Directional Control Valves

Hydraulic fluid may have the power to efficiently — and literally — move mountains, but it is really not very smart. Especially when it's under pressure.

Pushed by the pump (OEM, February) and with only hoses and tubes (May) for direction, the fluid cannot be expected to make good decisions as it travels through a machine. It will pick the easiest route, going where it gets the least resistance — like it or not. When directional control valves are placed in the system, the operator can finally manage the fluid and have it function as needed.

Directional control valves are critical and they come in many forms. A valve's flow-directing elements may be spools, poppets or plungers. Designs for the valve operators, which produce the force to move the valve, are migrating from manual systems to electrohydraulic systems. The latter allows the operator to interface with the hydraulic system at a distance. If still more room is required for improved safety or efficiency, directional control valves are operated via radio control.

Trends for directionals

Anthony J. Welter is product manager, global lead for mobile valves at Eaton's Hydraulics Operations in Eden Prairie, MN. He sees four major trends in directional controls:

1. Electrohydraulic control: Customers are going from manual or hydraulic pilot control to electrohydraulics. CAN bus control is also a high priority for many of our customers as it reduces the amount of wiring and provides a communication channel for diagnostics. The electrohydraulic migration has enabled enhanced functionality improving control and productivity, while reducing operator fatigue.
2. Reduced parasitic losses: The wider adoption and advancement of closed-center load sense systems has improved the efficiency of the hydraulic system which results in reduced fuel consumption. In addition, better analytic tools like computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and control modeling tools have enabled engineers to develop more efficient solutions that reduce throttling losses around meter surfaces and provide for better overall control.
3. Increased performance: Whether it's increased response, fine implement control, or overall stability, vehicle manufactures are demanding these features to help differentiate their vehicles over their competition.
4. Flexibility: Manufacturers are developing more customized machines focused on specific markets and are launching new products faster. These factors require greater flexibility to tune performance or quickly apply the valves into customized solutions.

Better control, functionality

There has been a steady improvement in directional spool control valve technology. Flow accuracy with electrohydraulic valves has improved significantly. "This has been enabled by a myriad of electronic spool position control technologies which include stepper motors, pressure reducing valves and full closed-loop controls using LVDT (linear variable differential transformer) position sensors," says Joe Pfaff, director of INCOVA programs, HUSCO Intl., Waukesha, WI. "Spool control has also advanced by improvements in the pressure compensation mechanisms to provide smoother operation. Additionally, flow regeneration is increasingly being added to spool controls to improve efficiency."

Application-specific valves have become more popular. These solutions often integrate hardware into the control valve to optimize machine performance and reduce cost, plumbing and installation time. For example, Parker has a monobloc valve designed specifically for wheel loaders.

"Also, it's quite common for Parker to integrate a manifold with cartridges and/or industrial type directional control valves into a standard sectional control valve," says Ed Moore, mobile market manager, Parker Hannifin. "We have the expertise to design and supply these types of systems. This capability offers excellent potential for cost reduction."