Counterbalance valve with enhanced pressure sensing features

A counterbalance valve comprising:

• a plurality of ports comprising:
• a first port, a second port, and a pilot port configured to receive a pilot pressure fluid signal;
• a poppet configured to move axially to allow fluid flow from the first port to the second port via a main flow region, wherein the poppet comprises a sensing port that is exposed to fluid at a sensing flow region, wherein the sensing flow region is fluidly coupled to the second port and is shifted axially from the main flow region such that the sensing flow region is separated from turbulent flow in the main flow region;
• a seat member, wherein the poppet is disposed, at least partially, within the seat member, wherein the seat member forms a poppet seat therein, wherein the seat member comprises a plurality of seat member main flow cross-holes that are fluidly coupled to the second port, wherein when the poppet is seated at the poppet seat, the poppet blocks the plurality of seat member main flow cross-holes to prevent fluid flow from the first port to the second port;
• and
• a pressure setting spring disposed in a spring chamber and applying a biasing force on the poppet in a distal direction, wherein the spring chamber is fluidly coupled to the sensing flow region via the sensing port of the poppet, wherein the poppet is configured to be subjected to (i) a first fluid force by fluid received at the first port acting on the poppet in a proximal direction, (ii) a second fluid force by the pilot pressure fluid signal received at the pilot port acting on the poppet in the proximal direction, and (iii) a third fluid force by fluid of the second port communicated to the spring chamber via the sensing port and acting on the poppet in the distal direction, and wherein the poppet is configured to move to a particular axial position based on a force equilibrium between the first fluid force, the second fluid force, the third fluid force, and the biasing force to allow fluid flow from the first port to the second port.

A method comprising:

• applying a first fluid force on a poppet of a counterbalance valve in a proximal direction, wherein the counterbalance valve comprises a first port, a second port, and a pilot port, and wherein the first fluid force is applied by fluid received at the first port, wherein the poppet comprises a sensing port that is exposed to fluid at a sensing flow region fluidly coupled to the second port, wherein the counterbalance valve comprises a seat member, wherein the poppet is disposed, at least partially, within the seat member, wherein the seat member forms a poppet seat therein, and wherein the seat member comprises a plurality of seat member main flow cross-holes that are fluidly coupled to the second port, wherein when the poppet is seated at the poppet seat, the poppet blocks the plurality of seat member main flow cross-holes to prevent fluid flow from the first port to the second port;
• applying a second fluid force on the poppet in the proximal direction by a pilot pressure fluid signal received at the pilot port;
• applying a biasing force on the poppet in a distal direction by a pressure setting spring disposed in a spring chamber;
• and
• providing a sensing signal from the second port to the spring chamber via the sensing flow region and the sensing port;
• applying a third fluid force on the poppet in the distal direction by the sensing signal;
• and
• moving the poppet to a particular axial position based on a force equilibrium between the first fluid force, the second fluid force, the third fluid force, and the biasing force to allow fluid flow from the first port to the second port via a main flow region, wherein the sensing flow region is shifted axially from the main flow region such that the sensing flow region and the sensing port of the poppet are separated from turbulent flow in the main flow region, and wherein moving the poppet to the particular axial position comprises:
• exposing the plurality of seat member main flow cross-holes to allow flow from the first port to the second port via the main flow region, wherein the main flow region is upstream of the plurality of seat member main flow cross-holes.