Introduc*on  to  Servo  Hydraulics  

At  the  end  of  this  video,  you  should  be  able  to:  
•  Iden5fy  common  applica5ons  of  servo  hydraulics  
•  Explain  the  benefits  of  servo  hydraulics  
    

Servovalve  Opera+on  
At  the  end  of  this  video,  you  should  be  able  to:  
•  Explain  how  a  servovalve  func:ons  including  opera:on  of  
the  torque  motor,  interac:on  of  the  two  stages,  and  
mechanical  feedback  
Solenoid  DCV  Limita+ons  
 
Direc:onal  Control  Valve:  

Source:  Vickers  Industrial  Hydraulics  

Manual  
2  Stage  Spool  
nd torque motor

flapper & nozzles feedback wire

spool

P P
A T B
2nd  Stage   Spool  
torque motor
armature

flexure tube

flapper & nozzles feedback wire

spool

P P
A T B
 torque motor
armature

flexure tube

flapper & nozzles feedback wire

spool

P P
A T B
Servovalve  Dissec+on  
Three  Stage  Valve  
15,000  lit/min  4-­‐stage  Servovalve  
Electrohydraulic  servo-­‐valve  
•  Mul:-­‐stage  valve   Pilot stage

•  Typically  uses  a  flapper-­‐nozzle  pilot  stage  

•  Built-­‐in  feedback  via  feedback  wire  
•  Very  high  dynamic  performance  
•  Bandwidth  =  100-­‐200+Hz   Main stage

For a fun place to learn how a servo-valve works:

R. Dolid “Electrohydraulic Valve Coloring Book”
http://www.lulu.com/items/volume_67/7563000/7563085/3/print/Servovalve_Book__091207.pdf
Servo  Valve  Func+on  
First  Stage  –  Torque-­‐motor-­‐armature  
Transforms electrical
current into torque,
which changes
relative nozzle
pressures

A. Permanent Magnet (2) - yellow

B. Wire Coil - pink
C. Armature Assembly – light blue
D. Upper Pole Piece – light green
E. Lower Pole Piece – dark green
First  Stage  -­‐  Armature  rota+on  
First  Stage  –  Nozzle  and  Flapper  
Second  Stage  
J. Feedback wire – orange
K. Nozzles – red
L. Spool – dark blue
M. Filter – brown
N. Fixed Orifice – light green
O. Variable orifice – dark green
Null  Posi+on  –  Oil  Flow  path  
1. Supply pressure - red
2. Filter pressure – light blue
3. Spool press. – orange
4. Return press – light green
Ac+vated  Posi+on  –  Oil  Flow  Path  
1. Supply - red
2. Filter – light blue
3. Spool hi-side – pink
4. Spool lo-side – yellow
5. C1 – orchid/magenta
6. C2 – dark blue
7. Return press – light green
Nozzle  &  Flapper  vs.  Jet  Tube  
Typical  Flow  vs.  Pressure  Curve  
Servo  Valve  Benefits  /  Characteris+cs  
•  Feedback  from  2nd  Stage  to  1st    
•  Low  Mass  Torque  Motor  
•  Large  ΔP  in  1st  Stage  
•  Fric:onless  /  Isolated  1st  Stage  
•  Mechanically  /  Hydraulically  Symmetric  
•  300-­‐1000  Hz  Natural  Frequency  
•  Good  Linearity  
Nega+ves  
•  Contamina:on  Suscep:ble  
–  <  3  micron  filtra:on  

•  High  Cost  
–  Torque  motor  
–  Cri:cally  Lapped  
    

Servo  Hydraulic  Circuits  

At  the  end  of  this  video,  you  should  be  able  to:  
•  Describe  the  role  and  interac7ons  between  the  primary  
components  in  a  servo  hydraulic  circuit  
•  Simulate  a  servo  hydraulic  circuit  with  open  and  closed  
loop  control  
Load  Frame  Circuit  
Servo  Hydraulic  Simula5on