MEM 341

FLUID POWER
TECHNOLOGY
LECTURER: KAMARIAH MD ISA, PhD
Phone Number: 012-6599337
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 5: CONTROL VALVES
5.0 Control Valves 5.1 Directional Control
Valves

5.2 Pressure Control 5.3 Flow Control

Valves Valves
 LEARNING OUTCOME

After completing these chapter, the student should

be able to:
1. Identify the various types of valves.
2. Describe the functions of each type of valves.
5.0
Control Valves

If pump is considered the heart for a

hydraulic system, then control valves can
be considered the brains of the system
 Introduction
• Device that allowed hydraulic systems to produce the type of motion or force level
required to complete the functions expected in the hydraulic system/circuit.
• This is done by using the control valves to regulate the fluid flow in the system in
terms of direction, pressure, and flow rate.
• Have different sizes, shapes, designs, methods of actuating and remote control
capability.
• valves are divided into 3 types:
i. Directional Control Valves
ii. Pressure Control Valves
iii. Flow Control Valves
Controlling the system
 Shut-off/two-way Valve

Check Valve

Shuttle Valve
Directional Control
Valve Three-way Valve

Determines the Four-way Valve

path through
which a fluid
travels in a system Pressure Relief Valve

Pressure Safety Valve

Control Valves

Pressure Control Pressure Sequence Valve

Valve
Protects the Pressure Counterbalance
system against valve
overpressure
Pressure Unloading valve

Pressure Reducing valve

Flow Valve
Flow Control
Valve Throttle Valve

Controls the flow rate in the system

2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)
• Used to provide directional control over fluid flow.
• Determine the path through which fluid will travel within a given
circuit. Also can be used to starting or stopping actuator or motor.
• 5 general classifications of DCV are:

Directional control valves

2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV) (CONT’D)
• Any valve contains ports that are
external openings through which fluid
can enter and leave via connecting
pipelines.

• The number of ports on DCV is identified

using the term way.

• Ex: a valve with four ports is a four way

valve.
2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)(CONT’D)
i. SHUT-OFF or TWO-WAY VALVES
• The primary purpose of shut-off valves is to block fluid flow
through a hydraulic system line, for example globe valves, and
needle valve.

Shut-off
valve symbol
Needle Valve
Globe Valve
2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)(CONT’D)
ii. CHECK VALVES

• The primary purpose of check valves is to allow free flow in one

direction while preventing reverse flow.

• Other functions include:

❖ Bypassing components during the return cycle of the system
❖ Providing flow resistance to maintain a minimum system pressure required
for pilot operations

• A standard check valve consists of a valve body containing a

one-way valve located between inlet and outlet ports
❖ The one-way valve allows fluid flow through the valve in only one direction
❖ Some designs contain a spring that seats the valve poppet or ball
2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)(CONT’D)
ii. CHECK VALVES

Check valve
symbol
2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)(CONT’D)
iii. SHUTTLE VALVES

• It permits a system to operate from either of two fluid power sources.

• Consists a floating piston that can be shuttled to one side or the other of
the valve depending on which side the piston has the greater pressure.

Symbol of
shuttle valve
THREE-WAY VALVES
• Three-way directional control valves provide a means to extend rams and single-
acting cylinders.
• Three-way directional control valves are typically
manufactured as two-position valves
• The actuator is returned to its original position by an external force:
• System load, or
• Spring built into the actuator

Three-way Valve symbol Three-way Valve

Operation for a Three-way Valve

• During extension, the three-way valve connects the actuator

inlet line to a system supply line, allowing fluid to enter and
extend the unit
• During retraction, the valve blocks the supply line and connects
the actuator line to a system return line, allowing external force to
return the actuator to its original position while directing displaced
fluid to the reservoir
FOUR-WAY VALVES
• Four-way directional control valves provide a means to power actuators in
either direction.
❖ Valve has four external ports for connection to system supply line, reservoir,
and inlet and outlet of the actuator
❖ Internal structure of the valve allows the ports to be alternately connected when
a change in actuator direction is necessary
❖ Four-way directional control valves are typically manufactured as two- or
three-position valves
❖ This provides several operating options when
designing circuits

Four-way
Valve symbol
Operation for a Four-way Valve

• In two-position valves, the first position 2/4 DCV

operates the actuator in one direction,
while the second position reverses the
direction

• In three-position valves, a center

position is added that provides 3/4 DCV
additional circuit operating characteristics
2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)(CONT’D)

• A number of center position configurations are available:

• The center position

affects directional
control
characteristics and
overall system
efficiency
• Each style provides
distinct operating
characteristics that
allow hydraulic
Center Position Configuration system designers
to obtain maximum
performance from a
system
 2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)(CONT’D)

● Each square box requires ports. Ports are passages/holes drilled

through a control valve to which fluid passes through.
T B

P A

A P

● Must have at least 2 ports

● Ports are represented using inverted T’s
2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)(CONT’D)

• DCV are represented using square boxes.

• Each square box represents the position - i.e. Number of boxes

in the figure specifies the number of valve operating positions.

Position 1 Position 2 Position 3

2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)(CONT’D)

● Arrows inside a square indicates the direction of fluid flow.

● Normally control valves with more than 1 position, includes

springs at either one or both ends of the control valves.
● The purpose of springs is to return the control valve to its
original position.
2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)( CONT’D)
Activation methods of Directional Control Valves

Pilot

Pilo
t

Activation Methods of
Directional Control Valve
 Activation Method for DCV (> 1 position)

Method Description Representation

Manual ✓ Used when the opening and closing of the valve must
occur at aspecific position in actuator travel.
✓ Example: Push button, lever, pedal.

Pilot ✓ Uses system pressure to activate the valve, rather than

physical
labour
✓ This method is effective when:
i. Larger forces are need to shift the valve
ii.Remote operation is required because of safety or
tight
Solenoid ✓ Solenoid control of hydraulic systems is common in
many types of equipment
✓ Consist of energized electric coils used to shift the
position of the valves
✓ Electronic controllers operate proportional solenoid
valves to produce extreme accuracy and repeatability
2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)(CONT’D)
➢ Mechanical Operated

 Mechanical operation is often used when the opening and closing of the valve must
occur at a specific position in actuator travel.

4/2 spring offsetDCV

2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV) (CONT’D)

4/3 spring offsetpush-button DCV

OR

Circuit containing a mechanically actuated Directional Control Valve

 2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV) (CONT’D)
➢ Pilot Operated

- Pilot operation uses system pressure to activate the valve, rather than physical labor

- This method is effective when:

i. Larger forces are need to shift the valve

ii. Remote operation is required because of safety

or tight physical factors

Pilot Activation
Method
 2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)(CONT’D)
➢ Solenoid Operated

- Solenoid control of hydraulic systems is common in many types of equipment

i.Simple solenoid devices to shift basic valves
ii.Electronic controllers operate proportional solenoid valves to produce extreme accuracy
and repeatability
2. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)(CONT’D)

4/2, mechanically operated,

spring return DCV 3/2, pilot operated, spring
return DCV

4/3, mechanically operated, spring 5/2, solenoid operated,

return DCV spring return DCV
 PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES (PCV)(1/12)
Pressure control valves may be grouped into one
of five types:
1) System maximum pressure control
i. Pressure Relief Valve
2) Actuator sequence control
ii. Pressure Sequence Valve
3) Restrained movement control
iii. Pressure Counterbalance Valve
4) Pump unloading control
iv. Pressure Unloading Valve
5) Reduced pressure control
v. Pressure Reducing Valve
 PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES (PCV)(2/12)

● Protect the system from damage due to excessive pressure

● It has sequence motion
● Limit pressure in selected sections of a circuit
● Can be divided in four groups according to their functions.

A system pressure control valve

PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES (PCV)(3/12)
Can be divided in 4 groups according to their functions.
PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES (PCV)(4/12)

• Pressure control valves can be either normally open or

normally closed valves

Normally open or closed

PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES (PCV)(5/12)
➢ Pressure Relief Valve

- Used to protect the hydraulic system from pressure

overload, also called a safety valve
 PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES (PCV)(6/12)
➢ Pressure Sequence Valve

 Used to release the flow to a further hydraulic system when a certain

pressure is reached in the main system.

 Sequence valves, counter balance valves, unloading valves.

PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES (PCV)(7/12)

A circuit containinga Pressure Sequence Valve

PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES (PCV)(8/12)
➢ Pressure Cut-off Valve
➢ Used to block the flow to a further
hydraulic system when a certain pressure
is reached in the main system.
➢ 2 types of Pressure Cut-off Valve:
○ Unloading valves
○ Counterbalance valve
PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES (PCV)(9/12)
i. Unloading valves

Used to permit a pump to build pressure to an adjustable pressure setting and

then allow it to discharge oil to the tank at essentially zero pressure.

ii. Counterbalance valve

Used to maintain control of a vertical hydraulic cylinder to prevent it

from descending due to the weight of its external load.
PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES (PCV)(10/12)

A circuit containing a Counterbalance Valve

PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES (PCV)(11/12)
➢Pressure Reducing valves

- Used to keep a certain part of the hydraulic system at a lower

pressure.
PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES (PCV)(12/12)

A circuit containing a Pressure ReducingValve

SUMMARY OF PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE
 FLOW CONTROL VALVES (FCV)
● Used to regulate the speed of hydraulic cylinders and
motors by controlling the flow rate.
● Design of flow control valve may be simple as a fixed
orifice meter or an adjustable needle valve.
● Needle valves are designed to give fine control of flow
in small-diameter piping.

Non-pressure
 FLOW CONTROL VALVES (FCV)
Basic type of Flow Non-Pressure -Compensated Pressure -Compensated
Control Valves
Functions • Used when system pressure is relatively constant • Used when load on an
and motoring speeds are not too critical. actuator changes significantly
• Flow rate through a non-pressure-
• Work on the principle that the flow through an
compensated valve will change for the
orifice will be constant if the pressure drop remains
same flow rate setting
constant.
• Design shown also includes a check valve, which
permits free flow in the direction opposite to the flow
control direction

Figures
Thanks!
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