A directional control valve having low or no interflow, minimal parts, and configured for easy repair, is provided. In one embodiment, a seat is slidingly sealably movable with respect to opposed plates, such that an inlet in one of the plates communicates with an internal volume of the seat, and by selectively positioning the seat with respect to one or more outlets in a second of the opposed plates, the inlet can be placed in communication with an outlet, or isolated from the one or more outlets.

A hydraulic valve includes a valve body having first and second ends, a bore extending therebetween, and first and second drain passages opening to the bore; a spool disposed in the bore and biased in a neutral position, the spool having first and second ends and first and second annuli axially spaced from the first and second ends respectively, whereby when the spool is in the neutral position, the first and second drain passages are connected to first and second bores respectively via the respective annulus, and wherein the spool is axially movable relative to the body by fluid acting on one of the ends to block fluid flow from the first and second bores to the first and second drain passages.

A pilot-operated spool valve includes a body defining a bore. A supply port and a load port are in fluid communication with the bore. A spool is disposed in the longitudinal bore, and the spool and the body cooperate to define a command chamber at a first end of the spool, which command chamber is adapted to receive fluid at a command pressure supplied to the body. The spool is movable in the bore to control fluid communication between the supply port and the load port. A pressure space is defined in at least one of the body and the spool between the command chamber and both of the supply port and the load port in all operative positions of the spool. The pressure space is supplied with pressurized fluid such that leakage from the command chamber is minimized or eliminated.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an apparatus that includes a valve with a valve housing having an axial bore, a first inlet port, a first outlet port, and a piston located within the axial bore and having a first fluid passage and configured to allow reciprocal axial movement of the piston within the axial bore between a first position in which the first fluid passage aligns axially with the first inlet port and the first outlet port to form a first fluidic circuit, and a second position in which the piston blocks at least one of the first inlet port and the first outlet port. The apparatus also includes a lockout assembly configurable to fix the piston into a selected position in a first configuration, and not interfere with reciprocal axial movement of the piston in a second configuration.

A combined pilot valve mechanism and a shower system are applied with the combined pilot valve mechanism. By switching to close the control hole, the first water diversion hole or the second water diversion hole to control the pressures of the pressure cavity, the valve spool is driven to move to alternately close the first outlet or the second outlet, so that the inlet waterway is switched to connect to the first outlet waterway, the first water diversion hole or the second water diversion hole. As the shower system is applied with a combined pilot valve mechanism, which utilizes the control hole to switch the waterways, thus preventing the main pipe from great water pressure. The diameter of the control hole can be smaller, so that the water pressure of the button mechanism can be ignored, only friction and light elastic force of the spring exist.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for a valve assembly are provided. The valve assembly includes an upper sleeve, a lower sleeve, and a poppet. The lower sleeve is coupled to the upper sleeve. The lower sleeve includes a bottom face, a side, a supply port, and a pilot port. The supply port extends through the side of the lower sleeve. The pilot port extends through the bottom face of the lower sleeve. The poppet is operable between a first position and a second position. The poppet is contained between the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve. The poppet includes a first end, a second end, a side, a central cavity, and a hydraulic port. The second end is spaced from the first end, the side is adjacent one of the first end and the second end. The central cavity extends from the first end of the poppet towards the second end of the poppet. The hydraulic port extends from the side of the poppet into the central cavity. The hydraulic port is configured to receive hydraulic fluid at a first flow rate from the supply port and to supply hydraulic fluid to the central cavity at a second flow rate less than the first flow rate.

A mechanism for implementing a delay in a directional control valve in the movement of a valve spool within a valve body from a first position of the spool to a second position of the spool.

A pilot valve switch mechanism and combined shower applied with the pilot valve switch mechanism includes a fixed portion and a valve spool. The fixed portion includes an inlet waterway, a first outlet waterway, a second outlet waterway and a control hole capable to connect to the outlet waterways. The first outlet waterway has a first outlet. The second outlet waterway has a second outlet. The valve spool is slidably assembled inside the fixed portion along the inlet waterway, with a slim hole connected to the inlet waterway. The valve spool and the fixed portion form a pressure cavity, which is connected to the control hole and the slim hole. The control hole controls the water pressure of the pressure cavity to drive the valve spool to close the first or second outlet, connecting the inlet waterway to the first or second outlet waterway. The control hole switches the waterways.

A pilot valve switch mechanism of a shower system includes a fixed portion and a valve spool. The fixed portion is has an inlet waterway, a first and second outlet waterway and a control hole that can connect to the outlet waterways. The first outlet waterway has a first outlet and the second outlet waterway has a second outlet. The valve spool is slidably assembled inside the fixed portion vertically to the inlet waterway, and has a slim hole connected to the inlet waterway. The valve spool and the fixed portion form a pressure cavity. The control hole and the slim hole are connected to the pressure cavity. The pressure cavity is controlled by the control hole to drive the valve spool to move along the inlet waterway to close the first or second outlet, switching the inlet waterway to connect to the first or second outlet waterway.

A valve for a well system including a valve housing including a first housing port, a second housing port, and a bore, a piston received in the bore and including a first end, a second end, and an annular flange including a first annular surface and a second annular surface both of which are in fluid communication with the second housing port, a piston seal disposed in the outer surface of the piston and in sealing engagement with an inner surface of the bore, and a cage assembly that includes a cage including a bore, a first cage port, a second cage port, and a third cage port, and a spool disposed in the cage and coupled to the piston, the spool including a throughbore.