Figure 3 below is a common example, but there are additional spool designs. Depending on the spool design, ports can be open, closed, or connected to certain inputs/outputs. It is the most common type of valve used in hydraulic circuits. Valve design 4/3-way valveĪ 4/3-way valve has 4 ports and 3 positions. This sliding of the spool opens, closes or changes port connections, which alters the direction of the flow. When solenoid Y is actuated, the spool slides towards the right. When the solenoid X is actuated, the spool is pulled towards the left by the electromagnetic force. P is the pressure port, A and B are working ports and T is the return port. In the 4/3-way valve hydraulic valve in above, 4 represents the number of ports and 3 represents the number of positions. The directional valves are generally represented by the number of ports and number of switching positions. The land blocks the flow while the groove allows the flow through the valve.įigure 2: Components of a 4/3-way hydraulic solenoid valve: spool (Z), solenoid on either side (X and Y), and ports (T, A, P, B) The valve consists of a cylindrical spool (Z) with land (larger diameter) and grooves (smaller diameter). The valve uses solenoids (X and Y) on either side of the valve for actuation as seen in the figure below. The hydraulic solenoid valve is a directional control valve widely used in hydraulic systems to change, allow or restrict the flow of liquid. We discuss only the hydraulic applications for the purpose of this article. These valves are most commonly used in hydraulic and pneumatic systems. The directional control valves are designed to start, stop or change the direction of the fluid flow. Points of attention & selection criteria.Hydraulic Solenoid Valve Online Selection Table of Contents Figure 1 is an example of a hydraulic solenoid valve. Hydraulic solenoid valves are widely used in industries like manufacturing, aerospace, construction and many others that require hydraulic systems. The spool is the cylindrical component which serves the function of the valve by either blocking or allowing the flow of liquid through these ports, depending upon its position. The solenoid is used for sliding the spool within the valve, opening or closing the ports. The valve consists of various chambers also called ports. The valve operates with a solenoid, which is an electric coil wound around a ferromagnetic core at its center. Classical applications can be found in medicine and analysis technology.Figure 1: 4/3-way hydraulic solenoid valveĪ hydraulic solenoid valve is a solenoid controlled directional valve used in a hydraulic system for opening, closing or changing the direction of flow of the liquid. In the field of pneumatics, proportional valves are usually used when it comes to regulating the flow rates of gases. These requirements explain the wide range of applications in the field of proportional valves and technology. However, smooth, flexible and consistently reasonable movements of machines and applications can only be achieved if power and speed processes can be regulated continuously. In areas where manually operated valves were formerly implemented in order to control the movements of hydraulically driven machines (such as diggers, concrete pumps, agricultural devices), today’s increasing complexity and the desire to automate processes call for an electrical control of the valves. Regarding hydraulics, it can be stated that proportional valves are used for controlling cylinders and engines. However, also in pneumatics, proportional valves find more and more implementation. The main areas of implementation are, due to a high energy density, hydraulic applications.