DID YOU KNOW…?

Hydraulic valves work by controlling the flow, pressure, and direction of hydraulic fluid in a system, typically using mechanical, electrical, or pneumatic inputs to open, close, or adjust valve positions. Hydraulic valves control the flow of high-pressure fluid through intricate internal paths, with inputs that cause mechanical or electrical elements to move, guiding the fluid in desired ways. They enable precise operation and control over hydraulic systems for tasks like lifting, pushing, and rotating.

There are many kinds of valves used in hydraulic systems with different uses for a variety of applications including…

Flow Control Valves

Flow control valves regulate the speed of actuators by adjusting the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the system. There are different types of flow control valves, but they generally work by adjusting the size of the valve opening:

Manual Valves: The operator turns a knob or handle to adjust the size of the valve opening, thereby controlling the flow.
Pressure-Compensated Valves: These automatically adjust the valve opening based on changes in system pressure, maintaining a constant flow rate regardless of pressure variations.

Pressure Control Valves

Pressure control valves ensure that the system operates at a safe and efficient pressure level. There are different types of pressure control valves, each with a specific function including:

Relief Valves: These open to allow fluid to escape when pressure exceeds a preset limit, protecting the system from overpressure damage.
Pressure-Reducing Valves: These reduce the pressure in a specific part of the system by throttling flow, ensuring that downstream components receive fluid at the correct pressure.
Sequence Valves: These allow fluid to flow to different parts of the system in a specific order, based on pressure. For example, they can make one actuator operate before another.

Directional Control Valves

Directional control valves dictate the path the hydraulic fluid takes within the system, determining which actuator (cylinder, motor, etc.) receives the fluid and in which direction it flows.

Spool Valves: The most common type of directional valve. A movable spool inside the valve body shifts to open or close different flow paths. The position of the spool is controlled manually (lever), electrically (solenoid), or pneumatically.
Check Valves: These allow fluid to flow in only one direction, preventing reverse flow.
Solenoid-Operated Valves: In these valves, an electric current energizes a solenoid, moving the spool to change the direction of the flow.

Talk to the experts from our Industrial team to find the right valve solution to suit your application from our extensive range of these and many other styles of valves for hydraulic systems.