Parker-Hannifin Corporation
Valve Spool with Flow Force Mitigation Features

Abstract:

An example spool includes a spool body varying in diameter along a length of the spool body, thereby forming a plurality of lands of variable diameters, wherein a land of the plurality of lands is configured to control fluid flow from a workport passage formed in a valve worksection to a return cavity; and a plurality of axial grooves formed in a circular array about a circumference of the land, wherein the plurality of axial grooves comprises a first set of axial grooves and a second set of axial grooves, wherein an axial length of axial grooves of the second set of axial grooves is greater than a respective axial length of axial grooves of the first set of axial grooves, allowing the axial grooves of the second set of axial grooves to engage the return cavity before the axial grooves of the first set of axial grooves.