McMaster-Carr logo
    Filter by
    Return Actuation
    Number of Flow Ports
    Actuation
    Air Directional Control Valve Flow Pattern
    System of Measurement
    Outlet Pipe Size
    Industrial Info Compare
    Number of Flow Positions
    Inlet Pipe Size
    Industrial Info Compare
    Pipe Size
    Industrial Info Compare
    Air Pilot Thread Type
    Industrial Info Compare
    Exhaust Pipe Size
    Industrial Info Compare
    Number of Solenoids
    Air Directional Control Valve Type
    For Use With
    Voltage
    Industrial Info Snippet
    Valve Position
    Number of Outlet Ports
    Valve Function
    Exhaust Thread Type
    Industrial Info Compare
    U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) Qualifying
    DFARS Specialty Metals
    Export Control Classification Number (ECCN)
    Industrial Info Snippet
    Forward
    Enter e-mail addresses in the fields below
    Message
    Cancel
    Print
    How can we improve?
    Comments
    E-mail address (if you would like a response)
    12 Products
    About Directional Control Valves
    industrial info icon

    Choose the right valve for your application by matching the actions you'll power to our flow diagrams.

    Two-Speed Two-Action Air-Operated Air Directional Control Valves

    Image of Product. Front orientation. Directional Control Valves. Two-Speed Two-Action Air-Operated Air Directional Control Valves.
    Often used to extend and then retract a cylinder at different speeds, these valves create two actions and have two exhaust ports, which allows you to control the speed of each action by attaching a flow control valve to each exhaust port. Also known as pilot valves and 4-way valves, they use an air signal to actuate, so they're good for environments where electrical use may be dangerous. They direct airflow from the inlet to your equipment and exhaust return airflow to create motion.
    Air Return—Valves with air return actuation go back to their starting position when the air supply is moved from the first air pilot to the second air pilot.
    NPTF Inlet Thread—NPTF (Dryseal) threads are compatible with NPT threads.
    Flow Coefficient (Cv)—Flow coefficient (Cv) indicates how much airflow can pass through a valve.
    Overall
    Min. Actuation
    Pressure, psi
    No. of Flow
    Ports
    No. of Air
    Pilot Ports
    Inlet
    Size
    Outlet
    Size
    Exhaust
    Connection
    Air Pilot
    Size
    Max. Flow Rate
    @ 100 psi, scfm
    Flow Coefficient
    (Cv)
    Pressure
    Range, psi
    Vacuum Rating,
    in. Hg
    Lg.
    Wd.
    Ht.
    Mount
    Type
    Mounting Fasteners
    Included
    Mounting
    Hole Dia.
    Each
    Threaded Female Inlet x Threaded Female Outlet × Threaded Female Air Pilot
     
    Air Return
    29521/8 NPT1/8 NPTThreaded1/8 NPT43.11.30 to 145264 1/8"7/8"1 3/8"Screw InNo0.18"6124K4070000000
    29521/4 NPT1/4 NPTThreaded1/8 NPT43.11.30 to 145265"1"1 5/8"Screw InNo0.18"6124K408000000
    29523/8 NPTF3/8 NPTFThreaded1/8 NPT53.11.60 to 150106 5/8"1 1/4"2 1/4"Screw InNo0.27"6124K45000000
    29521/2 NPTF1/2 NPTFThreaded1/8 NPT165.950 to 150266 5/8"1 1/2"2 1/2"Screw InNo0.27"6124K46000000
    295210-32 UNF10-32 UNFThreaded10-32 UNF8.60.260 to 150262 3/8"5/8"1"Screw InNo0.1"6124K79000000
     

    Two-Speed Two-Action Air-Operated Air Directional Control Valves with Full Shut-Off

    Image of Product. Front orientation. Directional Control Valves. Two-Speed Two-Action Air-Operated Air Directional Control Valves with Full Shut-Off .
    In the off position, these valves stop equipment in a locked position with air pressure holding it in place. Often used to extend and then retract a cylinder at different speeds, they create two actions and have two exhaust ports, which allows you to control the speed of each action by attaching a flow control valve to each exhaust port. They actuate by air signal, so they're good for environments where electrical use may be dangerous. Valves direct airflow from the inlet to your equipment and exhaust return airflow to create motion. Return actuation is by air, so they go back to their starting position when the air supply is moved from the first air pilot to the second air pilot. Also known as 4-way and 5/3 closed center valves.
    Flow Coefficient (Cv)—Flow coefficient (Cv) indicates how much airflow can pass through a valve.
    Overall
    Min. Actuation
    Pressure, psi
    No. of Flow
    Ports
    No. of Air
    Pilot Ports
    Inlet
    Size
    Outlet
    Size
    Exhaust
    Connection
    Air Pilot
    Size
    Max. Flow Rate
    @ 100 psi, scfm
    Flow Coefficient
    (Cv)
    Pressure Range,
    psi
    Vacuum Rating,
    in. Hg
    Lg.
    Wd.
    Ht.
    Mount
    Type
    Mounting Fasteners
    Included
    Mounting
    Hole Dia.
    Each
    Threaded Female Inlet x Threaded Female Outlet × Threaded Female Air Pilot
     
    Air Return
    44521/8 NPT1/8 NPTThreaded1/8 NPT420.526 to 145264 3/4"7/8"1 3/8"Screw InNo0.18"6124K4210000000
    44521/4 NPT1/4 NPTThreaded1/8 NPT730.9526 to 145265 5/8"1"1 5/8"Screw InNo0.18"6124K422000000
     

    Modular Air Directional Control Valves with Air and Electrical Manifolds

    Image of System. Complete System Shown with M12 Electrical Connection. Front orientation. Directional Control Valves. Modular Air Directional Control Valves with Air and Electrical Manifolds .

    Complete System Shown with M12

    Electrical Connection

    Mix and match valve styles on one manifold to meet your control needs. Mount multiple valves to a manifold to reduce piping requirements and create multiple actions from a single pressure input. Add or remove valves as your needs change.
    3-Way Valves
    Image of Product. Front orientation. Directional Control Valves. Modular Air Directional Control Valves with Air and Electrical Manifolds , 3 Way.
    3-way valves create one action, such as extending a cylinder. They have four flow positions, which allows the valve to operate as two independent valves from a single station on the manifold.
    Fail-Closed Valve—Fail-closed valves block airflow until actuated.
    Air Return—Valves with air return actuation go back to their starting position when the air supply is moved from the first air pilot to the second air pilot.
    Flow Coefficient (Cv)—Flow coefficient (Cv) indicates how much airflow can pass through a valve.
    Overall
    No. of
    Valves
    Return
    Actuation
    No. of Flow
    Ports
    Max. Flow Rate
    @ 100 psi, scfm
    Flow Coefficient
    (Cv)
    Pressure Range,
    psi
    Vacuum
    Rating
    Voltage,
    V DC
    Lg.
    Wd.
    Ht.
    Mount
    Type
    Body
    Material
    Mounting Fasteners
    Included
    Each
    3/2 Flow Pattern—Fail-Closed Valve
    2Air3148.41122 to 102Not Rated244 1/16"11/16"2 3/16"ManifoldAluminum
    		Yes2866N26000000
     
    4-Way Valves
    Image of Product. Front orientation. Directional Control Valves. Modular Air Directional Control Valves with Air and Electrical Manifolds , 4 Way.
    4-way valves create two actions, such as extending and then retracting a double-acting cylinder.
    Air Return—Valves with air return actuation go back to their starting position when the air supply is moved from the first air pilot to the second air pilot.
    Flow Coefficient (Cv)—Flow coefficient (Cv) indicates how much airflow can pass through a valve.
    Overall
    No. of
    Valves
    Return
    Actuation
    No. of Flow
    Ports
    Max. Flow Rate
    @ 100 psi, scfm
    Flow Coefficient
    (Cv)
    Pressure Range,
    psi
    Vacuum
    Rating
    Voltage,
    V DC
    Lg.
    Wd.
    Ht.
    Mount
    Type
    Body
    Material
    Mounting Fasteners
    Included
    Each
    5/2 Flow Pattern
    1Air5167122 to 102Not Rated244 1/16"11/16"2 3/16"ManifoldAluminum
    		Yes2866N24000000
     

    Single-Action Air-Operated Air Directional Control Valves

    These valves create one action, such as extending a cylinder. Also known as 3/2 or pilot valves, they use an air signal to actuate, so they're good for environments where electrical use may be dangerous. They direct airflow from an inlet to your equipment and exhaust return airflow to create motion. In the off position, they exhaust air pressure from the system, allowing equipment to reset so the action can be repeated.
    Threaded Female Inlet x Threaded Female Outlet × Threaded Female Air Pilot
    Image of Product. Front orientation. Directional Control Valves. Single-Action Air-Operated Air Directional Control Valves.
    Air Return—Valves with air return actuation go back to their starting position when the air supply is moved from the first air pilot to the second air pilot.
    Valve Position—Fail-closed valves normally block airflow, and remain closed until actuated. Valves that are both fail closed and fail open can be installed to normally block airflow, or to normally allow flow and remain open until actuated.
    Flow Coefficient (Cv)—Flow coefficient (Cv) indicates how much airflow can pass through a valve.
    Overall
    Min. Actuation
    Pressure, psi
    No. of Flow
    Ports
    No. of Air
    Pilot Ports
    Inlet
    Size
    Outlet
    Size
    Exhaust
    Connection
    Air Pilot
    Size
    Max. Flow Rate
    @ 100 psi, scfm
    Flow Coefficient
    (Cv)
    Pressure
    Range, psi
    Vacuum Rating,
    in. Hg
    Lg.
    Wd.
    Ht.
    Mounting Fasteners
    Included
    Each
    Fail Open/Fail Closed
     
    Air Return
    29321/8 NPT1/8 NPTThreaded1/8 NPT24.90.750 to 145263 1/2"7/8"1 3/8"No6124K4060000000
    29321/4 NPT1/4 NPTThreaded1/8 NPT24.90.750 to 145264 1/8"1"1 5/8"No6124K402000000
    29323/8 NPTF3/8 NPTFThreaded1/8 NPT53.11.60 to 150105 1/2"1 1/4"2 1/4"No6124K42000000
     
    back to top