Dual-spool hydraulic directional valve

A hydraulic directional valve, said valve comprising:

• a valve body, said valve body further comprising:
• a supply passageway for supplying hydraulic fluid to said directional valve;
• a return passageway for expelling hydraulic fluid from said directional valve;
• a first outlet passageways for the supply and return of hydraulic fluid between said directional valve and a first side of a hydraulic device connected thereto;
• a second outlet passageway for the supply and return of hydraulic fluid between said directional valve and a second side of said hydraulic device;
• a first bore in communication with said supply passageway, said return passageway, and said first outlet passageway;
• a second bore in communication with said supply passageway, said return passageway, and said second outlet passageways;
• a first valve spool and a second valve spool, said valve spools residing in said first and second bores respectively, said valve spools having a circumferential channel around a portion thereof;
• and
• a shifting apparatus coupled to each of said first and second valve spools, said shifting apparatus provided for causing a change of position of said valve spools within said valve body such that as one of said valve spools is inserted into its bore, the other of said valve spools is simultaneously withdrawn from its bore;
• wherein insertion of said first valve spool into said first bore places said channel of said first valve spool into communication with said supply passageway, thereby allowing pressurized hydraulic fluid from a pressurized hydraulic fluid source to pass through said first bore and out said first outlet port to said hydraulic device, while an upper portion of said first valve spool simultaneously prevents pressurized hydraulic fluid from said source from entering said return passageway;
• wherein said channel of said second valve spool is simultaneously placed into communication with said return passageway, thereby allowing pressurized hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic device to flow through said corresponding outlet port into said second bore and out said return passageway, while a lower portion of said second valve spool simultaneously prevents pressurized hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic device from entering said supply passageway and
• wherein flow through said valve is reversed when said shifting apparatus is moved in an opposite direction.