摘要 |
A fluid controller (17) is disclosed for controlling the flow of fluid to a steering cylinder (19). The controller includes a fluid meter (51) and a valving arrangement (49) including a valve spool (65) and a sleeve (67). The valving (49) defines a main fluid path including a main variable flow control orifice (121), a variable flow control orifice (123), the fluid meter (51), the steering cylinder (19), and a variable flow control orifice (125). In accordance with the invention, the valving (49) defines a dampening fluid path including a variable dampening orifice (133), the dampening fluid path being in parallel with the main fluid path to dampen pressure spikes in the main fluid path. The size of the variable dampening orifice (133), and the flow therethrough, is a function of the relative displacement between the spool (65) and sleeve (67), whereby the timing and amount of the dampening flow and the relationship thereof to the gain curve of the main fluid path can be selected as desired.
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