Patent ID: 7984890

Claim:
A pilot operated hydraulic valve comprising: a body with a first port, a second port, and a valve seat between the first port and the second port; a main poppet selectively engaging the valve seat to control flow of fluid between the first port and the second port and defining a control chamber in the body, the main poppet having an aperture that opens into the control chamber, a first control passage extending between the aperture and the control chamber and coupled through an orifice to the first port, a second control passage extending between the first port and the aperture, and a third control passage extending between the second port and the aperture; an exhaust spool having a first position in which a first opening of the third control passage into the aperture is blocked and in which a path is provided between the first and second control passages bypassing the orifice, the exhaust spool having a second position in which fluid flow between the second port and the aperture via the third control passage is enabled and fluid flow between the first and second control passages is blocked; pilot valve element which operates to open and close fluid communication between the control chamber and the aperture of the main poppet; and an actuator operably coupled to move the pilot valve element.