Appendix: Ap-M1-L2-1

Basic symbols of the components used in hydraulic circuits

Hydraulic tube/pipe/hose etc

SL Symbol Name of the symbol

No.
1. Centerline-Enclosure Outline
2. Dashed Line-Pilot Line
3. Dotted line-Exhaust or Drain
Line
4. Lines Crossing (90 degree
intersection not necessary)
5. Lines Joining
6. Lines Joining(90 degree
intersection not necessary)
7. Flexible hose power line
junction
8. Flexible Line

9. Solid Line-Main Line

10. Flow Direction (hydraulic

medium)
11. Quick Disconnect Without
Checks
12. Centerline-Enclosure Outline

13. Dashed Line-Pilot Line

14. Dotted Line - Exhaust or Drain

Line
15. Plugged Port, Test Station,
Power take Off

1
Hydraulic connector/check valve etc

SL Symbol Name of the symbol

No.
1. Line with adjustable restriction

2. Line with fixed restriction

3. Flow Divider

4. Throttle (fixed and variable

adjustment)

5. Check valve with spring

6. Check valve without spring

7. Quick Disconnect With

Checks
8. Quick Disconnect With One
Check

9. Quick Disconnect Without

Checks

2
Filter/Heater/Cooler (Heat Exchanger) etc

SL No. Symbol Description

1. Filter

2. Filter-separator (with manual drain)

3. Automatic Drain

4. Filter-Separator (with automatic drain)

5. Oil Lubricator (with manual drain)

6. Oil Lubricator (less drain)

7. Oil Lubricator (with automatic filling)

8. Cooler

9. Cooler (inside arrows indicate heat

dissipation)
10. Heater

11. Heater(inside arrows indicate introduction

of heat)

3
Reservoir/Accumulator/Gauge etc

SL Symbol Name of the symbol

No.
1. Receiver

2. Reservoir

3. Reservoir(with baffle)

4. Reservoir with connecting

lines
5. Air bleed

6. Pressure Gauge

7. Flow meter

8. Accumulator

9. Accumulator

10. Accumulator

4
Prime mover/Coupling etc

SL Symbol Name of the symbol

No.
1. Motor (denotes electric motor)

2. Motor (denotes ic engine)

3. Power Line

4. Power Source(air or oil)

5. Coupling

6. Crossing power lines (non-

connecting)
7. Drive Shaft

8. Rotating coupling(multi-line)

9. ON-OFF(simplified)

Colour code for hydraulic line

SL Symbol Name of the symbol

No.
COLOUR BAR
1.

5
Lever/Cam etc

SL Symbol Name of the symbol

No.
1. Foot Pedal

2. Hand Lever

3. Cam follower

4. Roller Operator

5. Lever

6. Manual (general symbol)

7. Roller operator

8. Mechanical (cam, toggle etc)

9. Pedal or Treadle

10. Push Button

6
Symbols for Hydraulic valves (Some examples not exhaustive)

Ordinary DC Valves

SL Symbol Description
No.
3-position valve symbol(center box shows flow
1. condition at rest)
Boxes show flow paths and initiating actions.
2.

Complete valve symbols

3. (4/3 close centre DC valve)

4/3 Tandem DC valve

4.

6/3 DC valve
5.
2/2 DC valve
6.
3/2 DC valve
7.

3/2 DC Valve of different configuration.

8.
4/2 DC valve
9.
4/2 ( 5-Ported) DC valve
10.
4/3 Infinite Positioning (cylinder ports open to
11. exhaust in center position)

4/3 5-Ported(cylinder ports open to pressure in

12. center position)

Additional Symbols

7
 Spring centering
1.

Spring return
2.

Hand Lever
3.

Hydraulic pilot
4.
Solenoid
5.
Spring
6.
Electrical solenoid (double acting)
7.
Electrical solenoid (single acting)
8.

DC valves with more detailed symbols

4/2 (hydraulic-pilot-operated, spring-returned)

1. DC valve
4/2 (hydraulic-pilot-operated returned) DC
2. valve

4/2 (solenoid-pilot-operated spring returned)

3. DC valve

4/3 Pilot Operated DC Valve (double acting)

4.

4/2 Single Acting DC Valve

5.

4/3 (hydraulic-pilot-operated spring centered)

6. DC valve

4/2 (hydraulic-pilot-operated, hydraulic-pilot-

7. returned) DC valve

8
 4/2 (solenoid-pilot-operated, spring-returned)
8. DC valve

4/3 (hydraulic-pilot-operated, spring-centered)

9. DC valve

A typical flow control servo valve

Electro-hydraulic servo valve

1.

Pressure Control valves

Direct acting pressure relief valve

1.

Pressure Relief (pilot-operated) valve

2.

Pilot Operated Pressure reducing valve

3.

Pilot Operated Relief valve

4.

Pilot Operated relief valve (external pilot,

5. internal drain),Pressure reducing valve(fixed
and variable adjustment)
Pilot Operated relief valve(external pilot,
6. external drain)

9
 Poppet function (normally closed)
7.

Poppet function(normally open)

8.

Pressure Reducing valve

9.

Remote Pressure Adjustment (direct- operated)

10. valve

Counterbalance valve
11.

Sequence valve
12.

Unloading valve
13.

Pressure reducing valve (three position)

14.

Pressure Switch
15.

\ Sequence Valve (external drain for constant

16. load)

Sequence Valve (external drain load varies with

17. back pressure in the tank line)

Some other valves

10
 2-way pressure compensated flow control
1.

3-way pressure compensated flow

2. control(used as a priority flow controller,
excess flow returns to tank or secondary
circuit)
Throttle Valve
3.

Check valve with spring

4.

Check valve without spring

5.

11
Symbols of rotary actuators (Hydrostatic units i.e., Pumps and Motors)
and some simple Hydrostatic Transmission (HST) Systems

Simple units

SL No. Symbol Description

Constant Flow (Fixed Displacement) Pump
1. single outlet (unidirectional input shaft
rotation)
Constant flow pump double outlet
2. (bidirectional input shaft rotation)

Variable (displacement) flow pump single

3. outlet
Variable (displacement) flow pump dual
4. outlet
Constant Flow (Fixed Displacement)
5. Motor single inlet (unidirectional output
shaft rotation)
Constant flow pump double inlet
6. (bidirectional output shaft rotation)

Variable (displacement) flow Motor single

7. output

Variable (displacement) flow Motor dual

8. output

HST

SL No. Symbol Description

Close circuit HST system with variable
9. displacement pump and fixed displacement
motor.
(Simplified symbol for using in large
circuit)
Compact symbol of HST with FD pump &
10. FD motor.

12
Sophisticated units

SL No. Symbol Description

Hydraulic pump or motor,
11. rotation one way only

Hydraulic pump or motor, single flow

12.

Dual rotation hydraulic pump or motor

13.

Variable pump or motor, rotation one way

14. only

Variable flow hydraulic pump or motor

15.

Variable pump or motor, dual rotation

16.

Detailed but simplified symbols

SL No. Symbol Description

Pump-Motor (unidirectional, fixed
17. displacement, non-compensated)

Pump(bidirectional, variable displacement,

18. non-compensated)

Pump(bidirectional, variable displacement,

19. pressure compensated)

Pump(unidirectional, variable
20. displacement, non-compensated)

Pump-Motor(bidirectional, variable
21. displacement, pressure-compensated)

13
Linear actuator

SL No. Symbol Description

Single acting cylinder (return action by load)
1.

Single acting cylinder (return action by spring)

2.
Double-acting cylinder
3. (Thin piston rod. Not usually under
compression)
Double acting cylinder
4. (Thick piston rod)

Cylinder with cushions

5.
Cylinder with adjustable cushions
6.
Double acting cylinder with adjustable
7. cushions
Double rod cylinder
8.
Telescopic cylinder
9.

Intensifier cylinder
10.

14