Abstract: In order to reduce the number of components required and increase the service life by preventing friction resulting from large-diameter seals, a steering valve (1) is provided which has a closed center for supplying hydraulic pressure to an actuator and which comprises an input shaft (2), an output shaft (3), a torsionally resilient element (11) which is connected at one end to the input shaft (2) and at the other end to the output shaft (3), a control pressure switching arrangement (4), and an axial force conversion unit (19-23), wherein at least one hydraulic line (15) guides reaction pressure in the input shaft (2).

Abstract: The invention concerns a steering valve with a closed center for supplying an actuator with hydraulic pressure, the steering valve comprising an input shaft, and output shaft, a torsionally resilient element which is connected at one end to the input shaft and at the other end to the output shaft, a control pressure switching arrangement and a torque/axial force conversion unit. A spring loaded seat valve is located in a bore of the input shaft, and closes a fluid passage passing through the torsion tube. The torque/axial force convertor opens the seat valve when relative twisting of the input shaft with respect to the valve casing occurs. According to the invention, in order to improve the response dynamics of such a steering valve, the valve comprises at least one axial bore for supplying hydraulic pressure. At one end this bore is closed by a valve which is loaded by the torque/axial force conversion unit against the hydraulic pressure.