The invention relates to a controlled three-way proportional valve unit comprising: a valve assembly with two individual valves; an actuating device actuating valves of the valve assembly; and a control unit acting upon the actuating device and having a control signal input, the valves of the valve assembly being designed as poppet valves arranged on opposite sides and having counter-rotatable valve spindles. The valve spindles are prestressed relative each other in opposite directions by a prestressing element such that, when the actuating unit is inactive, a first poppet valve is open and the second poppet valve is closed. The actuating device comprises an actuator common to both poppet valves, acts upon the two valve spindles and changes the position of the valve spindles counter to the effect of the prestressing element.

A shuttle valve includes: a first valve body; a second valve body, a first control-pressure-charged surface and a second control-pressure-charged surface of the first valve body being larger than a third control-pressure-charged surface and a fourth control-pressure-charged surface of the second valve body, a first control pressure from a first inlet pressure port being applied to a first valve body first side, the first control pressure from a second inlet pressure port being applied to a first valve body second side, a second control pressure from a third inlet pressure port being applied to a second valve body first side, the second control pressure from a fourth inlet pressure port being applied to a second valve body second side, a first control pressure acting on a first control-pressure-charged surface and a second control-pressure-charged surface, and the second control pressure acting on a third control-pressure-charged surface and a fourth control-pressure-charged surface.

A spool valve is provided. A valve housing has a pilot fluid passage, and a first portion and a second portion lengthwisely spaced apart from each other. A spool is movably inserted in the valve housing, and includes a plug able to enter the pilot fluid passage between the first portion and the second portion to change a flow area of the pilot fluid passage following movement of the spool. A hydraulic machine provides that when pilot fluid is supplied to the pilot fluid passage through the first portion, at least a portion of the supplied pilot fluid is provided to the holding valve through the second portion. The holding valve allows a flow of working fluid from the first chamber to the spool valve, and the spool moves to a third position to forward working fluid to the second chamber.

A flow passage switching unit includes a valve body in which plural ports are formed, a spool arranged slidably in axial directions in the interior of the valve body, a spool drive unit for driving the spool in an A direction, a biasing mechanism that is configured to bias the spool elastically in the interior of the valve body, and a piston section that exerts a force on the spool in a B direction based on the pressure of a first output port.

A method of controlling an actuator includes switching a primary solenoid valve to a first mode to fluidically connect a supply pressure source to a control chamber of a pilot valve. A fluid from the supply pressure source is directed through the primary solenoid valve to fill the control chamber of the pilot valve and put the pilot valve in a first position. The first position fluidically connects a second chamber of the actuator to a return pressure source. The actuator includes a cylinder between the first chamber and the second chamber and a rod attached to the cylinder. The fluid from the supply pressure source is directed into the first chamber of the actuator to move the cylinder and the rod in a first direction while the pilot valve is in the first position.

[Object] To make it possible to detect, with a single pressure sensor, a malfunction of two solenoid valves for switching flow paths and to quickly and reliably exhaust residual pressure in an air device through a solenoid valve. [Solution] A residual pressure exhaust air circuit 1 includes: a main flow path 9 through which air from an air source 2 is supplied to an air cylinder 100; an exhaust flow path 10 through which air in the air cylinder 100 is exhausted; a first sensor 8 for detecting a malfunction of solenoid valves 12, 13; a detection flow path 11 through which air from the air source 2 is supplied to the first sensor 8; and the two solenoid valves 12, 13 that switch communication states among the main flow path 9, the exhaust flow path 10, and the detection flow path 11. The two solenoid valves 12, 13 are formed of two-position valves having first positions 12a, 13a at the time of OFF and second positions 12b, 13b at the time of ON and are synchronously ON/OFF controlled. When the two solenoid valves 12, 13 do not operate in synchronization with each other, the air from the air source 2 is supplied to the first sensor 8 to detect a malfunction of the two solenoid valves 12, 13, and at the same time, the air in the air cylinder 100 is exhausted through the solenoid valve 12, 13.