Direction Control Valves

3X2DCV
2X2DCV

4X2DCV

4X3DCV
 Directional Control Valves
• Used to direct the supply of oil to the
actuator in a hydraulic system.
• The valve body is drilled, honed and heat
treated. The inlet and outlet ports are
drilled and threaded.
• The valve spools are heat treated, ground
to size and polished, some chrome plated.
• The body and spool are then mated in
assembly.
• After assembly the spool is the only
moving part.
ISO Valve Actuator Symbols
 5.3.1 Two-way Two Postion directional
control valves

valve body spool land spool

P A A P A
(a) (b)

P
(c)
Figure 5-6 Two-way, two-position normally closed directional control valve.
(a) Valve in the normal position (b) Valve actuated (c) Complete graphic symbol
 [64.1] 2/2-way valve (1)
• The 2/2-way valve has a
working port A, a supply
port P and a leakage-oil port
L. In the case of the valve
shown here, of slide design,
flow from P to A is closed in
the normal position.
• A relief line leading to the
leakage-oil port is provided
to prevent a build-up of
pressure in the spring and
piston chambers.
 [64.2] 2/2-way valve (2)
• The 2/2-way valve is
actuated and the
passage from P to A is
open.

• 2/2-way valves are also

available which are
normally open from P
to A.
 5.3.2 T hree-way Two Position directional control
valves

spring spool land spool valve body

P A T A P A T
(a) (b)

PT
(c)
Figure 5-8 Three-way, two-position normally closed directional control valve.
(a) Valve in the normal position (b) Valve actuated (c) Complete graphic symbol
[69.1] 3/2-way valve, poppet principle
(1)
• The 3/2-way valve has
working port A, a supply
port P and a tank port T.
Volumetric flow can be
routed from the supply port
to the working port or from
the working port to the tank
port. The third port in each
case is closed. In the normal
position shown, P is closed
and flow released from A to
T.
[69.2] 3/2-way valve, poppet principle
(2)
• The 3/2-way valve is
actuated; flow is
released from P to A,
the outlet T is closed.
• 3/2-way valves which
are normally open from
P to A and T closed are
also available.
[71.1] 3/2-way valve, slide principle (1)
• The 3/2-way valve has a
working port A, a supply
port P and a tank port T. The
volumetric flow can be
routed from the supply port
to the working port, or from
the working port to the tank
port. The third port in each
case is closed. In the normal
position shown, P is closed
and flow is released from A
to T.
[71.2] 3/2-way valve, slide principle (2)
• The 3/2-way valve is
actuated; flow is
released from P to A,
and the outlet T is
closed.
• 3/2-way valves which
are normally closed
from P to A and T are
also available.
 5.3.3 Four-way Tow Position directional
control valves

spring spool land spool valve body

AB
B P A T B P A T
(a) (b)
PT
(c)
Figure 5-10 Four-way, two-position directional control valve.
(a) Valve in the normal position.(b) Valve actuated. (c) Complete graphic symbol.
 [73.1] 4/2-way valve, two pistons (1)
• The 4/2-way valve has two
working ports A and B, a supply
port P and a tank port T. The
supply port is always connected
to one of the working ports, while
the second working port is routed
to the tank. In the normal
position, there is flow from P to B
and from A to T.
• In contrast to valves with three
pistons, 4/2-way valves with two
pistons do not require a leakage-
oil port (see topic 74).
 [73.2] 4/2-way valve, two pistons (2)
• The 4/2-way valve is
actuated, and there is
flow from P to A and
from B to T.
• 4/2-way valves are also
available which are
normally open from P
to A and from B to T.
 [74.1] 4/2-way valve, three pistons (1)
• This 4/2-way valve has two
working ports A and B, a supply
port P and a tank port T. The
supply port is always connected
to one of the working ports, while
the second working port is routed
to the tank. In the neutral
position, there is flow from P to B
and from A to T.
• 4/2-way valves with three pistons
require a leakage-oil port, since
hydraulic fluid would otherwise
be trapped within the valve.
[74.2] 4/2-way valve, three pistons (2)
• The 4/2-way valve is
actuated, and there is
flow from P to A and
from B to T.
 [5a] Interaction of components
• The animations show the
sequences in a basic
hydraulic circuit in
simplified form - the
actuation and spring return
of the final control element
(4/2-way valve), the
advance and return of the
drive component (double
acting cylinder) and the
opening and closing of the
pressure relief valve.
[5.1a] Interaction of components
(Animation)
[5.2a] Interaction of components
(Animation)
[5.6a] Interaction of components
(Animation)
[5.7a] Interaction of components
(Animation)
[5.8a] Interaction of components
(Animation)
 4-way, 3-position directional control valves

AB

P T A P B T
AB
AB

P T
P T A P B T
AB

P T A P B T
 Application of 4-way, 3-position directional control valve

A B A B A B

P T P T P T

extension iddle(brake) retraction

4/3 Direction Control Valve
 [78.1] 4/3-way valve with closed mid-
position (1)
• From the logic point of view,
4/3-way valves are 4/2- way
valves with an additional
mid-position. There are
various versions of this mid-
position (in the mid-position
in the example shown, all
ports are closed in the mid-
position, see next
illustration). In the switching
position shown, there is
flow from P to B and from A
to T.
 [78.2] 4/3-way valve with closed mid-
position (2)
• The 4/3-way valve is in
its mid-position; all
ports apart from the
leakage-oil port are
closed.

• In this mid-position, the

pump is operating
against the system
pressure set on the
pressure relief valve.
 [78.3] 4/3-way valve with closed mid-
position (3)
• The valve is in its left-
hand switching
position; there is flow
from P to A and from B
to T.
 [76.1] 4/3-way valve with pump
bypass (1)
• From the logic point of view, 4/3-
way valves are 4/2- way valves
with an additional mid-position.
There are various versions of this
mid-position (in the mid-position
in the example shown, the supply
port P is directly connected to the
tank T, see next illustration). In
the switching position shown,
there is flow from P to B and from
A to T.

• 4/3-way valves are easy to

construct as slide valves and of
complex design as poppet valves.
 [76.2] 4/3-way valve with pump
bypass (2)
• The 4/3-way valve is in its mid-
position; there is flow from P to T,
while A and B are closed. Since
the output from the pump flows
to the tank, this switching
position is called pump bypass or
also pump recirculation.

• In the case of pump bypass, the

pump needs to operate only
against the resistance of the
valve, which has a favorable
effect on the power balance.
 [76.3] 4/3-way valve with pump
bypass (3)
• The valve is in its left-
hand switching
position; there is flow
from P to A and from B
to T.
 5.3.4 Center positions in three-position, four-way valves

AB AB

P T T(T1) A P B T(T2) P T T(T1) A P B T(T2)

o pen center pressure closed;A & B open to tank
AB AB

P T T(T1) A P B T(T2) P T T(T1) A P B T(T2)

pressure andB closed; A open to tank B closed; pressure open to tank through A
AB AB

P T T(T1) A P B T(T2) P T T(T1) A P B T(T2)

closed center--all ports closed tandem
Figure 5-12 Various center flow paths for three-position,four-way valve
 A B A B A B

P T P T P T

a. open center b. closed center c. tandem

The open-center type connects all ports together.
The pump flow can return directly back to the tank at
essentially atmospheric pressure, little horsepower is consumed.
(pump unloaded )
The actuator can be moved freely by applying an external
force.(actuator floating)
 A B A B A B

P T P T P T

a. open center b. closed center c. tandem

The closed-center design has all ports blocked.
The pump flow can be used for other circuit. (not unloaded)
The actuator is hydraulically locked. This means it cannot be
moved by the application of an external force.(actuator braking)
 A B A B A B

P T P T P T

a. open center b. closed center c. tandem

The tandem design also unloads the pump at essentially
atmospheric pressure. (pump unloaded )
It also results in a locked actuator. (actuator braking)
 Directional Control Devices
• Symbols for four-way valve center position

Permission granted to reproduce for

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 38
educational use only.