// Catalogue

Flow Control Valves for Setting the Speed of Cylinders and Motors

Flow control valves set how fast a cylinder extends or a hydraulic motor turns by controlling how much oil passes through them. TSA Hydraulics Engineering supplies them within the Pressure & Flow family of our Valves range, from simple throttles to compensated valves and flow dividers.

Does your machine run slow on a cold morning and fast by mid-afternoon? Oil thins as it warms, and a basic throttle lets more of it through. The same happens when the load changes. Compensated designs hold the speed steady through both. Send the code or describe the problem, and we will match a factory original or an equivalent that fixes it.

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// Buying guide

How a Flow Control Valve Works

Every flow control is built around a restriction, or orifice. The amount of oil that passes depends on two things: the size of the opening and the pressure difference across it. Make the opening smaller, or the pressure difference lower, and less oil gets through, so the actuator slows down.

Main Types

Fixed orifice: a simple, non-adjustable restriction. Cheap and tamper proof.
Adjustable throttle: a needle or spool you can turn to set the speed.
One way flow control: a throttle plus a check valve, controlling speed in one direction only.
Pressure compensated: holds flow steady as the load and pressure change.
Temperature compensated: uses a sharp edged orifice that is far less affected by oil viscosity.
Priority valves: send flow to one function first, such as steering, and the rest to everything else.
Flow dividers: split one supply into two, so two cylinders or motors move together.

Why Speed Changes

Two things upset a simple throttle:

Load changes. A heavier load raises the pressure upstream of the actuator, which changes the pressure difference across the throttle and so changes the flow.
Oil temperature. Warm oil is thinner and flows more easily through a long, narrow passage.

If either causes problems, a pressure-compensated or temperature compensated valve is the fix.

Meter In, Meter Out or Bleed Off?

Meter in: controls the oil going into the actuator. Good for loads that always resist.
Meter out: controls the oil leaving the actuator. Best for loads that can run away, such as lowering or pulling.
Bleed off: sends some of the pump flow back to tank, reducing what reaches the actuator. Efficient, but less precise.

A Word on Heat

Every flow control turns some energy into heat, because the pump pushes oil through a restriction. On machines that throttle hard for long periods, that heat adds up. A variable displacement pump or a variable speed drive can deliver only the flow that is needed, and an oil cooler handles what is left.

Flow Control Valves Specifications to Check

Flow range and maximum pressure
Type: fixed, adjustable, one way, compensated or divider
Meter in, meter out or bleed off arrangement
Mounting: cartridge cavity, inline, modular or subplate
Adjustment: knob, screw or lockable
Seal material and fluid type

Why Buy From TSA Hydraulics Engineering

As a flow control valves supplier, we check the flow range, compensation and mounting, so the actuator moves at the right speed in every condition. You get clear prices in AUD, OEM or equivalent options, and help sourcing flow control valves replacement parts such as cartridges, knobs and seal kits. We tell you upfront whether a valve is genuine or an equivalent.

// FAQs