Patent ID: 6619183
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: F15B,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A control valve in fluid communication with an actuator to controllably move an output member of the actuator, the control valve comprising:a valve body defining a passageway; a pressurized pilot supply fluidly connected to said passageway; a fluid reservoir fluidly connected to said passageway; a pilot operator selectively moveable within said passageway; a flow metering operator moveably disposed within said passageway; a fluid make-up operator disposed in said passageway and in fluid communication with said fluid reservoir and said actuator; and a control chamber within said valve body being structured and arranged to contain pressurized fluid from said pressurized pilot supply, said control chamber being in fluid communication with said flow metering operator, wherein said fluid make-up operator is operative to direct an amount of pressurized pilot supply fluid to the control chamber in response to a decrease in actuator pressure coinciding with a cavitation condition within the actuator, wherein said flow metering operator is urged to fluidly connect said actuator with said fluid reservoir under the influence of said pressurized fluid within said control chamber through activation by one of said pilot operator and said fluid make-up operator.