Chapter 5 Directional Control Valves

Learning Objectives: The purpose of this chapter is to describe: 1. Operation of directional control valves. 2. Check valves, shuttle valves and sliding spool valves. 3. Center positions in three-position, four-way valves. 4. Applications of directional control valves. Upon completing this chapter, you should be able to: Explain the operation of the various types of directional control valves. Understand position, way and center position of a sliding spool valve.

Chapter 5 Directional Control Valves

Directional control valves are designed to divert flow from one location to another or to stop it. 5.1 Check Valve A check valve allows flow in one direction, but blocks flow in the opposite direction.
valve seat inlet P 1 ball bias spring body outlet P 2 inlet P 1 outlet P 2

(a)
Figure 5-1 Inline check valve

(b)

(a) Construction.(b) Graphic symbol

Chapter 5 Directional Control Valves

bias spring

poppet

valve seat body

inlet P 1 Figure 5-2

outlet P 2

Poppet check valve

Chapter 5 Directional Control Valves

Because of good opposite direction seal performance the check valve is widely used in various machines

bias spring poppet valve seat inlet P 1

This type of check valve always permits free in one direction but permits flow in the opposite only if pilot pressure is applied at the pilot pressure port K of the valve .
outlet P 2 outlet P 2

body pilot piston pilot pressure port K

pilot pressure port K Figure 5-3

inlet P 1

(b)

(a)

Pilot-operated check valve (a) Construction. (b) Graphic sym bol

When flow is directed to Port P2 and pilot pressure is high enough to exert sufficient force over the pilot piston to overcome the combined force of systematic pressure exerted on the poppet and the spring force, then reverse flow will occur.

5.2 Shuttle Valve A shuttle valve allows two alternate flow sources to be connected to one branch circuit
body A ball A

P A

(a) P

(b) P

(c) Figure 5-5 Shuttle valve (a) P higher than P (b) P higher than P (c) Graphic symbol

5.3 Sliding Spool Valves

Most directional control valves use a sliding spool to change the path of flow through the valve.

Position For a given position of the spool, a unique flow path configuration exists within the valve. Way: The number of ways refers to the number of ports in the valve. Normal/Neutral/center position: The spool is not actuated

5.3.1 Two-way directional control valves

valve body spool land

spool

P (a)

A (b)

P (c)
Figure 5-6 Two-way, two-position normally closed directional control valve. (a) Valve in the normal position (b) Valve actuated (c) Complete graphic symbol

5.3.2 T hree-way directional control valves

spring

spool land spool valve body

A (a)

A (b)

PT (c)
Figure 5-8 Three-way, two-position normally closed directional control valve. (a) Valve in the normal position (b) Valve actuated (c) Complete graphic symbol

5.3.3 Four-way directional control valves

spring

spool land

spool

valve body

P (a)

A T

AB

P (b)

A T

P T (c) Figure 5-10 Four-way, two-position directional control valve. (a) Valve in the normal position.(b) Valve actuated. (c) Complete graphic symbol.

4-way, 3-position directional control valves

AB

P T AB

AB

P T AB

P T B T

P T

5.3.4 Center positions in three-position, four-way valves

AB AB

P T AB

T(T1) A P o pen center

B T(T2)

P T AB

B T(T2) T(T1) A P pressure closed;A & B open to tank

B T(T2) T(T1) A P P T pressure andB closed; A open to tank AB

B T(T2) T(T1) A P P T B closed; pressure open to tank through A AB

P T

B T(T2) T(T1) A P B T(T2) T(T1) A P P T tandem closed center--all ports closed Figure 5-12 Various center flow paths for three-position,four-way valve

The open-center type connects all ports together. The pump flow can return directly back to the tank at essentially atmospheric pressure, little horsepower is consumed. The actuator(cylinder or motor) can be moved freely by applying an external force. The closed-center design has all ports blocked. The pump flow can be used for other circuit. The actuator is hydraulically locked. This means it cannot be moved by the application of an external force. The tandem design also results in a locked actuator. It also unloads the pump at essentially atmospheric pressure.

5.4 direction Control Valve Actuation

5.4.1 Manually-actuated valve

spring

body

A spool

hand lever

A B

P T (a)
Figure 5-13

(b)

Manually actuated, spring-centered, three-position, four-way valve (a) Construction (b) Complete graphic symbol

5.4.2 Mechanically-actuated valve

cam

roller body

spring

a
A

(a)

(b)

Figure 5-14 Mechanically-actuated two-way valve (a) Construction (b) Complete graphic symbol

5.4.3 Pilot-actuated valve

spring body T A P B T spool

K1 K1

(a) A B

K2 K2

P T (b)
Figure 5-15 Oil pilot-actuated four-way valve (a) Construction (b) Complete graphic symbol

5.4.4 Solenoid-actuated valve

armature coil

spool

push rod

Figure 5-16 Operation of solenoid to shift spool of valve.

solenoid

spool

spring

coil

armature

Figure 5-17 Solenoid-actuated directional control valve.

5.4.5 Combination actuvation

piloting valve

Pilot pressure

K1 A K1 K' T1 K" P T (c) B AB

T1

A1 A3

A2

AB K1 T1 P T (b) L

T L

(a)

Main valve

Figure 5-19 Piggy-back directional control package. (a) Construction (b) Complete graphic symbol