A New Kind of Pilot Controlled Proportional Direction Valve with Internal Flow Feedback

Proportional direction valve is one of the most fundamental elements in electronic-hydraulic control technique. Its function is to control the operating speed, direction, position, and strength of output force of the hydraulic actuator continuously. Considering the different application and the cost, the existing technique mainly includes the internal feedback valve used in open loop system, and the electronic closed loop controlled valve used in closed loop system. Because of their different mechanical structure and the great different in performance, it brings inconvenience for customer to select, also inconvenience for enterprise to produce. Aiming at this problem, the idea of combining the above two kinds of valves into one body is proposed first, and then the new valve's structure to realize this target is designed. The idea intends to apply the displacement pilot flow feedback control principle in present 2-position 2-way valve system to the proportional direction valve of 3-position 4-way system. Newly designed feed forward controller can decouple the interference between the internal feedback and the electronic closed loop. Redundant conversion is designed to electronic switch mode. Experiment on dynamic and static characteristic of new proportional direction valve in internal feedback control mode and electronic closed loop control mode is discussed to prove the new theory is correct. Although the new valve is of excellent dynamic response characteristic, its steady control characteristic in open loop control mode needs to be improved further. The research results prepare one new fundamental element for electronic-hydraulic control technology.