🔍 Key Concepts

• Hydraulic valves that control motion of actuators such as cylinders holding vertical loads • How back pressure or holding pressure can keep a cylinder from drifting when the pump is not actively moving it • The different purposes of pressure reducing, unloading, counterbalance, and sequence valves in a circuit

💭 Think About

• Which type of valve is specifically designed to hold or control a vertical load so it does not drift or run away under its own weight? • Think about which valve type responds to the weight of the load itself rather than just directing flow in a set order of operations. • For each valve name, ask: is its main job to limit system pressure, dump pump flow to tank, control the order of operations, or to hold/support a load?

✅ Before You Answer

• Match the valve whose primary function is to prevent a vertical actuator from creeping or suddenly dropping under gravity. • Eliminate any valve whose main use is system protection or sequencing, not load holding. • Confirm which valve is commonly used to provide controlled lowering and load holding for cylinders that move vertical loads.