ME 4232:

FLUID POWER CONTROLS LAB

Class #7
Servo-Hydraulic Systems
Notes
• Class Next Week
– Data Acquisition & Controls Hardware
• System Dynamics Review Assignment
– Due Wed/Thurs lab after break (3/21-22)
– Counts as a lab assignment
• Upcoming Labs:
– Lab 14: Integrated Lab
– Make-Up & Help Session

2
Agenda
• Feedback: Course
• Servo Valves
– Function
– Characteristics
– Experimental System
– Open-Loop System Identification
– Force Analysis

3
Feedback: Course
Like
• Interesting / Hands-on
Labs
• Seeing Components in
Class
• Explanations in Class
• Discussion of Research
Dislike
• Grading Inconsistency
• Hard to Absorb all Info
• Want Well Defined Labs
• Hard to See Board in
Video
• Condense lectures

Suggestions
• “Can we visit the hybrid vehicle lab?”
− Tuesday, 10 am 4
Previously Discussed:
Directional Control Valves

5
Single Stage Proportional Valves
Solenoids

• Solenoids Create Spool Displacement

• LVDT Spool Position Feedback
• Spring (sometimes) for Safety

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Single Stage Proportional Valves
• Advantages:
– Simple design
– Reliable
– Cost effective
• Disadvantages:
– Poor dynamic performance (bandwidth)
– At high flow rates and bandwidths, large stroking
force is needed
– Large (and expensive) solenoids / torque motors
needed.
– Low end market …..
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Multi-stage valves

• Use hydraulic force to drive the spool …..

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Electrohydraulic servo-valve
• Multi-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

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 Servovalves

Servo-Valve Diagrams from:

Dolid, R., 2010, “The Electrohydraulic Servovalve Coloring Book,”
(http://www.lulu.com/items/volume_67/7563000/7563085/3/print/Servovalve_Book__091207.pdf)
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Servo Valve Function

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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

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First Stage - Armature rotation

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First Stage – Nozzle and Flapper

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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

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Null Position – Oil Flow path
1. Supply pressure - red
2. Filter pressure – light blue
3. Spool press. – orange
4. Return press – light green

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Activated Position – 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

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Servo Valve Parts

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Torque Motor Parts

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Three Stage Valve

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MTS Systems Corp – 4000 gpm Valve

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Nozzle & Flapper vs. Jet Tube

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Typical Flow vs. Pressure Curve

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Servo Valve Benefits / Characteristics
• Feedback from 2nd Stage to 1st
• Low Mass Torque Motor
• Large ΔP in 1st Stage
• Frictionless / Isolated 1st Stage
• Mechanically / Hydraulically Symmetric
• 300-1000 Hz Natural Frequency
• Good Linearity

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Negatives
• Contamination Susceptible
– < 3 micron filtration

• High Cost
– Torque motor
– Critically Lapped

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Servovalve vs. Proportional Valve

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