Flow force-compensating valve element with load check

A method of operating a hydraulic system having more than one actuator supplied by a single source of pressurized fluid, the method comprising:

• directing at least one of:
• a first valve element of a first directional control valve to move based on a load of a first actuator, wherein the first valve element includes a main metering orifice having a size and shape for flow force compensation;
• and
• a second valve element of a second directional control valve to move based on a load of a second actuator, wherein the second valve element includes a main metering orifice sized and shaped for flow force compensation;
• generating a load signal pressure associated with each of the first and second actuators, the load signal pressure being generated from pressurized fluid supplied via the respective control valves to the respective first and second actuators through a meter-in passage, wherein each of the meter-in passages directs fluid flow from the respective first and second directional control valve to a load check valve;
• generating a control signal pressure from the greater of the load signal pressures associated with the respective first and second actuators;
• and
• directing the control signal pressure to a load sense check valve disposed downstream of the load check valve of a circuit of a lesser of the load signal pressure associated with the respective first and second actuators.

A method of operating a hydraulic system having more than one actuator supplied by a single source of pressurized fluid, the method comprising:

• providing a first directional control valve and a second directional control valve, at least one control valve having a central main metering orifice being sized and shaped for flow force compensation;
• generating a first load signal pressure from pressurized fluid supplied via the first directional control valve to a first actuator through a first meter-in passage, wherein the first meter-in passage is directing fluid flow from the first directional control valve and a first valve;
• generating a second load signal pressure from pressurized fluid supplied via the second directional control valve to a second actuator through a second meter-in passage, wherein the second meter-in passage is directing fluid flow from the second directional control valve and a second valve;
• generating a control signal pressure from a greater of the first control signal pressure and the second control signal pressure;
• and
• directing the control signal pressure to a load sense check valve disposed downstream of the respective first and second valves associated with a circuit of a lesser of the first control signal pressure and the second control signal pressure, wherein flow forces cause the respective directional control valve when with the circuit is the lesser of the first and second control signal pressures to reduce the area of the central main metering orifice, thereby increasing the pressure differential across the corresponding valve element to maintain an approximately constant flow to the corresponding actuator.

A fluid system, comprising:

• a source of pressurized fluid;
• at least two work circuits, each circuit including:
• an actuator in operable communication with the source of pressurized fluid;
• a control valve operable to control fluid communication to and from the actuator, the control valve including a valve element having a main metering orifice;
• a first valve in fluid communication with the control valve and the actuator;
• a meter-in passage directing fluid flow from the meter-in orifice to the first valve, wherein the first valve is biased in a sealed position against a control orifice in communication with the meter-in passage, and in response to pressure within the meter-in passage being greater than a spring force of the first valve and a pressure in a return passage to be supplied to the respective actuators, the first valve is movable away from the sealed position,
• wherein the main metering orifice of the valve element of at least one of the control valves is sized and shaped to provide flow force compensation to the valve element in response to fluid flow through said orifice;
• a load pressure signal conduit in fluid communication between the meter-in passage, the first valve and a tank, the load pressure signal conduit carrying a load sense signal pressure;
• and
• a load sense check valve associated with the load pressure signal conduit downstream of the first valve, wherein the load pressure signal conduit of each of the work circuits is in fluid communication with one another, a greater of the load signal pressure of the work circuits being communicated to the load sense check valve of the other work circuit.