Hydraulic symbols:

Upon completing this topic, you will be able to identify the ISO symbols for hydraulic
components such as lines & connections, tanks, accumulators, coolers, filters, pumps,
valves, actuators.

Line Symbols:
The symbols for different types of hydraulic lines are shown below.

Some common ways to represent crossing and joining lines are represented by the
following sets of symbols.

When interpreting crossing or joining lines, remember that the particular symbols will be
used in sets. The use of a particular symbol will always be consistent within any given
schematic.
The same symbol will never represent two different purposes within one drawing.

Tanks:
Some schematics may show
pressurized tanks as a closed box.

Although most hydraulic systems have

only one tank, the tank symbol may be
used several times on one schematic
to reduce complexity.

The symbols for simplified and

pressurized tanks are shown below.
Accumulators Symbols:
The basic symbol for an accumulator is shown below.
Internal symbols shown on the bottom row may be added to indicate the type of
accumulator.

Basic symbol for

Accumulator

The open triangle in the gas-charged accumulator represents the direction of pneumatic
energy.

Fluid Conditioners:
Fluid conditioner symbols are shown below.

Fluid conditioner Oil filter Oil cooler

Pumps and Motors:

The basic ISO Triangles may be added Triangles that point Triangles that point
symbol for a pump to the basic symbol to outward indicate a inward indicate a
or motor is a circle indicate direction of fluid pump motor
or energy flow
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Single acting fixed displacement Single acting fixed displacement
pump motor
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Double acting fixed displacement Double acting fixed displacement
pump motor

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Double acting variable Double acting variable
displacement pump displacement motor

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Single acting variable Single acting variable displacement
displacement pump motor
Valves:

The basic ISO symbol for Directional-control selector valves are usually shown as
a valve is a box, or multiple envelopes, with the number of envelopes
envelope representing the number of valve positions

Short lines drawn perpendicular to the

envelope indicate external port connections

Ports are sometimes labeled:

T means "tank"
P means "pump"
A and B signify working ports

An arrow inside the envelope The inside arrows also indicate the valve's
indicates direction of flow normal (or "hold") position

Normally Normally
open closed

Three basic types of valves:

Flow control valves Pressure control valves Directional control valves

Flow control valve:

Basic ISO symbol for flow control valve is given bellow. Two curved lines on either side of the
straight line indicate a restriction or orifice. A diagonal arrow indicates that the orifice is variable.

Pressure-Compensated Flow Control Valve:

This is the ISO symbol for a pressure compensated flow control

valve. There are two pilot-sensing lines (shown here as dashed
lines). The downstream pilot line is working with the spring to keep
the valve closed. The other pilot line senses upstream pressure and
is working to open the valve. The valve maintains constant flow by
maintaining a constant pressure drop across the orifice. Excess flow
is dumped into the tank.
 Sometimes this simplified ISO symbol is commonly used
in place of the more complex diagram

Check valves:

The basic symbol for a check valve is a ball and seat;

normal flow from left to right unseats the ball, but flow
from right to left is blocked
Many check valves are equipped with springs to help
keep the ball seated

Pilot operated check valve

Double Check Valve:

Some check valves work in two directions. They are called double check valves, shuttle
valves, or resolvers.
This valve symbol shows that the highest pressure
from circuit A or B is allowed to pass to circuit C.

Some Caterpillar schematics show a shuttle valve

symbol as you see it here.

Pressure control valve:

Simple relief valve
The symbol for a simple relief valve is a ball, a seat,
and a spring that acts against system pressure

Pilot operated relief valve

The symbol for a pilot operated relief valve shows a
single valve envelope that is normally closed to flow.
System pressure is sensed through a pilot line and
works against a spring. The diagonal arrow on the
spring indicates that the spring force can be varied.
Pressure-Reducing Valve
The symbol for a pressure reducing valve resembles a pilot-
operated relief valve;
Differences: a pressure-reducing valve is "normally open" and
the pilot line senses downstream instead of upstream pressure

Pressure Differential Valve:

The pressure differential valve has two pilot lines, .with one
sensing upstream pressure and working against the spring,
while the other pilot line senses downstream pressure and
works with the spring
Directional Control Valves:

This ISO symbol represents an open-center control valve; in

the normal position, flow from the pump returns to tank and
both work ports are blocked.

The right-hand envelope in this open-center control valve

indicates the valve position that sends pump flow to work port
“B” and flow from work port “A” back to tank. Adding parallel
lines to either side of a valve symbol indicates that the valve
is capable of infinite positioning between certain limits

This ISO symbol represents a closed-center directional

control valve; in the neutral or "hold" position, all four ports
are blocked.

A symbol added to the side of a directional control valve

indicates the way in which the valve is operated; this valve is
manually operated.

The addition of a spring symbol to both sides of the directional

control valve indicates that the valve is spring-centered and
automatically returns to the hold position when the operator
releases the lever or deactivates a solenoid.

Shown below are some other symbols for some common, manually controlled mechanisms.

Spring Manual Push pull lever Pedal or treadle Mechanical

Detent Solenoid Pilot pressure Pilot pressure

(single winding) Direct operated Indirect operated

Combination Controls:
Sometimes, more than one valve is controlled by the same device (e.g., the joystick control for
excavator operation). Schematics may show these controls like they are shown below.

Valve
open Valve
operated
Cylinder:

The basic ISO symbol for a cylinder is a rectangle

representing the cylinder barrel, and a T-shape representing
the cylinder and rod.

The single-acting cylinder shows a single port, and the end of

the symbol (opposite the port) is left open to indicate the
cylinder is vented.

The double-acting cylinder has two ports, which indicate that

flow moves the cylinder in both directions.

The double-rodded cylinder is represented in this graphic.

The symbol for telescoping cylinders indicates the number of

rods the cylinder has.

This is the single-acting telescoping cylinder symbol, with a

single port and an open rod.

The double-acting telescoping cylinder symbol shows two

ports and the rod ends are closed.

Some other important symbols:

Pressure gauge Temperature gauge Enclosure (assembly unit)

Engine Electric motor Pressure switch

Quick connect test port Plug connection Fixed orifice Variable orifice

Flexible hose
Type of ports connected at neutral position: