1631265336666

Lifeguard of Hydraulic Systems: Overcenter Valves Leave a comment

Overcenter valves (also called counterbalance valves) have great importance in hydraulic systems and have following key features:

  • Load holding: The overcenter valve prevents the movement of a load when the directional valve is in the neutral position, permitting the use of open center directional valves and negating leakage past the spool of closed center directional valves.
  • Load control: The overcenter valve prevents the actuator running ahead of the pump due to the load-induced energy, thereby eliminating cavitation in the actuator and loss of control.
  • Load safety: In the case of hose failure, an overcenter valve mounted onto or into a cylinder will prevent uncontrolled movement of the load. When a cylinder is used in a boom, as in a crane, then hose failure protection is vital as the loss of load control could cause damage to people or property.

These valves are used where there is vital importance in the system. They monitor the system and sense the pressure changes immediately. We can think of them as lifeguards! An overcenter valve can also be described as a pilot-assisted relief valve with an integral free flow check.

Ekran Alıntısı

Overcenter valve hydraulic schema

Valve design can be inline type or cartridge type. They can be small but play an important role for safety in the applications.

VBCD SE A Series 2 300x300

Inline type single overcenter valve

Overcenter valves are widely used on hydraulic motors in applications such as winches. While lowering, the load and gravity act in the same direction. This results in the load running away and a possible loss of control. Here the overcenter valve meters the flow out of the hydraulic motor to keep the load in place. The relief valve opens when the combined force created by the pilot pressure and the load-induced pressure exceeds the relief setting.

Crane 300x271

Relief setting of the overcenter valve and selection of pilot ratio (there are different pilot ratios 1:8, 1:4.5, 1:5.5, …) is important. In the case where the load varies drastically and sudden impact loads are expected, the relief pressure could be 20-30 % more than the load pressure. However, for horizontal cylinders, this could be as low as 5-10 %. The pilot pressure required to open the valve will depend on the pilot ratio that is the ratio between the relief area and the pilot area. The pilot pressure can be calculated as follows:

Valve setting = Load pressure + (Pilot pressure x pilot ratio)

Overcenter valves continually meter flow and controls descent. If the load begins to run away or shows signs of instability, the pressure in the pilot line will fall, causing the valve to restrict the flow exiting the actuator and preventing load runaway.

In general, higher pilot ratios work well for consistent, stable loads and lower pilot ratios for unstable or variable loads. In the chart below, you can see how a lower pilot ratio valve (2.5 to 1) has greater sensitivity to changes in the load pressure. In other words, if the load pressure suddenly increases, the operator will have to apply additional pilot pressure. Higher ratios will be more efficient (reduce heat generation) but at the cost of stability and smooth motion control. Typical example is extension of a straight boom.

Pilot Ratio 300x167

Let’s calculate pilot pressure of a system where overcenter valve with a 3:1 pilot ratio adjusted for pressure setting 320 bar and with a load pressure 250 bar. In this case, the min. pilot pressure, required to open the relief valve is 23,33 bar.

320 = 250 + (Pilot pressure x 3)

However, in real systems, it is necessary to consider the actuator’s area ratio because the pressure what applied to pilot port 3 also applied to input of actuator and through actuator’s area difference – to port 1.

Valve setting = load pressure + [Pilot pressure x (pilot ratio+1/area ratio)]

320 = 250 + [Pilot pressure x (3 + 1/1.5)]

Pilot pressure is 19,12 bar.

Cbvratio1 271x300

Please note that in the example above, overcenter valve is on the cap end of the cylinder with a load retracting the cylinder rod.

As a conclusion overcenter valves are critical components for safety and load control. It is not recommended to use them with closed center directional control valves. Neutral position of the valve spool should be floating center to reduce pilot pressure to “0” so that piston can reseat. But there are special overcenter valves that can be used with closed center directional control valves.

Pictures are used for educational purposes.

Sources

  • Design World, Overcenter Valves are Key to Hydraulic Control
  • Eaton, How to select a counterbalance valve
  • Fluidpower Pro, pilot ratio & pilot pressure of counterbalance valves

Leave a Reply

SHOPPING CART

close