Hydraulic valve and system

A pilot operated control valve assembly comprising:

• a first chamber with a first inlet for fluid communication with a first conduit, a second inlet, an outlet for fluid communication with a second conduit, and a pilot piston assembly mounted for movement in said first chamber;
• a second chamber having an inlet for communication with a third conduit, an outlet, and a valve poppet movably mounted in said second chamber between a closed position and one or more open positions;
• said pilot piston assembly includes a pilot piston with a piston side facing said first inlet of said first chamber and a pilot rod, said pilot rod extending from said first chamber into said second chamber to selectively move said valve poppet, said second chamber being sealed from said first chamber, and
• said second inlet of said first chamber is in fluid communication with said outlet of said first chamber so that fluid flows to said outlet of said first chamber from said first inlet or said second inlet to allow fluid flow between said first conduit and said second conduit during operational fluid flow conditions.

A patient handling apparatus comprising:

• a hydraulic circuit and a hydraulic cylinder to raise or lower a component of the patient handling apparatus;
• a pump;
• a reservoir;
• said hydraulic cylinder having a rod, a cap end chamber, and a rod end chamber, said hydraulic circuit having a control valve assembly operable to direct the flow of hydraulic fluid between said pump, said hydraulic cylinder, and said reservoir;
• and
• said control valve assembly configured to affect fluid communication between a first chamber of said hydraulic cylinder and said reservoir based on a flow condition of the hydraulic fluid flowing to a second chamber of said hydraulic cylinder, said control valve assembly configured to allow fluid flow between said pump and said second chamber of said hydraulic cylinder during operational flow conditions.