Sun Hydraulics Technical Tips

Flow Divider and Flow Divider/Combiner Valves

Applications
There are two types of flow dividers and flow divider/combiners: Hydraulic Motor Applications

 Sliding spool Hydraulic motor drive systems will be affected by the compen-
 Rotary (usually gear) sating characteristics in the same manner as cylinders. Rigid
frames or mechanisms tying the motors together (mechanically
Each type has its own set of performance characteristics: synchronized motion of the motor’s output shafts; e.g. wheels to
the pavement, or sprockets to conveyers) will contribute to
 Flow range
cavitation, lock-up, and pressure intensification.
 Pressure capability
 Accuracy Variations in speed and/or possible lock-up can also be caused
 Unique application parameters by differences in motor displacement, motor leakage, differences
in wheel diameter, plus variations in the coefficient of friction
Sun offers sliding spool, pressure-compensated flow dividers between the wheels and driving surface.
and flow divider/combiners which can be used to split or com-
bine flow in a variety of applications. These cartridges are simple On multiple wheel drive vehicles, extreme pressure intensifica-
devices, both in appearance and operation. The flow dividers tion can occur. For example, a four wheel drive vehicle going
incorporate just one moving part, while flow divider/combiners down a grade has all wheels gripping. Deceleration then induces
have up to three moving parts. Be aware that simplicity of design a 3000 psi (210 bar) load on all four wheel motors. At this point,
and construction does not necessarily lead to application three of the four motors loose traction, causing the fourth motor
simplicity when it comes to specifying these devices. to see a theoretical deceleration pressure of 12,000 psi (840
bar).
When using Sun spool type flow dividers and flow divider/
combiners, several areas of application sensitivity must be taken  Adding relief valves at the cylinder or motor ports will
into consideration. minimize the potential for pressure intensification along with
its resulting system damage.
 Flows below the designated operating range, entrapped air,  Installing make-up (anti-cavitation) check valves at the
and/or contamination can cause these devices to produce cylinder or motor ports can help with the cavitation problem.
inaccuracies larger than the individual cartridge-specified  Properly sized slip orifices in a tractive motor drive circuit can
tolerance limits. alleviate lock-up and allow for terrain variations or articulated
 In all flow divider and flow divider/combiner applications, steering.
inaccuracies are cumulative. Although two or more devices in
series will perform within the stated accuracy limits, the The “bottom line” is: Each flow divider and flow divider/combiner
cumulative effect on accuracy must be considered as to how application must be thoroughly analyzed. Every consideration
it will affect overall system performance. must be given to expected system performance under all
possible operating conditions. Precautions must be taken in
Two of the most common application areas include multiple order to insure that none of the problems previously discussed
cylinder circuits and hydraulic motor circuits. can occur and affect the satisfactory performance of the entire
Cylinder Applications system.

In the dividing mode, pressure-compensated flow dividers (or Design Concepts and Features
flow divider/combiners) split flow within the valve’s accuracy
limits. Inherent design characteristics will cause the path with Sun offers seven sliding spool, pressure compensated flow
the highest load pressure to receive a higher percentage of dividers and flow divider/combiners, four standard accuracy
the flow. If a rigid mechanism ties the cylinders together, the higher flow versions, and three high accuracy lower flow
lead cylinder can pull the lagging cylinder and cause it to versions. Input flows range from 0.3 gpm (1 L/min) to 70 gpm
cavitate. (270 L/min) with operating pressures up to 5000 psi (350 bar).
(Be aware that with all versions there will be no dividing or
In the combining mode, these devices will combine flow within combining when flows are below the minimum rated input
the stated accuracy limits. However, the compensating charac- flow. If flow starts at zero, the cartridge will essentially be a
teristics will cause the leg with the lowest load pressure to tee until the minimum flow rating is reached.) All seven
receive a higher percentage of the flow. versions are available in four frame sizes, with each frame size
featuring a wider flow range than is typically found in other
Synchronization at the end of the cylinder stroke is a must, cartridge type flow dividers and flow divider/combiners. (The
or an additive accuracy error can be expected with each high accuracy versions are rated at approximately half the
stroke. In applications where the mechanisms between the capacity of the standard accuracy units for a given frame size.)
two cylinders turn out to be too rigid, operating inaccuracy
will cause the eventual lock-up of the system, with potential
damage to the mechanical structure.

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Flow Divider (Only) Cartridges – FS*D, FSBD and FS*C Closed Center Flow Divider/Combiner Cartridges – FS*A,
FSAA, FSBA and FS*G
Sun standard accuracy FS*D, plus high accuracy FSBD and
FS*C flow divider cartridges, are suited for applications that use Sun standard accuracy FS*A and high accuracy FSAA, FSBA,
hydraulic motors or cylinders where flow division control is and FS*G closed center flow divider/combiner cartridges can be
required in only one direction. (If reversal of the actuator direction used in applications that use hydraulic motors or cylinders where
is desired, a reverse flow check valve would be required.) In bi-directional flow division control is required. (See Figures 3
addition, they can be used where multiple circuits are serviced and 4) Optimized performance parameters include:
from one pump supply. (See Figures 1 and 2) Optimized perfor-
mance parameters include:  Broad flow capacity relative to physical size.
 50:50 flow split ratio only.
 Broad flow capacity relative to physical size.  A unique closed center feature that will block flow when port
 Standard accuracy divisional tolerances range from +/- 3.5% 3 (inlet) is closed. Although the limited spool leakage
at maximum rated input flow down to +/- 6.5% at minimum between ports does not provide zero leak load holding
rated input flow, with 5000 psi (350 bar) differential between capability, this feature can be helpful in minimizing cross-
legs. port flow and drift.
 High accuracy divisional tolerances range from +/- 2.5% at  Standard accuracy divisional and combining tolerances
maximum rated input flow down to +/- 4.5% at minimum rated range from +/- 3.5% of 50% at maximum rated input flow
input flow, with 5000 psi (350 bar) differential between legs. down to +/- 6.5% of 50% at minimum rated input flow, with
 Multiple flow split options (except for FS*C versions) – 50:50, 5000 psi (350 bar) differential between legs. High accuracy
40:60, and 33:67. (Regardless of split ratio, port 2 [outlet] divisional and combining tolerances range from +/- 2.5% of
always produces lower flow than port 4 [outlet].) 50% at maximum rated input flow down to +/- 4.5% of 50%
 Reverse flow path is unpredictable as these flow divider (only) at minimum rated input flow, with 5000 psi (350 bar) differen-
cartridges are not designed to combine flow from the opposite tial between legs.
direction.

Figure 2.
Use flow divider (only) cartridges for
Figure 1. two parallel hydraulic motors being
driven only in one direction. Unequal
Use flow divider (only) cartridg-
speeds can be accomplished with
es to provide flow to two sepa- Figure 3.
rate systems from one supply. motors of equal displacement using
Secondary systems can be the 40:60 or 33:67 ratios. Motors
tailored to three proportional For two hydraulic motors rotating at the same speed and
with unequal displacement ratios
flow requirements (i.e. 50:50, in both directions, flow divider/combiner cartridges are the
that match either the 40:60 or 33:67
40:60, or 33:67). correct choice. However, if the application allows the
flow divider ratios, can be operated
motors to become mechanically linked during operation, it
at the same speed, within the accu-
is recommended that relief valves, anti-cavitation check
racy limits of the flow divider and the
valves, or slip orifices be added to the circuit.
motors’ volumetric efficiency.

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Synchronizing Flow Divider/Combiner Cartridges – FS*S,

FSCS, FSDS and FS*R

Closed center flow divider/ Sun standard accuracy FS*S, plus high accuracy FSCS, FSDS,
combiner cartridges will and FS*R synchronizing flow divider/combiner cartridges allow
accurately split the flow synchronization of two hydraulic cylinders. After the first cylinder
into two cylinders in both has reached the end of its’ stroke, a pressure-compensated
reduced flow is metered to/from the second cylinder until it also
directions and will provide
reaches the end of its’ stroke. (See Figure 6) Optimized perfor-
limited load holding capa-
mance parameters include:
bility (cross-port leakage is
limited to spool clearanc-  Broad flow capacity relative to physical size.
es). Synchronization at the  50:50 flow split ratio only.
end of stroke can be ac-  Bi-directional static error correction.
complished by adding  Standard accuracy divisional and combining tolerances range
cross-port relief valves. from +/- 2.5% of 50% at maximum rated input flow down to
Cylinders must not be +/- 4.5% of 50% at minimum rated input flow, with 5000 psi
rigidly connected to- (350 bar) differential between legs. High accuracy divisional
gether! and combining tolerances range from +/- 2.0% of 50% at
maximum rated input flow down to +/- 3.5% of 50% at
minimum rated input flow, with 5000 psi (350 bar) differential
between legs.
 Synchronization flow is equal to approximately 15% of mini-
Figure 4. mum rated flow.

Closed Center, High Capacity, Flow Divider/Combiner

Cartridges – FS*H
Sun high capacity FS*H flow divider/combiner cartridges are
primarily for use in tractive drive circuits. (See Figure 5) Perfor-
mance parameters include:
 High flow capacity. (15% greater than equivalent frame size
standard flow divider/combiners.)
 Slightly lower accuracy than standard accuracy divider/
combiners. (Divisional and combining tolerances range from +/
- 4% of 50% at maximum rated input flow down to +/- 6.5% of
50% at minimum rated input flow, with 5000 psi (350 bar)
differential between legs.
 50:50 flow split ratio only.
 A unique closed center feature that will block flow when port 3
(inlet) is closed.
 Differential slip for tractive drive systems must be created by
adding orifices in the body/manifold.

Use FS*H flow divider/ Figure 6.

combiner cartridges,
Synchronizing flow divider/combiner cartridges will not only
plus external slip
accurately split the flow to two cylinders in both directions,
orifices, in hydraulic
but will allow synchronizing at the end of stroke. However,
motor tractive drive
circuits. (Sun YG*B Cylinders must not be rigidly connected together!
manifold assemblies
include selectable slip
orifices.) Motor port relief
valves and anti-
cavitation check valves
should also be included
in the final circuitry.

Figure 5.

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Note: When using flow controls in conjunction with flow dividers, care must be taken with the orientation and position of the flow
controls. See Figure 7 for further details.

How to Use Flow Controls with Flow Dividers

Figure 7.

Allowable Flow control positions for bi-directional control of

cylinder speed. In all cases, both flow controls must be either
meter-in or meter-out, and have reverse free flow capability.

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Flow Divider and Flow Divider/Combiner Valves Overview

Function Description Nominal Capacity Model Cavity Symbol

Divider Divide Only 1.5 - 8 gpm (6 - 32 L/min.) FSCD T-31A

3 - 15 gpm (12 - 60 L/min.) FSDD T-32A
6 - 30 gpm (23 - 120 L/min.) FSED T-33A
12 - 60 gpm (45 - 240 L/min.) FSFD T-34A

Divider Divide Only— 0.6 - 3 gpm (2,5 - 12 L/min.) FSBD T-31A

High Accuracy 1.5 - 8 gpm (6 - 32 L/min.) FSDC T-32A
3 - 15 gpm (12 - 60 L/min.) FSEC T-33A
6 - 30 gpm (23 - 120 L/min.) FSFC T-34A

Divider/Combiner Closed Center 1.5 - 8 gpm (6 - 32 L/min.) FSCA T-31A

3 - 15 gpm (12 - 60 L/min.) FSDA T-32A
6 - 30 gpm (23 - 120 L/min.) FSEA T-33A
12 - 60 gpm (45 - 240 L/min.) FSFA T-34A

Divider/Combiner Closed Center— 0.3 - 1.5 gpm (1 - 6 L/min.) FSAA T-31A

High Accuracy 0.6 - 3 gpm (2,5 - 12 L/min.) FSBA T-31A
1.5 - 8 gpm (6 - 32 L/min.) FSDG T-32A
3 - 15 gpm (12 - 60 L/min.) FSEG T-33A
6 - 30 gpm (23 - 120 L/min.) FSFG T-34A

Divider/Combiner Closed Center— 2 - 9 gpm (8 - 34 L/min.) FSCH T-31A

High Capacity 4 - 17 gpm (15 - 65 L/min.) FSDH T-32A
8 - 35 gpm (32 - 130 L/min.) FSEH T-33A
15 - 70 gpm (60 - 270 L/min.) FSFH T-34A

Divider/Combiner Synchronizing 1.5 - 8 gpm (6 - 32 L/min.) FSCS T-31A

3 - 15 gpm (12 - 60 L/min.) FSDS T-32A
6 - 30 gpm (23 - 120 L/min.) FSES T-33A
12 - 60 gpm (45 - 240 L/min.) FSFS T-34A

Divider/Combiner Synchronizing— 0.3 - 1.5 gpm (1 - 6 L/min.) FSAS T-31A

High Accuracy 0.6 - 3 gpm (2,5 - 12 L/min.) FSBS T-31A
1.5 - 8 gpm (6 - 32 L/min.) FSDR T-32A
3 - 15 gpm (12 - 60 L/min.) FSER T-33A
6 - 30 gpm (23 - 120 L/min.) FSFR T-34A

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