Patent ID: 8757208

Claim:
A proportional motion control valve, comprising: a cage having a longitudinal bore; a spool moveably disposed within the bore of the cage, the spool having a longitudinal bore; a poppet moveably disposed within the bore of the spool; a valve body connected to the cage and defining an internal cavity that is fluidly connectable with the bore of the cage; a pilot-operated valve disposed intermediately with respect to the cage and the valve body to fluidly isolate the internal cavity of the valve body from the bore of the cage, the pilot-operated valve being subjected to a hydraulic opening force of pilot fluid that is present in the bore of the cage, the pilot-operated valve including: a housing fixed within the cavity of the valve body, the housing including a longitudinal passageway having an interior opening and an external opening, the longitudinal passageway being in communication with a transverse pilot passageway and a longitudinal bore, and the housing including a pilot seat circumscribing the interior opening of the longitudinal passageway, a member having a damping orifice, the member disposed at the external opening of the longitudinal passageway of the housing so that the damping orifice communicates with the longitudinal passageway, and a pilot pin moveably disposed within the longitudinal bore of the housing, the pilot pin adapted to sealingly engage the pilot seat; a spring disposed within the internal cavity of the valve body and arranged to subject the pilot-operated valve to a closing spring force.