Making the Most of Hydraulic Valves

Match the hydraulic valves to the application

By Marjorie Gilbert

Hydraulic valves come in more than one configuration, and you can use them in many applications. Manufacturers design them to have free flow in one direction. A block, which can be electric, prevents flow in the other direction and provides leakage control.

Making the most of hydraulic valves means matching the hydraulic valve to the application. The information below should help do just that as well as provide information about hydraulic valve providers.

1. Use hydraulic control valves with gas or liquid.

2. Employ the hydraulic check valve when you need both free flow and blocked flow.

3. Go with electric hydraulic valves when you need pressure compensation.

4. Use the hydraulic spool valve to control the high-pressure oil in tractors and construction lines.

5. Rely on the ultra-reliable and low-leak hydraulic directional valve.

Employ hydraulic control valves when working with gas or liquid

These hydraulic control valves can be bi-directional for flow, and you can adjust them to be full open or shut off. Some of the hydraulic control valves shut off automatically if the flow of the liquid or gas exceeds a pre-determined limit.
Try: Emerson Process Management provides online tutorials featuring flow technology. MICO sells hydraulic control values and provides a list of applications by industry.

Use a hydraulic check valve for leakage control

Hydraulic valve manufacturers make hydraulic check valves from various materials and design them to fit various applications. Standard sizes include very small ones, called micro-mini, or 500 GPM. Both work well to control leakage, because the flow can be open in one direction but blocked in the other.
Try: Read the literature from Snap-tite, a hydraulic valve manufacturer, to learn more about the company's products. Browse the products from Kepner Products to find the one you need.

Get more control with electro hydraulic valves

Electro hydraulic valves offer more control thanks to the ability to include pressure compensation, precision metering and flow controls. The flow range can be 20 GPM to 40 GPM.
Try: HUSCO International offers hydraulic valve literature. Price Engineering provides information on its newest products including downloadable literature.

Use hydraulic spool valves in equipment that's off-highway

Hydraulic spool valves work well in off-highway equipment. They control the high-pressure oil in the hydraulic lines. Some applications you can use them for include brake bleeders, hammers, hydraulic accumulators and more.
Try: Learn about the capabilities of hydraulic valves at Trotter Manufacturing. Hydraulic Specialty Company sells a variety of hydraulic spool valves.

Let directional hydraulic valves control leakage and provide reliability

Directional hydraulic valves are very reliable and provide a good seal. They can have up to four-way valves and have low leakage even when changing positions.
Try: Grainger offers a variety of resources to help you in your choice of hydraulic valves. Purchase directional control valves at TR Engineering.

If you can't find what you need, contact a manufacturer for hydraulic valves information. Some manufacturers can find you what you need, while others can custom make hydraulic valves.