Abstract: A pilot actuator is disclosed for use with a valve. The pilot actuator may have a cage with a base end and a tip end, and a pilot bore formed in the cage. The pilot actuator may also have a supply port, a drain port, a first end port, and a second end port each formed in the cage and intersecting with the pilot bore. The pilot actuator may further have a pilot spool slidingly disposed in the pilot bore and movable to selectively connect the supply port and the drain port with the first and second end ports, a follower separate from the cage and disposed at the tip end of the cage, and at least one spring operatively connecting the follower to the cage and to the pilot spool.

Abstract: A valve is disclosed for use with a hydraulic circuit including a valve block, a central bore and an actuator passage formed in the valve block, and at least one of a supply and a drain passage. The valve also includes a control spool movable to selectively connect the actuator passage and at least one of the supply passage and the drain passage. The control spool includes a base end, and a tip end with a tapered outer surface. The valve also includes a first actuator configured to selectively direct pilot fluid to the tip end of the control spool, and a second actuator configured to selectively direct pilot fluid to the base end of the control spool. The first and second actuators each include a primary axis oriented generally orthogonal to an axis of the control spool, and are located at opposing sides of the control spool.

Abstract: A valve is disclosed for use with a hydraulic circuit. The valve may have a valve block, a central bore formed in the valve block, an actuator passage formed in the valve block and intersecting with the central bore, and at least one of a supply and a drain passage. The valve may also have a control spool movable to selectively connect the actuator passage and the at least one of the supply passage and the drain passage. The control spool may have a base end, and a tip end with a tapered outer surface. The valve may also have a first actuator configured to selectively meter a flow of pilot fluid and having a feedback follower configured to ride along the tapered outer surface of the control spool, and a second actuator configured to selectively direct the pilot fluid to the base and tip ends of the control spool.

Abstract: A valve is disclosed for use with a hydraulic circuit. The valve may have a valve block, a central bore formed in the valve block, an actuator passage formed in the valve block and intersecting with the central bore, and at least one of a supply and a drain passage. The valve may also have a control spool movable to selectively connect the actuator passage and the at least one of the supply passage and the drain passage. The control spool may have a base end, and a tip end with a tapered outer surface. The valve may also have a first actuator configured to selectively direct pilot fluid to the tip end of the control spool, and a second actuator configured to selectively direct pilot fluid to the base end of the control spool. Each of the first and second actuators may have a primary axis oriented generally orthogonal to an axis of the control spool, and may be located at opposing sides of the control spool.

Abstract: A valve is disclosed for use with a hydraulic circuit. The valve may have a valve block, a central bore formed in the valve block, an actuator passage formed in the valve block and intersecting with the central bore, and at least one of a supply and a drain passage. The valve may also have a control spool movable to selectively connect the actuator passage and the at least one of the supply passage and the drain passage. The control spool may have a base end, and a tip end with a tapered outer surface. The valve may also have a first actuator configured to selectively meter a flow of pilot fluid and having a feedback follower configured to ride along the tapered outer surface of the control spool, and a second actuator configured to selectively direct the pilot fluid to the base and tip ends of the control spool.

Abstract: A pilot actuator is disclosed for use with a valve. The pilot actuator may have a cage with a base end and a tip end, and a pilot bore formed in the cage. The pilot actuator may also have a supply port, a drain port, a first end port, and a second end port each formed in the cage and intersecting with the pilot bore. The pilot actuator may further have a pilot spool slidingly disposed in the pilot bore and movable to selectively connect the supply port and the drain port with the first and second end ports, a follower separate from the cage and disposed at the tip end of the cage, and at least one spring operatively connecting the follower to the cage and to the pilot spool.

Abstract: A failsafe pilot selector valve may include at least one inlet port, a first outlet port, a second outlet port, and a biasing element. The failsafe pilot selector valve may have a first end position with the at least one inlet port in fluid communication with the first outlet port, a second end position with the at least one inlet port in fluid communication with the first outlet port, and an intermediate position between the first end position and the second end position with the at least one inlet port in fluid communication with the second outlet port. The biasing element may provide a biasing force to move the failsafe pilot selector valve to the first end position. The pilot selector valve can alternately provide pilot fluid to primary and redundant control elements of a redundantly controlled system in fluid communication with the outlet ports.

Abstract: A failsafe pilot selector valve may include at least one inlet port, a first outlet port, a second outlet port, and a biasing element. The failsafe pilot selector valve may have a first end position with the at least one inlet port in fluid communication with the first outlet port, a second end position with the at least one inlet port in fluid communication with the first outlet port, and an intermediate position between the first end position and the second end position with the at least one inlet port in fluid communication with the second outlet port. The biasing element may provide a biasing force to move the failsafe pilot selector valve to the first end position. The pilot selector valve can alternately provide pilot fluid to primary and redundant control elements of a redundantly controlled system in fluid communication with the outlet ports.