Importance

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Abstract

A control valve the controls the flow of a fluid. The valve has a housing with an inlet port, a cylinder port and a reservoir port. The inlet port is typically connected to a source of pressurized fluid. The cylinder port is connected to an actuator chamber and the reservoir port is connected to a fluid reservoir. The control valve has a solenoid that moves an internal valve between a first position and a second position. When the internal valve is in the first position, fluid can flow from the inlet port through the cylinder port. When the valve is in the second position, the inlet port is closed and the cylinder port is in fluid communication with the reservoir port. The housing has an internal channel that allows the supply fluid to apply a pressure on both sides of the internal valve. The fluid forces on the internal valve are opposite and offsetting, such that the solenoid force required to move the internal valve is independent of the pressure of the fluid. When the solenoid is energized, the internal valve is moved from the first position to the second position. The solenoid contains a magnet that holds the armature and internal valve in the second position.

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First Claim