High Performance Single-Stage Servovalve

This paper presents a recent development in single-stage servovalve design. The new concept offers unique performance capabilities which overcome some of the serious shortcomings of conventional single-stage servovalves.

In addition to the physical description of the new design, a performance comparison is made with existing single-stage and two-stage servovalves. Emphasized in this comparison are closed-loop system accuracy and hydraulic power utilization; performance areas where conventional single-stage valves have been notoriously deficient.

Hydraulic flow forces acting on a nozzle-flapper valve are utilized to advantage in the new design. A section of this paper discusses these forces and presents empirical data on typical servovalve configurations.