pneumatischen

Pneumatisch, or pneumatic, describes systems and components that use compressed air to transmit and control energy. In German technical usage, the inflected form pneumatischen appears in phrases such as pneumatischen Antrieben (pneumatic drives) and pneumatischen Zylindern (pneumatic cylinders). The term derives from Greek pneuma, meaning breath or air.

Pneumatic systems store energy in a compressed air reservoir and convert it to motion or force through actuators. The core elements include a compressor, an air-treatment unit (filters, dryers, and lubricators), a pressure regulator, directional and flow-control valves, and one or more actuators such as cylinders or rotary units. Control can be simple on/off or more complex with proportional or servo valves to adjust speed and force.

Operating pressures are typically a few bar (commonly 4–8 bar, with some systems up to 10 bar). Advantages include clean operation, inherent safety around sparks, rapid response, simple construction, and relatively low component cost. Disadvantages include lower force density compared with hydraulics, energy inefficiency due to compression and leaks, limited holding force when power is removed, and noise from the air exhaust.

Applications span manufacturing automation, packaging, pick-and-place equipment, robotics, machine tooling, and medical devices where dry, oil-free air is acceptable or required. Design and maintenance emphasize air quality, leak prevention, and proper sizing of FRL units (filter-regulator-lubricator), as well as compliance with relevant standards and safety guidelines.