Cat® Counterbalance Valve is a hydraulic valve that prevents a load from falling or moving uncontrollably by creating back pressure in the cylinder. It is used to support, control and protect the load and the equipment from damage or danger. A counterbalance valve has four ports: inlet, outlet, pilot and tank. The inlet port is connected to the cylinder, the outlet port is connected to the pump, the pilot port is connected to the opposite side of the cylinder and the tank port is connected to the reservoir. The valve has a spool that is spring-biased to block the flow from the inlet to the outlet. The spool can be shifted by applying pilot pressure from the pilot port or by overcoming the spring force from the inlet port. Cat® Valves are manufactured to precise specifications and are built for durability, reliability and productivity.Application:Cat® Counterbalance Valve is used in lift arm hydraulic cylinder of Cat® Machines. Consult your owner's manual or contact your local Cat® Dealer for more information.