DYNAMIC AND STEADY-STATE ANALYSIS OF SPLIT SPOOL FLOW DIVIDER VALVE

ABSTRACT
Flow divider valve is a critical hydraulic component for which it used to synchronize
actuators motion in a predetermined ratio. The flow divider valve types divided into a
gear type flow divider and a spool type flow divider valve in which the spool has a rigid
connection between the two ports. As a special construction, here, a split type spool
flow divider has been studied to investigate the effects of special features on the static
and dynamic characteristics of the flow divider valve.
The construction of a special type flow divider valve, split spool type, has a
compensating spool/orifice mechanism to maintain equal pressure drops across the
valve metering orifice regardless of the change in system load. This split spool flow
divider valve thought to have a low inertia effect and enhanced valve response.
In the present work, the static and dynamic characteristics of this special type flow
divider valve, split spool valve, have been studied at different load pressures.
Experimental test rig has been established to investigate the effect of system pressure
on the static characteristic of the special flow divider valve. A mathematical model has
been carried out to study static and dynamic characteristics of the flow divider valve; the
model has been verified by direct comparisons with the experimental results.
For the dynamic response of the split spool flow divider; with the increase of the supply
flow rates at the same load pressure, split spool flow divider valve spools displacements
will increase equally in both spools at the same given response time. The supply flow
rate is equally divided between the two outlets ports of the split spool flow divider valve
will reach the half of the supply flow rate at rate increased with the increase of the supply
flow rate.
The comparison between experimental and mathematical model has a good agreement
for the studied system pressures up to 50 bars. It has been found that this special type
flow divider, split spool type, has a low inertia effect and enhanced valve response at the
studied load pressure regimes.