Abstract: The piloted valve has three abutment surfaces for controlling the positions of the pilot lid and main lid. The abutment surfaces are disposed relative to each other so that the maximum stroke of the pilot lid relative to the casing is greater than the maximum stroke of the pilot lid relative to the main lid and less than the sum of the maximum stroke of the pilot lid and the maximum stroke of the main lid relative to the casing. With the pilot lid open and the main lid closed, a large flow cross-section is available; however, closing of the pilot lid with the main lid open requires only a very short stroke. The resulting valve operates very rapidly.