What’s a Poppet Valve?

Print anything with Printful



Poppet valves regulate fluid flow using a seat-like element that opens and closes. They are used in various industries and engine types, with stems powered by different instigators. The valve design is unique, with two types of poppet valves.

A poppet valve is a mechanism that regulates fluid flow using a unique design consisting of a seat-like element, which opens and closes as the flow demands. Used for a wide variety of applications, poppet valves are mostly used in internal combustion engines. The poppet valve has a distinctive shape resembling a mushroom, rising or falling in a straight line from its seat.

The origin of the term “poppet” has its roots in medieval English. “Poppet” means “doll”, which is similar in meaning to the words “puppet” or “marionette”. The valve works on the same basic principle as a puppet, moving in response to a continuously transmitted remote motion.

The valve design is unique among the wide variety of valves on the market. The poppet itself is a movable device within the valve that regulates and directs the flow of fluid through the valve body. There are two types of poppet valves: a normally closed two-way valve and a normally open two-way valve. In the first, a stem pushes the poppet off its seat to open the allowable amount of flow. In the latter, a stem restricts the flow by pushing the shutter into its seat.

The valve stem is powered by any number of instigators, which vary with different types of poppet valves. Some are automatic, while others require manual activation. Some types of valves involve the use of a piston chamber, which applies pressure to the stem, in turn applying pressure to the plug. Still other designs use a solenoid coil – known as a solenoid poppet – that employs a tightly wound coil to exert force on the stem.

Poppet valves are used by numerous industries to regulate the flow of liquids and gases. When working with semiconductors, experts use an air poppet valve to isolate the sanitary air flow. A poppet check valve, which provides an airtight seal in low pressure environments, is commonly used in water treatment and in the manufacture of car wash and laundry equipment. In the dairy industry, a hydraulic poppet ensures that the milk flows uninterrupted through the necessary mechanisms and containers.

The vast majority of piston engines use poppet valves. The engine applies pressure to the valve through the use of cams, which are connected to the camshaft. The camshaft, in turn, is joined to the crankshaft, which runs at half its maximum speed in a normal four-stroke engine. A four-stroke engine is the typical internal combustion engine used in most cars and trucks.




Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN


Skip to content