A flow control valve includes a valve body having an inner circumferential surface defining a longitudinal bore to which first and second fluid passages are connected. A spool is slidably inserted into the bore to allow a flow of fluid from the first to second fluid passage. A valve regulates a flow rate of fluid flowing through the first fluid passage. A first seat surface is defined between an area in which the first fluid passage is connected to the bore and an area in which the second fluid passage is connected to the bore. When the flow of fluid from the first to second fluid passage is initiated, an area of a gap between the first seat surface and the spool on a plane taken in a transverse direction is 5%˜50%, preferably 10%˜20% of an area of an opening defined by the first seat surface.

A solenoid flow control valve includes: an inlet passage that allows an inlet port to communicate with a pilot pressure chamber; an outlet passage that allows the pilot pressure chamber to communicate with an outlet port; a fixed restrictor provided on the outlet passage; a pilot spool that closes the inlet passage when a solenoid is in a non-excitation state, whereas when solenoid is in an excitation state, opens inlet passage at an opening degree corresponding to an input current value to generate a pilot pressure corresponding to the input current value in pilot pressure chamber, the pilot spool opening a bypass passage when input current value is less and closes bypass passage when input current value is greater than or equal to the predetermined value; and a main spool that controls a flow rate from inlet to outlet port in accordance with the pilot pressure chamber's pilot pressure.

Methods can comprise charging a first hydraulic device of a first hydraulic circuit with a first quantity of hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid source. The methods can further comprise pressurizing a control segment and locking the first quantity of hydraulic fluid from exiting the first hydraulic circuit in response to hydraulic pressure within the control segment. The methods can also include unlocking the first quantity of hydraulic fluid to permit exiting of the first quantity of hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic device in response to dropping the hydraulic pressure within the control segment after a delay. Hydraulic apparatus can comprise a normally open hydraulic pilot operated control valve that can be configured to hydraulically lock a first hydraulic device in response to a hydraulic pressure within a control segment rising to greater than or equal to an actuation pressure.

The present invention relates to a hydraulic switch arrangement and a fluid switch for incorporating into a hydraulic switch arrangement that may be included in a hydraulic circuit for inhibiting flow of hydraulic fluid through a hydraulic circuit in the event of movement of an apparatus or platform from a stable to an unstable condition. Such platforms or apparatus may include for example, cranes, excavators, teletrucks and forklift trucks and roll over incidents of such machinery is common leading to numerous fatalities. Aspects of the present invention ensure fast switching in the event of a transfer from a stable to an unstable condition.

A control valve assembly for a load handling vehicle such as forklift comprises a valve body having a bore and a spool located within the bore that is axially movable along the bore between at least two operating configurations. The valve body includes a service port connected to a hydraulic actuator, a pressure port connected to a pump, and a tank port connected to a hydraulic tank reservoir. The valve is reconfigurable between first and second operating configurations. In the first operating configuration the spool defines a fluid pathway connecting the pump port, the service port and the tank port such that in a first flow direction fluid is able to flow from the pressure port to the service port and the tank port, and in a second flow direction fluid is able to flow from the service port to the pressure port and the tank port. The spool is also controllable in the first operating configuration to variably restrict flow to the tank port. In the second operating configuration the spool defines a fluid pathway connecting the pressure port and the actuator port, and is controllable to variably restrict flow between the pressure port and the actuator port.

A hydraulic system (1, 50) for a load handling vehicle comprises lifting actuator (2, C1) that operates in a load lifting mode in which a load is induced on the actuator, and a load lowering mode in which the actuator provides hydraulic power PI to the hydraulic system. An auxiliary hydraulic actuator (4, 6, 8, C2) is also provided that has a hydraulic power demand P2. A hydraulic pump (10, 58) directs hydraulic power to the hydraulic lifting actuator and the at least one auxiliary hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic system is configured such that when the hydraulic lifting actuator is in the load lowering mode, it is required to simultaneously actuate the at least one auxiliary hydraulic actuator, and PI is greater than or equal to P2, hydraulic power may be channelled directly to the auxiliary hydraulic actuator from the hydraulic lifting actuator in order that the at least one auxiliary hydraulic actuator is actuated entirely by the hydraulic power from the hydraulic lifting actuator, and without the use of the pump.

The present invention discloses a load-sensing multi-way valve with a variable differential pressure, where each valve group uses a new element: an electro-hydraulic pressure compensation valve, so as to implement continuous real-time adjustment and control of compensated differential pressure and real-time position feedback and monitoring of a compensation valve trim, and overcome a flow mismatch problem of a conventional LS system in a flow saturation working condition and problems of a fixed shunting proportion of an LUDV system and poor operation coordination of actuators. The load-sensing multi-way valve with a variable differential pressure disclosed in the present invention has advantages such as strong working condition applicability, high flow distribution accuracy, and strong technicality.

A hydraulic machine is provided. A first flow control valve directs fluid from a first fluid supply to a first actuator when the first flow control valve is in a first position. A conflux control valve directs fluid from the first fluid supply to a second flow control valve when the conflux control valve is in a conflux position. The second flow control valve directs fluid from a second fluid supply and the first fluid supply to a second actuator when second flow control valve is in a second position. A bypass path allows the first fluid supply to communicate with the conflux control valve by passing around the first flow control valve.

A hydraulic system of a construction machine includes: a pump that supplies hydraulic oil to a hydraulic actuator; a control valve on a center bypass line extending from the pump to a tank, the control valve including a bypass passage; an unloading valve on the center bypass line downstream of the control valve; and a controller that controls the unloading valve. The control valve is configured such that an opening area of the bypass passage is greater than an opening area of the unloading valve while an operation signal outputted from an operation device increases from a predetermined value to a first setting value, and such that the opening area of the bypass passage is less than or equal to ¼ of a maximum opening area of the bypass passage when the operation signal is greater than or equal to a second setting value greater than the first setting value.

A hydromechanical linear converter has a cylinder, a piston unit and a seat valve unit. The cylinder and a piston of the piston unit delimit a hydraulic working chamber, into which a working connection and a further fluid connection open, and has a supply connection 10. The valve unit switches between a first position connecting the supply connection to the fluid connection and a second position blocking the fluid connection from the supply connection. The linear converter includes a valve housing with a valve seat 16, a valve body with a valve head cooperating with the seat, a spring unit preloading the valve body into a position corresponding to the first position and an electromagnetic actuator 14 acting on the valve body 12 by purely mechanical action, to move the valve body against the force of the spring unit into a position corresponding to the second switching position.