Shuttle valve - cartridge
A hydraulic shuttle valve is a type of directional control valve that automatically selects the higher pressure fluid source from two inlet ports and directs it to a single outlet port. It essentially acts as an "OR" logic element in a hydraulic circuit.
Its basic structure involves a movable internal ball, within a cylindrical body with 2 ports. When fluid pressure is applied to one inlet, it pushes the ball towards the opposite inlet, blocking it, and allowing the fluid to flow out through the common outlet. If the other inlet then experiences higher pressure, the ball moves in the opposite direction, blocking the first inlet and allowing flow from the second.
Shuttle valves are crucial for ensuring continuous operation, providing redundancy, and managing pressure signals in various hydraulic applications, such as load sensing circuits, brake systems, and standby/ emergency systems, by ensuring that the system always responds to the highest available pressure.
