Bimba Spring Supershifter Piston

[rcmolloy]

So when your maintaining pressure, the piston is basically being held in with a constant flow of air coming out?

If I could rephrase the question, can the piston have two fixed positions one being fully extended and one being fully retracted without having to keep a constant flow of air.

[Jared Russell]

Originally Posted by rcmolloy

If I could rephrase the question, can the piston have two fixed positions one being fully extended and one being fully retracted without having to keep a constant flow of air.

Yes. Air only "flows" when you are in the act of extending or retracting the cylinder. Once it is in place, all you need to do is maintain a constant pressure level and you're golden.

[rcmolloy]

Ahhh ok. We weren't sure if they acted like regular pistons but it does. The spring just allows it to retract faster because of the "shifting on the fly" allowance.

Thanks guys

[jspatz1]

The cylinder will consume no air after it is extended, the pressure holding it is static. You will want to maintain extend pressure (valve actuated) so the holding force is maintained. When retracted (valve exhausted) the cylinder will be vented and the spring will supply the only return force. A spring return cylinder consumes 1/2 of the air (actually a little more than 1/2 due to the rod volume) of a double-acting cylinder.

[IndySam]

Think of it like a balloon. When you fill a balloon with air you tie it up and it stays full, you don't need to add more air.