of the body, which can be constructed from various materials including plastic, aluminum, steel, or brass. Most mechanical valves are controlled by actuators, which tend to be either electric, pneumatic or hydraulic.

What are the different types of mechanical valves?

There are various different types, each of which is designed to suit specific applications. However, mechanical valves can be generally categorized in relation to the actuators that control them:

• Electric valves are, as the name suggests, controlled by electric actuators where a motor provides the torque required for operation. They tend to be energy efficient and run more quietly, and a common type of electric control valves is solenoids.
• Pneumatic mechanical valves are controlled by pneumatic actuators that use air or another gas as their power source.
• Another form of mechanical valves is position detectors, which use sensors to provide feedback signals as to the current position of any valves within a system.

Where might mechanical valves be used?

Mechanical valves are essential components that mean engineers do not have to control the flow of liquid or gas through a system manually. This process can be expensive, time-consuming, and dangerous. Instead, mechanical valves allow for greater automation and as such can be found in any number of industrial settings such as chemical processing plants, petrol stations, and power plants. They also have their uses in a wide range of everyday applications. For example, you’re likely to find them in garden sprinklers, central heating systems, refrigerators, air conditioning units, and car washes.

Why choose RS for your mechanical valves?

Whatever your project requires, trust RS to deliver the products that are right for the job. Whether that be pneumatic mechanical valves, position detectors, electric valves, solenoids, or anything else, our extensive range encompasses thousands of components so is sure to include what you need.

We’re one of North America’s largest authorized distributors of electronic components and the guarantee you get from us is that we only stock products that meet the very highest regulatory standards. Part of that promise is bringing you mechanical valves from pioneers of the industry, including the likes of Aventics, Festo, Norgren, SMC Corporation, and our own brand RS PRO.

For premium quality mechanical valves, look no further than RS. If you have any questions or would like further information, please feel free to get in touch, while you can also find plenty of useful advice in our expert hub.