RonMar
Elite Member
Thank you Ron for the answer but the answer brings more questions.. Where does the fluid return when the 3PTH is not moving and the steering is also still? If the Divider is a 50/50 divider it would seem that some fluid would flow all the time. I added a tap in the line when I added the filter. A lot more fluid flows out the tap when the engine is running than when the engine is not running. I think the power steering works when I am lifting with the 3PTH so I suspect it is a simple Divider. I am a novice a best on hydraulics with a strong desire to learn.
Harold
The block after the FEL valve is a priority type diverter not a divider. Most all the fluid flows down the line to the 3PH control valve. With the 3PH control valve in the hold or lower position, all this flow passes thru the valve body and into the resovoir thru the wall of the resovoir. When you lift the 3PH control lever, this flow is diverted from the resovoir to the 3PH cylinder. A very small ammount of fluid is allowed to pass from the diverter to the steering system. A little may leak by the vane pump and back to the resovoir, but not very much. As soon as you start to turn the wheel, that vane pump/valve at the end of the steering column allows a lot of fluid to flow to/from the steering cylinder. As soon as this fluid is allowed to really flow, the change in pressure this creates in the diverter forces the diverter piston to shift the flow/pressure to the steering system in preference to the 3PH. this pressure does the work, with the vane pump via the steering wheel directing the flow. As soon as you stop turning the wheel, you halt the flow, and the diverter shifts the flow back to the 3PH. That vane pump is just that, a pump. This allows you to still work the steering when the engine is not running. Without hydraulic pressure from the engine pump, the steering vane pump becomes basically a closed system and uses just the fluid in the steering cylinder and lines.
The diverter allows steering to take priority over the 3PH. If you try and lift the 3PH while turning the wheel, the 3PH will slow or not move untill you stop turning the wheel.