So what is it officially?

[ChoSanJuan]

Growing up, I've always knows the the thing attached to the timing rod as the 3 way. I also see people saying 4 way. Being actually new to Autocockers, which is it and why?

[BrendanB]

3 way

[Grendel]

If we want to get pedantic it is a mechanical 2 way linear actuated control valve. One input with two possible outputs that are active one at a time.

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<enter the Autococker purists to argue the issue>

I'll just leave this here for reference:

[Siress]

I'd argue it's a 5 way because I've never seen one that didn't leak from at least 3 places at some point in it's life. Granted, I only handled these things when someone needed it repaired.

But Grendel is right.

[Magmoormaster]

I believe Glenn Palmer is the one who started the whole "4way" thing, in that it has 2 outlet ports and 2 exhaust ports. Very few people call it a 4way, most people just say 3way.

[Trbo323]

I believe Glenn Palmer is the one who started the whole "4way" thing, in that it has 2 outlet ports and 2 exhaust ports. Very few people call it a 4way, most people just say 3way.

I've always been confused why he doesn't then count the input port if he is counting all other possible ports

It's a 3 way

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

[Grendel]

In paintball parlance I would agree it is call a "3 way". It is what I have called it from the beginning of the Autococker and what the majority of players/techs used over the years.

[Siress]

First, here's how the professionals describe direction control valves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YppUetnI-6M

Second, here's the schematic for an autococker "3-way". It is a 5/2 manually actuated valve. I don't know if there's a standardized method for accurately describing valves as "# ways" because it leaves a lot of ambiguity when you're talking about a generalized method. If I were to guess, I'd say it's the "ways" that you can direct the source/feed/input air; in which case I'd call it a "2-way" valve for simplicity.

[Axel]

There are two pathways for energy to flow, plus the "off" position. 3 ways

[Siress]

"off" is ram forward, right?

edit: I think I know what you're referring to now, Axel. Is it the transition from one position to the other where the input air just stops in the 3 way? I don't count that if it's a transition point that may or may not exist for the valve to function; i.e. not intentionally added by the design. Rather, it's a consequence of tolerances that ensure the valve functions as intended.

[Trbo323]

There are two pathways for energy to flow, plus the "off" position. 3 ways

Where is off?

It's either in the front or back position, there is no middle position

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[eclecticdialect]

It's settled then... We'll call it a "switch".

[snaparen]

I call mine a finicky bitch.

[lew]

So, after all that, I think we're back to just calling it a "3-way".😄

[Siress]

I'll call it whatever the listener will understand. There's little chance of changing the "3way" name at this point since it has nearly 40 years of historical use, and no large entity to drive the change.

[russc]

If you consider the two venting sides to effectively vent to the same place, it makes sense as a 4-way valve.

Now, with that said...for paintball context, it's a 3-way valve. Just is.