326D2 and 329D2 Excavators Hydraulic System-Relief Valve (Line)

Relief Valve (Line)

Each line relief valve contains a makeup valve. The line relief valves are located between each
cylinder and the respective control valve.
When the control valves for the cylinders are in the NEUTRAL position and an external force
acts on one end of the cylinder, the oil pressure increases on the opposite end of the cylinder. The
oil pressure also increases in the passage of the line relief valve that is connected to the cylinder.
The line relief valve relieves the high pressure. The line relief valves limit the circuit pressure to
the specified pressure settings.
ReferenceRefer to Testing and Adjusting, "Specifications" for the line relief valve pressure
settings.

Line relief valve (CLOSED position)

(1) Passage
(2) Valve
(3) Valve
(4) Spring chamber
(5) Valve
(6) Spring
(7) Piston
(8) Return passage(9) Passage
The high pressure between the cylinder and the control valve is transmitted to passage (1) . This
pressurizes the line relief valve. The pressure oil flows from passage (1) through passage (9) of
piston (7) . The oil then flows into spring chamber (4) . When the oil pressure is lower than the
line relief valve pressure setting, valve (5) remains in the CLOSED position by the force of
spring (6) . The oil pressure in passage (1) and the oil pressure in spring chamber (4) are equal.
The surface area of the right side of valves (2) and (3) is larger than the surface area of the left
side. The force on the right side of valves (2) and (3) is greater than the force on the left side.
Valves (2) and (3) are forced to the left. The pressure oil does not flow from passage (1) to
passage (8) .

Line relief valve (OPEN position)

(1) Passage
(2) Valve
(3) Valve
(4) Spring chamber
(5) Valve
(6) Spring
(7) Piston
(8) Return passage
(9) Passage
(10) Valve chamber
(11) Passage(12) Passage
When the high pressure oil in passage (1) reaches the line relief valve pressure setting, valve (5)
overcomes the force of spring (6) and opens. The high pressure oil flows from valve chamber
(10) through passage (12) to return passage (8) . The pressure now becomes low pressure. The
pressure in passage (1) pushes piston (7) to the right until the piston comes in contact with the
left end of valve (5) . The oil in passage (1) flows around the end of piston (7) and the oil enters
spring chamber (4) . Since the flow around the outside of piston (7) is restricted, the oil in spring
chamber (4) becomes low pressure oil. As a result, valve (3) is pushed to the right. Passage (11)
opens. The oil flows from passage (1) to passage (8) .
Line relief valve (makeup operation)
(1) Passage
(2) Valve
(3) Valve
(4) Spring chamber
(8) Return passage
(9) Passage(13) Shoulder
The line relief valve functions as a makeup valve in the following manner.
When oil from one end of the cylinder is discharged through the line relief valve, a vacuum
condition is created on the opposite end of the cylinder. Makeup oil is needed to prevent the
vacuum condition in the cylinder.
When the vacuum condition occurs on the end of the cylinder that is connected to passage (1) , a
vacuum condition also occurs in spring chamber (4) . The pressure of the oil in passage (8) acts
on shoulder (13) of valve (2) . Since a vacuum condition is present in spring chamber (4) , the
pressure in spring chamber (4) is lower than the pressure of the return oil in passage (8) . Valves
(2) and (3) are pushed to the right by the pressure of the return oil in passage (8) . Return oil
flows from passage (8) to passage (1) as makeup oil in order to remove the vacuum condition in
the cylinder.