Basic Hydraulic Open Center Flow Divider System Schematic

Hydraulic and Pneumatic Knowledge

Basic Hydraulic Open Center Flow Divider System Schematic

The illustration below, shows an open-center system with a flow divider. A flow divider takes the volume of oil from a pump and divides it between two functions. For example, a flow divider might be designed to open the left side first in case both control valves were actuated simultaneously. Or, it might divide the oil to both sides, equally or by percentage. With this system, a pump must be large enough to operate all the functions simultaneously. It must also supply all the liquid at the maximum pressure of the highest function, meaning large amounts of HP are wasted when operating only one control valve.

Open-center system with a flow divider