Directional valve

A directional control valve comprising:

• a valve housing with two pressure control chambers, a movable control piston disposed within the valve housing and having a control collar which separates the two pressure chambers from each other, which pressure chambers are subjectable to a control pressure to move the control piston along an axis of the valve housing into axial positions corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of switch positions of the valve in accordance with a difference in pressure prevailing between the two pressure chambers;
• a system for applying an actuating force based on a difference in pressure between the two chambers upon the control piston, and for applying a prestressing force upon the control piston for movement into one of said axial positions wherein, in an absence of a difference in pressure between the two pressure chambers, said prestressing force positions the control piston for coupling fluid via an aperture of the valve housing in one of said switch positions, the coupling of fluid in said one switch position introducing an axially directed fluid force counteracting said prestressing force;
• wherein said force applying system exerts an actuating force on the control piston that counteracts forces of the fluid which act on the piston during a flow of pressure medium from a consumer connection of the valve housing to a tank connection of the valve housing, and wherein an amount of the actuating force is selected to be just sufficient so that the flow forces compensate for action of the actuating force on the control piston.(5).