Hydraulic Actuator Lockout

A fluid control apparatus comprising:

• a valve comprising an inlet port in fluid communication with a control fluid source, and an outlet port, the valve being configured to control a flow of fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port;
• a reference fluid source configured to provide a reference fluid at a predetermined reference pressure and flow;
• a fluid actuator comprising a fluid chamber;
• and
• a lockout assembly comprising a valve configurable to a first configuration providing a fluid path from the outlet port to the fluid chamber, and a second configuration providing a fluid path from the reference fluid source to the fluid chamber.

A method of controlling a fluid flow comprising:

• providing a valve comprising:
• a valve housing having an axial bore extending between a first end and a second end, a first inlet port in fluid communication with the axial bore, and a first outlet port in fluid communication with the axial bore;
• and
• a piston located within the axial bore and having a first fluid passage and configured to allow reciprocal axial movement of the piston within the axial bore between a first position in which the first fluid passage aligns axially with the first inlet port and the first outlet port to form a first fluidic circuit in the first position, and a second position in which the piston blocks at least one of the first inlet port and the first outlet port;
• providing a lockout assembly configurable to fix the piston into a selected position in a first configuration, and not interfere with reciprocal axial movement of the piston in a second configuration;
• actuating the lockout assembly into the first configuration;
• and
• fixing, by the lockout assembly, the piston into a selected position.