RDFA | Cartridges » Pressure Control » Relief

Direct-acting relief cartridges are normally closed, pressure-limiting valves used to protect hydraulic components from pressure transients. When the pressure at the inlet (port 1) reaches the valve setting, the valve starts to open to tank (port 2), throttling flow to limit the pressure rise. These valves are smooth and quiet, essentially zero leak, dirt tolerant, immune to silting and are very fast.

Will accept maximum pressure at port 2; suitable for use in cross port relief circuits.
The seals on the adjust screw are exposed to system pressure which means this valve can only be adjusted when the pressure is removed. The setting procedure is; check the setting, remove the pressure, adjust the valve, check the new setting.
Valve is relatively insensitive to varying oil temperatures and oil borne contamination.
Select a spring range where the desired relief setting is approximately mid-range to high between the minimum and maximum pressure to ensure maximum valve repeatability.
Suitable for use in load holding applications.
Back pressure on the tank port (port 2) is directly additive to the valve setting at a 1:1 ratio.
Cartridges configured with EPDM seals are for use in systems with phosphate ester fluids. Exposure to petroleum based fluids, greases and lubricants will damage the seals.
Test pressure for each range is as follows: A range - 2000 psi (138 bar), B range - 1000 psi (69 bar), C range - 4000 psi (276 bar), D range - 800 psi (55 bar), E range - 400 psi (28 bar), S range - 150 psi (10 bar), W range - 3000 psi (207 bar).
Reseat meets or exceeds 90% of crack pressure at test setting. Settings lower than the test pressure may result in lower reseat percentages.
All 2-port relief cartridges (except pilot reliefs) are physically and functionally interchangeable (same flow path, same cavity for a given frame size).
Incorporates the Sun floating style construction to minimize the possibility of internal parts binding due to excessive installation torque and/or cavity/cartridge machining variations.

Back to Top

Note: Data may vary by configuration. See CONFIGURATION section.

Cavity	T-3A
Series	2
Capacity	50 gpm200 L/min.
Maximum Operating Pressure	5000 psi350 bar
Factory Pressure Settings Established at	4 gpm15 L/min.
Maximum Valve Leakage at Reseat	10 drops/min.0,7 cc/min.
Response Time - Typical	2 ms2 ms
Reseat	>90% of setting>90% of setting
Adjustment - No. of CW Turns from Min. to Max. setting	66
Valve Hex Size	1 1/8 in.28,6 mm
Valve Installation Torque	45 - 50 lbf ft61 - 68 Nm
Adjustment Screw Internal Hex Size	5/32 in.4 mm
Locknut Hex Size	9/16 in.15 mm
Locknut Torque	80 - 90 lbf in.9 - 10 Nm
Model Weight	.50 lb0,25 kg
Seal kit - Cartridge	Buna: 990303007
Seal kit - Cartridge	EPDM: 990303014
Seal kit - Cartridge	Polyurethane: 990303002
Seal kit - Cartridge	Viton: 990303006

Back to Top

Performance Curve for RDFA: Direct-acting relief valve

Back to Top

Direct acting or pilot operated - what do I use?

Direct-acting valves are used to prevent over pressure, and pilot-operated valves are used to regulate pressure. If you are unsure, use a direct-acting valve. Sun's direct acting valves are very fast, dirt tolerant, stable, and robust. Sun's pilot-operated valves are moderately fast, they have a low pressure rise vs. flow curve, and they are easy to adjust.

Where would I use a kick-down relief?

One graphic example is on a portable grain auger for silos. When the farmer gets caught in the auger the kick-down relief trips and allows him to escape.

What are the tolerances on pressure settings for Sun's pressure control valves?

Pressure setting tolerances are listed in our Performance Data page. A link to this page can also be found in the Additional Resources tab of the applicable product page.

How big is a drop of hydraulic oil?

There are exactly 250 Sun drops in a cubic inch or 15 in a cc.

Can I use a kick-down relief for my system relief?

Maybe not. We build in a good amount of overlap in the kick-down reliefs to prevent false tripping. This means they are not as fast as our standard pilot-operated reliefs. A direct-acting relief valve set just above the kick-down relief valve would be good insurance.

What parts of the Sun cartridge valve are field serviceable?

Only external seals are serviceable. Sun offers replacement seal kits for all cartridge models. The applicable kit part number can be found in the product page's Technical Data table or by using our Cartridge Seal Kit search function located under Accessories. Please note: Converting the external seals from one material to another does not ensure fluid compatibility with that material due to the existence of internal seals within the cartridge.

Back to Top