Sterling performance from three-way valves

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 19, 2004

Sterling Hydraulics reckons its new N04 series of four-port three-way directional valves sets new standards of performance.

Sterling Hydraulics reckons its new N04 series of four-port three-way directional valves sets new standards of performance.

As the UK's leading designer and manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves, Sterling Hydraulics' products are used in a wide range of applications including construction and earth moving equipment, agricultural and forestry machines, mining equipment and industrial machinery - in fact anywhere where performance and reliability are the watchwords.

The N04 pilot-operated spool valves are capable of switching high flows of up to 85 litre/min, and are important components in building hydraulic control systems.

In a standard aluminium line body the valves can operate at up to 210bar, and a zinc plated steel version is available for pressures up to 420bar.

Both are 10-4 industry common cavity compliant.

The valves are available as normally open port 2 to port 1 (N04H4) or normally open port 2 to port 3 (N04G4).

In either case the spool is shifted, at the valve setting, by pilot pressure against a return spring, with the spring chamber being vented to atmosphere where dual Shamban seals prevent hydraulic fluid leakage.

Although the standard switching pressure is 10bar, Sterling Hydraulics can supply the valves to suit customers' requirements for other switching pressures.

The transition is open, so that the spool progressively interconnects all three ports then closes the normally open port and finally opens the normally closed port.

All N04G4 and N04H4 valves are manufactured and assembled at Sterling Hydraulics' UK factory and receive 100% testing prior to despatch.

The N04 range of valves can be combined in many ways either into a manifold with other valves to form a complete hydraulic circuit.

One possibility is to use two N04 valves and a solenoid valve in combination to make an electrically operated six-port diverter valve.