What is a hydraforce cartridge?
To function properly, you usually need to mount Hydraforce cartridges in a hydraulic block. Their types include three main categories: pressure control valves, directional control valves, and flow control valves. Manufacturers generally make hydraulic blocks from steel or aluminum and then machine a cavity in the block to facilitate the insertion of the cartridge valve.
We choose hydraulic blocks because their high degree of integration saves space and reduces the number of accessories such as hoses and fittings.
With fewer hoses, fittings and other accessories, the number of leaks is greatly reduced. Even for post maintenance, it is always easier to deal with one integrated block than a bunch of intricate piping.
Hydraforce cartridge is usually cone valves, but of course, they can also be slide valves. Cone cartridge valves tend to be two-way valves, whereas slide-type cartridge valves can have a two-way, three-way or four-way design.
Hydraforce cartridge can be installed in two ways, one is the slide-in type and the other is the screw-in type. The name “slide-in cartridge valve” is not familiar to everyone, but its other name is very loud, that is, “two-way cartridge valve”. Screw-in cartridge valves are better known as “threaded cartridge valves”.
Two way cartridge valves are very different in design and application from screwed cartridge valves. In this lecture, we will only talk about 2-way cartridge valves.
Structure of 2-way cartridge valves
A two-way cartridge valve usually consists of a sleeve, spring, cover plate, and poppet. You usually insert it directly into the block and secure it in place with a cover plate at the top for sealing.
You can use the two-way cartridge valve alone, approximating a two-way switching valve. Alternatively, you can combine more than two-way cartridge valves to form a functional block. This combination allows you to achieve control functions such as two-position four-way or three-position four-way. In this case, we refer to the functional block as a logic valve. The function of the logic block can be analogous to the logic circuit in the circuit.
A single 2-way cartridge valve appears to have only two states: on and off. This might seem very simple. However, combining multiple cartridge valves can be very powerful. It is similar to how we use computers to create a vibrant internet with only 0s and 1s.
Aren’t there enough slide valves, why did they invent hydraforce cartridge?
The main idea here is to introduce the advantages of hydraforce cartridge:
- We usually use two-way cartridge valves in high-pressure, high-flow systems mainly for economic reasons, as large directional slide valves are expensive and not readily available.
- Hydraforce cartridge is mostly cone valve, which have much less leakage than slide valves, with almost zero leakage on port A and very little leakage on port B. Cartridge valves are more responsive when opening, as they have a much lower leakage rate than slide valves.
- Hydraforce cartridge has a much faster response when opening because they don’t have a dead zone like regular slide valves, so the flow is almost instantaneous. As quickly as the valve opens, the valve naturally closes quickly.
- Since there is no need for a dynamic seal, there is little resistance to flow and they are more durable than slide valves.
- Cartridge valves are much easier to use in logic circuits. A simple combination of normally open and normally closed valves can create many control circuits with varying functions.
Hydraforce Cartridge Application Scenarios
You can use two-way cartridge valves in mobile and plant hydraulics as check valves, relief valves, throttle valves, pressure reducing valves, directional valves, and more.
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