Pressure control valve having intrinsic mechanical feedback system

A method for regulating and controlling pressure within a servo-type system, said method comprising:

• providing a pressure control valve having a valve body and independent return and pressure spools freely situated in said valve body, said return and pressure spools each comprising a pilot pressure side and a feedback side and each configured to regulate fluid flow through return and pressure inlet and outlet ports formed in said valve body, respectively, in accordance with an intrinsic mechanical feedback system;
• supplying a pilot pressure to said respective pilot pressure sides of said return and pressure spools;
• supplying a feedback force to said respective feedback sides of said return and pressure spools, said feedback force corresponding to a load pressure, provided by a load actuator, that is converted by first and second mechanical feedback actuators positioned adjacent said return and pressure spools, respectively;
• and
• inducing a pressure differential across said pilot pressure and feedback sides of said return and pressure spools, thus causing at least one of said return and pressure spools to displace in response to said pressure differential in an attempt to dissipate said pressure differential and equalize said pilot pressure and said feedback pressure.

A method for introducing passive actuation within a servo or servo-type system comprising:

• providing a load actuator coupled to a load and configured to convert back and forth a load pressure and a force;
• providing a pressure control valve in fluid communication with said load actuator, said pressure control valve having a valve body and independent return and pressure spools freely situated in said valve body, said return and pressure spools each comprising a pilot pressure side and a feedback side and each configured to regulate fluid flow through return and pressure inlet and outlet ports formed in said valve body, respectively, in accordance with an intrinsic mechanical feedback system;
• supplying a pilot pressure to said respective pilot pressure sides of said return and pressure spools;
• supplying a feedback force to said respective feedback sides of said return and pressure spools, said feedback force corresponding to a load pressure, provided by said load actuator, that is converted by first and second mechanical feedback actuators positioned adjacent said return and pressure spools, respectively;
• and
• manipulating said pilot pressure to be below said feedback force to cause said pressure control valve to enter a passive actuation or slosh mode, wherein said pressure spool is closed and said return spool is open, thus allowing fluid to directly shunt back and forth between said pressure control valve and said load actuator through said return inlet and outlet ports.