US Patent 6869060 Hydraulic poppet valve with force feedback

A pilot operated valve has a poppet that is held against a valve seat by pressure in a control chamber on an opposite side of the poppet and by force from a feedback spring. The force feedback spring also engages a pilot valve spool which controls the flow fluid from a control chamber. When a electrically driven actuator moves the pilot valve spool and fluid is released from the control chamber, inlet pressure acting on the poppet causes the valve to open. As the poppet moves away from the valve seat, the feedback spring exerts more force on the pilot valve spool so as to meter the fluid being released from the control chamber. When the force of the feedback spring counterbalances the actuator force, an equilibrium condition occurs and the poppet stops moving at the desired flow control position.