Central position for valves with three switching positions. With directional valves , it is generally arranged with the help of centring springs and then becomes the initial position.
Around 14 variants are used for directional valves, with common ones being
- centre position blocked; all working openings are closed (Figure M 26 a),
- open-centre position; all working openings are connected with each other and with the process (b),
- pump direction switching in the centre position; working ports A and B are closed, the pump port is connected to the tank (c).
Figure M 26: Connection variants at the centre position for 4/3-way valves