Spool and body architectures for three-position directional control valves

A directional-control valve comprising a valve spool within a valve body, wherein:

• the valve spool is configured to move within the valve body between a first position, a second position and a third position;
• and
• the third valve spool position lies between the first and the second valve spool positions;
• and wherein the valve body comprises:
• five external ports arranged between a first end of the valve body and a second end of the valve body, comprising a first exhaust port, a first actuator port, an inlet port, a second actuator port, and a second exhaust port;
• and
• seven internal ports comprising a first internal port, a second internal port, a third internal port, a fourth internal port, a fifth internal port, a sixth internal port, and a seventh internal port arranged in order between a first end of the valve body and a second end of the valve body, wherein the first internal port is in fluid communication with the first exhaust port, the second internal port is in fluid communication with the first actuator port, the third internal port is in fluid communication with the inlet port, the fourth internal port is in fluid communication with the second actuator port, the fifth internal port is in fluid communication with the second exhaust port, the sixth internal port is in fluid communication with the second actuator port and the seventh internal port is in fluid communication with the first actuator port;
• and wherein:
• the valve spool includes a first, second, third, and fourth lobe;
• in the third spool position, the first internal port is isolated from fluid communication by the first lobe of the spool;
• the third internal port is isolated from fluid communication by the second lobe of the spool;
• the fifth internal port is isolated from fluid communication by the third lobe of the spool;
• and
• the sixth and seventh internal ports maintain fluid communication between the third and fourth lobes of the spool.