Pneumatics: Latch and Release

[FRC1346]

While I cannot find a rule prohibiting this, some answers referring to the intended purpose of the 1/4" tubing as a flow restrictor, and the reply to this question (http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=8152) have left me seeking clarification as to the legality of the following.

A cylinder is fully retracted. A valve opens and the cylinder begins to extend. As the cylinder reaches a set distance, perhaps about 1/3 of the full stroke, it is impeded from opening further by a mechanism (perhaps a latch) on the robot. The pressure in the cylinder rises to the full 60 psi permitted on the working side of the system. At some arbitrary point in time, the latch mechanism is released and the cylinder extends (rapidly) to it's full stroke length. The valve is switched to vent and the cylinder retracts to a fully retracted position.

At no point is the air in the cylinder compressed by anything other than the compressor, and at no point during the stroke of the cylinder is the actuating valve closed, so the pressure in the cylinder cannot exceed the allowable 60 psi.

Thank you on behalf of Team 1346,

Jason

P.S. If this is not allowed, I would suggest making specific reference to it in a team update as I have reason to believe this strategy may form an integral part of the launcher designs of several teams.

P.P.S. If this is a duplicate post, my apologies... the system logged me out, and doesnt' appear to show that my post was received.

[GDC]

There is no rule that would prevent this configuration as described, with the provision that while the piston is being restrained the valve is kept open. This would prevent the situation described in this Q&A answer.