Chapter 8: Hydraulic Valves

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the purpose, construction, and operation of various directional control valves.
2. Differentiate among two-way, three-way, and four-way directional control valves.
3. Identify the graphic symbols used for directional, pressure, and flow control valves.
4. Explain how valves are actuated using manual, mechanical, fluid pilot, and electric solenoid
methods.
5. Describe the purpose, construction, and operation of various pressure control valves.
6. Differentiate between a pressure relief valve, a pressure-reducing valve, a sequence valve,
and an unloading valve.
7. Determine the cracking pressure and full pump flow pressure of pressure relief valves.
8. Calculate the power loss in pressure relief and unloading valves.
9. Describe the purpose, construction, and operation of various flow control valves.
10. Analyze how flow control valves can control the speed of hydraulic cylinders.
11. Differentiate between a noncompensated and a compensated flow control valve.
12. Describe the purpose, construction, and operation of mechanicalhydraulic and
electrohydraulic servo valves.
13. Discuss the purpose, construction, and operation of cartridge valves.
What is a valve ?
It is a pneumatic and hydraulic device which is used for control

Basic Types Of Valves

1) directional control valves:

They determine the path through which a fluid traverses a given circuit
Examples:
check valves; shuttle valves; and two-way, three-way, and four-way directional control
valves

2) pressure control valves:

They protect the system against overpressure, which may occur due to excessive actuator
loads or due to the closing of a valve.
Examples:
pressure relief, pressure reducing, sequence, unloading, and counterbalance valves.
 (3) flow control valves.

They are used to control the flow rate of the fluid

Examples:
- Noncompensated flow control valves are used where precise speed control is not
required since flow rate varies with pressure drop across a flow control valve.
- Pressure-compensated flow control valves automatically adjust to changes in pressure
drop to produce a constant flow rate

Valve selection Criteria

 Type of valve
 size, of valve
 actuating technique
 remote-control capability
Example: a welding machine application
Valve description

Ports :. The number of ports on a directional control valve (DCV) is identified

using the term way. Thus, for example, a valve with four ports is a four-way valve.

Positions: this parameter determine flow direction

Methods of actuating manual, air pilot, solenoid

Special features of operation: manual, override.

DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES (DCV)
 Check Valve
o The simplest type of direction control valve is a check valve
o it is a two-way valve because it contains two ports.
o The purpose of a check valve is to permit free flow in one direction and prevent any
flow in the opposite direction

schematic drawings
Graphic Symbol

A poppet is a specially shaped plug element held onto a seat (a surface surrounding the
flow path opening inside the valve body) by a spring.
 Pilot-Operated Check Valve
 it always permits free flow in one direction but permits flow in the normally blocked
opposite direction only if pilot pressure is applied at the pilot pressure port of the valve.
 Its poppet has the pilot piston attached to the threaded poppet stem by a nut. The light
spring holds the poppet seated in a no-flow condition by pushing against the pilot piston.
 The purpose of the separate drain port is to prevent oil from creating a pressure buildup on
the bottom of the piston.
 Pilot check valves are frequently used for locking hydraulic cylinders in position.

Graphic Symbol schematic drawings

The dashed line represents the pilot pressure line connected to the pilot pressure port of
the valve.
 Three-Way Valves

 They contain three ports

 They are typically of the spool design rather than poppet design.
 These valves are designed to operate with two or three unique positions of the spool.
 The spool can be positioned manually, mechanically, by using pilot pressure, or by using
electrical solenoids.

Graphic Symbol
schematic drawings

A spool is a circular shaft containing lands that are large diameter sections machined to
slide in a very close fitting bore of the valve body.
Spool Position 1

Flow can go from pump port P (the port connected to the pump discharge pipe) to outlet
port A as shown by the straight line and arrow in the left envelope. In this spool position,
tank port T (the port connected to the pipe leading to the oil tank) is blocked.
Spool Position 2

Flow can go from port A to port T. Port P is blocked by the spool

Four-Way Valves
It is a a four-way, two-position directional control valve.

Graphic Symbol schematic drawings

Spool Position 1: Flow can go from P to A and B to T.

Spool Position 2: Flow can go from P to B and A to T.
Example :Controlling double-acting cylinder.

Four-way DCV Three-way DCV

Manually Actuated Valves
 Manually actuated, two-position, spring-offset, four-way valve

Graphic Symbol schematic drawings

 Manually actuated, spring-centered, three-position, four-way valve

Graphic Symbol

Since the spool is spring-loaded at both ends, it is a spring-centered, three-position

directional control valve.
when the valve is unactuated (no hand force on lever), the valve will assume its center
position due to the balancing opposing spring forces
 Manually actuated, two-position, spring-offset, four-way valve
Pilot-Actuated Valves
Pilot-Actuated Valves
 This type of valves is to be shifted by applying air pressure against a piston at either
end of the valve spool.
 Such a design is illustrated by the cutaway view of the figure below , springs (located
at both ends of the spool) push against centering washers to center the spool when
no air is applied.
 When air is introduced through the left end passage, its pressure pushes against the
piston to shift the spool to the right.
 Removal of this left end air supply and introduction of air through the right end
passage causes the spool to shift to the left.
Pilot-Actuated Valves

cutaway view
graphic symbol

This is a four-way, three-position, spring-centered, air pilot—actuated directional control

valve. In the graphic symbol in Figure the dashed lines represent pilot pressure lines.
Solenoid-Actuated Valves
 Solenoid-Actuated Valves
What is a solenoid?
Solenoids are actuators that are bolted to the valve housing,.

Operational principle of Solenoid

When the electric coil (solenoid) is energized, it creates a magnetic force that pulls the
armature into the coil. This causes the armature to push on the push pin to move the
spool of the valve.

Types of solenoid designs*

a. air gap solenoid : it simply dissipates the heat to the surrounding air.

b. a wet pin solenoid: the push pin contains an internal passageway that allows tank port oil
to communicate between the housing of the valve and the housing of the solenoid. Wet pin
solenoids do a better job in dissipating heat because the cool oil represents a good heat sink
to absorb the heat from the solenoid. As the oil circulates, the heat is carried into the
hydraulic system where it can be easily dealt with.

Designs used to dissipate the heat created by the electric current flowing in the wire of the
coil
Solenoid-actuated, three-
position, spring-centered, four-
way directional control valve
Operation of solenoid to shift spool of valve
Center Flow Path Configurations for Three-Position. Four-Way Valves

Single solenoid-actuated, four-way, two-position, spring-offset directional control valve

Various center flow paths for three-position, four- way valves
Shuttle Valves
 Shuttle Valves
 A shuttle valve is another type of directional control valve.
 It permits a system to operate from either of two fluid power sources.
 One application is for safety in the event that the main pump can no longer provide
hydraulic power to operate emergency devices.
 The shuttle valve will shift to allow fluid to flow from a secondary backup pump. As shown
it consists of a floating piston that can be shuttled to one side or the other of the valve
depending on which side of the piston has the greater pressure.
 Shuttle valves may be
- spring-loaded in one direction to favor one of the supply sources
- unbiased so that the direction of flow through the valve is determined by circuit
conditions.
 A shuttle valve is essentially a direct-acting double-check valve with a cross-bleed

Shuttle valve (schematic and graphic symbol).

PRESSURE CONTROL VALVES
• Simple Relief Valves
schematic and graphic symbol
Pressure versus flow curve for Relief Valves
Operation

• It is normally a closed valve whose function is to limit the pressure to a specified

maximum value by diverting pump flow back to the tank

• A poppet is held seated inside the valve by the force of a stiff compression spring.
When the system pressure reaches a high enough value, the resulting hydraulic
force exceeds the spring force and the poppet is forced off its seat.

• This permits flow through the outlet to the tank as long as this high pressure level
is maintained. Note the external adjusting screw, which varies the spring force and,
thus, the pressure at which the valve begins to open (cracking pressure)

• The stiffness of the spring (force required to compress the spring 1 in or 1 cm) and
the amount the poppet must open to permit full pump flow determine the
difference between the full pump flow pressure and the cracking pressure
• The stiffness of a spring is called the spring constant and has units of lb/in or N/cm
 Simple circuit ( refer to example 8-1)

a partial hydraulic circuit containing a pump and pressure relief valve, which are drawn
symbolically. If the hydraulic system (not shown) does not accept any flow, then all the
pump flow must return to the tank via the relief valve. The pressure relief valve provides
protection against any overloads experienced by the actuators in the hydraulic system.
Obviously one important function of a pressure relief valve is to limit the force or torque
produced by hydraulic cylinders and motors
• Compound Pressure Relief Valves
 It operates in two stages.
 the pilot stage is located in the upper valve body and contains a pressure limiting poppet
that is held against a seat by an adjustable spring.
 The lower body contains the port connections.
 Diversion of the full pump flow is accomplished by the balanced piston in the lower body.
operation

In normal operation the balanced piston is in hydraulic balance. Pressure at the inlet port
acts under the piston and also on its top because an orifice is drilled through the large
land. For pressures less than the valve setting, the piston is held on its seat by a light
spring. As soon as pressure reaches the setting of the adjustable spring, the poppet is
forced off its seat. This limits the pressure in the upper chamber. The restricted flow
through the orifice and into the upper chamber results in an increase in pressure in the
lower chamber. This causes an unbalance in hydraulic forces, which tends to raise the
piston off its seat. When the pressure difference between the upper and lower chambers
reaches approximately 20 psi, the large piston lifts off its seat to permit flow directly to the
tank. If the flow increases through the valve, the piston lifts farther off its seat. However,
this compresses only the light spring, and hence very little override occurs. Compound
relief valves may be remotely operated by using the outlet port from the chamber above
the piston. For example, this chamber can be vented to the tank via a solenoid directional
control valve. When this valve vents the pressure relief valve to the tank, the 20-psi
pressure in the bottom chamber overcomes the light spring and unloads the pump to the
tank.
External and Cutaway Views of an Actual Compound Relief Valve
Compound Pressure Relief Valve with Integral Solenoid-Actuated, Two-Way Vent Valve

This particular model has its own built-in solenoid –actuated two-way vent valve, which is
located between the cap and body of the main valve.

Manual override of the solenoid return spring is a standard feature.

The pressure relief valve is vented when the solenoid is de-energized and de-vented
when energized.

This relief valve has a maximum flow capacity of 53 gpm and can be adjusted to limit
system pressures up to 5000 psi.

Clockwise lightening of the hex locknut prevents accidental setting changes by use of the
knurled knob.
 Pressure-Reducing Valves

 A second type of pressure control valve is the pressure-reducing valve.

 This type of valve (which is normally open) is used to maintain reduced pressures in
specified locations of hydraulic systems.
 It is actuated by downstream pressure and tends to close as this pressure reaches the
valve setting.
• If downstream pressure is below the valve selling, fluid will flow freely from the inlet to
the outlet.
• Note that there is an internal passageway from the outlet, which transmits outlet
pressure to the spool end opposite the spring.

• When the outlet (downstream) pressure increases to the valve setting, the spool moves to
the right to partially block the outlet port, as shown in (b).
• Just enough flow is passed to the outlet to maintain its preset pressure level.
• If the valve closes completely, leakage past the spool could cause downstream pressure to
build up above the valve setting.
• This is prevented from occurring because a continuous bleed to the tank is permitted via a
separate drain line to the tank.
Unloading Valves
 Operation of Unloading Valves

• The high-flow poppet is controlled by the spring-loaded ball and the pressure applied lo
port A.
• Flow entering at port A is blocked in the poppet at low pressures.

• The pressure signal from A passes through the orifice in the main poppet to the topside
area and on to the ball.
• There is no flow through these sections of the valve until the pressure rises to the
maximum permitted by the adjustably set spring-loaded ball.
• When that occurs, the poppet lifts and flow goes from port A to port B, which is typically
connected to the tank.
• The pressure signal to port X (sustained by another part of the system) acts against the
solid control piston and forces the ball farther off the seat.
• This causes the topside pressure on the main poppet to go to a very low value and
allows flow from A to B with a very low pressure drop as long as signal pressure at X is
maintained.
• The ball reseats, and the main poppet closes with a snap action when the pressure at X
falls to approximately 90% of the maximum pressure setting of the spring-loaded ball.
Sequence Valves
• A sequence valve symbol is similar to a relief valve symbol. The main difference is
that a sequence valve always has an external drain line — and often has a bypass
check valve for reverse flow.

• A sequence valve is a pressure-operated, normally closed, poppet or spool valve

that opens at an adjustable set pressure.

• A sequence valve always has an external drain port to keep from trapping leakage
oil.

• Trapped fluid modifies set pressure at best or keeps the valve from opening at
worst.

• For reverse flow capabilities, use the integral bypass check valve shown in the symbol.
Main idea

• Fluid at the inlet port of the valve cannot pass to the secondary circuit or outlet port,
until reaching set pressure

• Upon reaching set pressure, the valve opens enough to let excess pump flow pass
on to the second operation
• in some circuits the pilot signal to open the valve is from a source other than the
line feeding it.

• An external pilot-operated sequence valve opens and allows flow when a remote
operation reaches a certain pressure.
 It is designed to cause a hydraulic system to operate in a pressure sequence.
 After the components connected to port A have reached the adjusted pressure of the
sequence valve, the valve passes fluid through port B to do additional work in a different
portion of the system.
 The high-flow poppet of the sequence valve is controlled by the spring-loaded cone.
Flow entering at port A is blocked by the poppet at low pressures.

 The pressure signal at A passes through orifices to the topside of the poppet and to the
cone.
 There is no flow through these sections until the pressure rises at A to the maximum
permitted by the adjustably set spring-loaded cone.
 When the pressure at A reaches that value, the main poppet lifts, passing flow to port B.
It maintains the adjusted pressure at port A until the pressure at B rises to the same
value.
 A small pilot flow (about 1/4 gpm) goes through the control piston and past the pilot
cone to the external drain at this time.
 When the pressure at B rises to the pressure at A, the control piston seats and prevents
further pilot flow loss.
 The main poppet opens fully and allows the pressure at A and B to rise to higher values
together. Flow may go either way at this time.
 The spring cavity of the control cone drains externally from port Y, generally to the tank.
 This sequence valve may be remotely controlled from vent port X. .
Flow control valves
Flow control valves are used to regulate the speed of hydraulic cylinders and motors
by controlling the flow rate to these actuators.
They may be as simple as a fixed orifice or an adjustable needle valve.
Needle Valves
 Needle valves are designed to give fine control of flow in small-diameter piping.
 their name is derived from their sharp, pointed conical disk and matching seat.
 It is easy to read and adjust.
 The stem has several color rings, which, in conjunction with a numbered knob, permits
reading of a given valve opening as shown.
 Charts are available that allow quick determination of the controlled flow rate for given
valve settings and pressure drops.
 A locknut prevents unwanted changes in flow.
In English units, the capacity coefficient is defined as the flow rate of water in gpm
that will flow through the valve at a pressure drop of 1 psi. In metric units the capacity
coefficient is defined as the flow rate of water in Lpm (liters per minute) that will flow
through the valve at a pressure drop of 1 kPa. The value C is determined
experimentally for each type of valve in the fully open position and is listed as the
“rated Cv” in manufacturers’ catalogs.

Example 8-5. Example 8-6

Orifice Flow Meter
 Non-Pressure-Compensated Valves

 The non-pressure-compensated type is used where system pressures are relatively

constant and motoring speeds are not too critical.

 They work on the principle that the flow through an orifice will be constant if the
pressure drop remains constant.
Pressure-Compensated Valves
 Pressure compensation will maintain preset flow within 1 to 5% depending on the
basic flow-rate.

 The dial is calibrated for easy and repeatable flow settings.

 Adjustments over the complete valve capacity of 12 gpm are obtained within a 270o
arc.

 A dial key lock prevents tampering with valve settings.
 SERVO VALVES

• A servo valve is a directional control valve that has infinitely variable positioning
capability.

• it can control not only the direction of fluid flow but also the amount.

• Servo valves are coupled with feedback sensing devices, which allow for the very
accurate control of position, velocity, and acceleration of an actuator.
Mechanical-Type Servo Valves
 It is essentially a force amplifier used for positioning control.

 In this design, a small input force shifts the spool of the servo valve to the right by a
specified amount.

 The oil then flows through port p1, retracting the hydraulic cylinder to the right.

 The action of the feedback link shifts the sliding sleeve to the right until it blocks off
the flow to the hydraulic cylinder.

 Thus, a given input motion produces a specific and controlled amount of output
motion.

 Such a system, where the output is led back to modify the input is called a closed-loop
system.

 One of the most common applications of this type of mechanical-hydraulic servo valve
is the hydraulic power steering system of automobiles and other transportation
vehicles.