L Series Manual and Mechanical Valves Product Catalog
Overview of AV L Series Manual and Mechanical Valves
The Automatic Valve (AV) L Series Manual and Mechanical Valves are compact, high-performance pneumatic directional control valves designed for a wide variety of industrial automation applications. These valves are especially suited to serve as remote pilots, passing operating signals to other pressure-actuated valves. They are widely used in automation for harnessing a mechanical action to automatically open or close an air circuit.
The L Series lineup spans multiple sub-series, including the L05, L07, L20, L21, L45, and L65, each offering different port sizes and flow capacities to match application demands. Operator types include hand lever, palm button, foot pedal, foot treadle, and cam roller, making this one of the most versatile manual and mechanical valve families available. Valve configurations include 3/2 (3-way, 2-position), 5/2 (5-way, 2-position), and 5/3 (5-way, 3-position) with closed center, open center, and power center options for the 5/3 models.
Key Features and Construction
The L Series valves feature balanced spool construction that delivers a compact size with a low profile and high performance. The heavy-duty design provides quiet operation even under demanding conditions. Rugged construction uses corrosion-resistant materials throughout. The bidirectional tapered Tee-Seal eliminates sticking problems for reliable shifting over millions of cycles. Valve body materials include aluminum bar stock as standard and stainless steel (Grade 303 and Grade 316) for the L20 and L45 Series inline configurations where corrosion resistance is paramount.
Operator Types and Actuation Methods
The L Series supports a broad range of operator types. Hand lever operators are available for all valve functions and provide detented or spring-return actuation. Palm button operators offer compact manual control and are available in detented and spring-return versions. Foot pedal operators are suited for hands-free operation of 3/2 and 5/2 valves. Foot treadle operators provide detented and spring-return operation for 5/2 and 5/3 valves. Cam roller operators convert mechanical motion into valve actuation and are available in spring-return configurations for 5/2 bottom-mount valves.
3/2 Valve Specifications and Ordering
The L Series 3/2 valves are available in the L20 and L45 sub-series. The L20 Series offers 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch NPT port sizes with a flow capacity of CV 1.8 (1,770 Nl/min) and a weight of approximately 0.4 lb (0.9 kg). The L45 Series provides 1/2-inch ports with a higher flow capacity of CV 4.0 (3,940 Nl/min) and weighs approximately 0.9 lb (1.9 kg).
Both normally closed and normally open functions are available. Operator options for the 3/2 valves include hand lever, palm button, and foot pedal. Port thread options include NPT and G thread, and seal materials include standard Buna-N with an optional fluoroelastomer upgrade. Dustproof vent port covers are available as an additional option.
5/2 Valve Configurations and Flow Data
The 5/2 valves are available across all major L Series sub-series. The L05 Series offers the smallest footprint with 1/8-inch ports, M5 exhaust, and a flow capacity of CV 0.4 (390 Nl/min), weighing only 0.2 lb (0.4 kg). It is available exclusively with a spring-return palm button operator. The L20 Series provides 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch ports with a flow capacity of CV 1.8 (1,770 Nl/min). The L21 Series offers 1/4-inch ports in a top-mount configuration with the same flow capacity. The L45 Series delivers the highest flow at CV 4.8 (4,755 Nl/min) with 1/2-inch ports.
Mounting options include bottom mount and top mount configurations, as well as manifold-mountable versions. The actuation choices include detented and spring return with all operator types. Body material options span aluminum bar stock to stainless steel in Grade 303 and Grade 316 for inline-mounted L20 and L45 valves.
5/2 Valve Operator and Actuation Options
Bottom-mount 5/2 valves support hand lever (detented and spring return), palm button (detented and spring return), foot pedal and foot treadle (spring return), and cam roller (spring return) operators. Top-mount 5/2 valves support hand lever and palm button operators in both detented and spring-return configurations. Manifold-mount versions are available with hand lever and palm button operators using special manifold-compatible operator codes.
5/3 Valve Configurations and Center Options
The L Series 5/3 valves are available in the L20, L21, and L45 sub-series and offer three center condition options: closed center, open center, and power center. Each center option can be configured with either detented or spring-center actuation. The L20 Series provides 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch port sizes with a flow capacity of CV 1.4 (1,381 Nl/min). The L21 Series offers 1/4-inch ports with a higher CV of 1.8 (1,770 Nl/min) in a top-mount configuration. The L45 Series delivers CV 4.8 (4,755 Nl/min) with 1/2-inch ports.
Operator options for the 5/3 valves include hand lever and foot treadle for bottom-mount configurations, and hand lever and palm button for top-mount configurations. Palm button operators for top-mount 5/3 valves are available for the L45 Series only. All 5/3 valves can be ordered with dustproof vent port covers and optional fluoroelastomer seals.
Manifolds, Accessories, and Technical Data
The catalog details a comprehensive range of valve manifolds for the L Series. Bottom-mount manifolds are available for L20 (3/8-inch ports) and L05 (1/8-inch ports) in 2 to 14 station configurations. Top-mount manifolds cover the L21 (3/8-inch ports) and L45 (3/4-inch ports) in 2 to 10 station configurations. All manifolds include seals and assembly hardware.
Manifold accessories include blocking disks for stations where airflow must be shut off, blank station covers for unoccupied positions, and interposed flow controls for restricting airflow between cylinder ports. High-flow exhaust silencers are available in zinc-plated steel and stainless steel options with port sizes from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch.
Dimensional Drawings and CAD Resources
The catalog includes detailed dimensional drawings for all valve configurations, operator types, and manifold assemblies. Dimensions are provided in both millimeters and inches. Bottom-mount L20 valves measure approximately 48.2 mm (1.90 inches) per station in length, while L45 valves measure approximately 69.0 mm (2.72 inches). Complete manifold dimensions are provided for all station counts. Downloadable CAD models are available for every valve, manifold, and accessory to support engineering design and system integration.
Operating Conditions and General Specifications
All L Series manual and mechanical valves operate on filtered air across a pressure range of 0 to 150 psig (0 to 10.3 bar). The standard operating temperature range is 0°F to 123°F (-18°C to 50°C) for both ambient and media conditions. Port connections are available in NPT and G thread standards. The spool construction design ensures reliable performance even in demanding industrial environments. Seal material is Buna-N as standard, with fluoroelastomer available for applications requiring enhanced chemical or temperature resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What operator types are available for the L Series valves?
The L Series supports five operator types: hand lever, palm button, foot pedal, foot treadle, and cam roller. Availability varies by valve function and mounting configuration. Hand lever and palm button operators are the most widely available across all valve functions, while foot pedal, foot treadle, and cam roller operators are available for select 3/2 and 5/2 configurations.
Can L Series valves be mounted on manifolds?
Yes. Manifold-mountable versions are available for L05, L07, L20, L21, and L45 Series valves in both bottom-mount and top-mount configurations. Manifolds are available in 2 to 14 station counts depending on the series. All manifolds include seals and assembly hardware.
What is the difference between the L20, L21, and L45 Series?
The L20 Series provides bottom-mount valves with 1/4-inch or 3/8-inch ports and a flow capacity of CV 1.8. The L21 Series offers top-mount valves with 1/4-inch ports and the same flow capacity. The L45 Series provides the highest flow capacity at CV 4.8 with 1/2-inch ports and is available in both bottom and top mount. The L05 Series is the smallest option with 1/8-inch ports and a CV of 0.4.
Are stainless steel body options available?
Yes. The L20 and L45 Series are available with stainless steel valve bodies in Grade 303 and Grade 316, but only in inline (non-manifoldable) configurations. Stainless steel options are ideal for corrosive environments, washdown areas, and food processing applications.
What center options are available for 5/3 valves?
The L Series 5/3 valves offer three center condition options: closed center (all ports blocked in center position), open center (all ports connected in center position), and power center (pressure ports connected to cylinder ports in center position). Each can be configured with either detented or spring-center return actuation.
