Reverse differential holding valve

A pilot operated hydraulic holding valve for maintaining the load on a hydraulic actuator in a fixed position, comprising:

• (a) a valve body having a bore with first and second diameter portions;
• (b) a fluid port in the valve body providing direct and open fluid pressure between the bore and the pressurized load holding end of the actuator;
• (c) a valve member disposed in the bore and movable therein between a closed holding position and a piloted open position, said valve member having opposed first and second internal pressure surfaces, and further including:
• (1) a poppet disposed in the second diameter portion of the bore to provide the second internal pressure surface and adapted to cooperate with a seat in the valve body to provide the closed holding position;
• (2) a spool attached at one end to the poppet and disposed axially in the bore;
• (3) a piston attached to the opposite end of the spool and disposed in the first diameter portion of the bore to provide the first internal pressure surface;
• and,
• (4) an outer pilot pressure surface on the face of the piston opposite the first internal pressure surface and exposed to a pressure source;
• (d) the first and second internal pressure surfaces being in continuously open fluid pressure with the fluid port;
• (e) the net cross-sectional area of the first internal pressure surface being greater than the net cross-sectional area of the second internal pressure surface;
• and,
• (f) said closed holding position will always be maintained as long as the net fluid pressure acting on the first and second internal pressure surfaces is in excess of the pressure source acting on said outer pilot pressure surface;
• whereby the net fluid pressure on the internal pressure surfaces holds the valve closed by a differential force directly proportional to the load being held, and allows the valve to be piloted to its open position by pilot pressure directly proportional to said load.