Feasibility Study of a Digital Variable Flow Divider Valve

The problem of synchronizing several loads has been the subject of many studies over the past few years. Some of the authors have been involved in the design of high precision flow divider/combiner valves which are accurate to 99% over large pressure and flow ranges. The disadvantage of these designs lies in their inflexibility in terms of varying flow with complete independence to the various loads. Traditional approaches to the multi-load problem have been to use velocity or flow feedback signals to several electrohydraulic valves to obtain independent action. In this paper, the authors introduce the feasibility of using a single rotary type valve to provide a pulse width modulated flow pulse to each circuit. A model of the basic concept was used to establish the feasibility of the approach using simulation studies. A possible valve configuration to implement the concept is presented.