NO20170858A1

NO20170858A1 - Hydraulic valve arrangement for subsea blowout preventers

Info

Publication number: NO20170858A1
Application number: NO20170858A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Daniel Carrera; Alexander Mcauley; Zachary William Stewart; Thomas David Beales; Cari Gutierrez
Original assignee: Hydril Usa Distrib Llc
Priority date: 2014-12-17
Filing date: 2017-05-24
Publication date: 2017-05-24
Also published as: CN107250482A; US20160177653A1; KR20170137699A; MX2017008082A; WO2016100680A1; BR112017012703A2

Description

UTf UTY PATENT APPLICATION

HYDRAULIC VALVE ARRANGEMENT FOR SUBSEA BLOWOUT PREVENTERS

Cross Reference to Related Application

This application claims priority to provisiona! application 62/093,200, filed Deeember 17, 2014.

Field of the Disclosure

This application concems oil and gas weli drilling falowout preventer, and in particuiar to a mounting arrangement for solenoid valves and hydraulic valves.

Backgroursd

Offshore drilling operations require a blowout preventer cormected with the drilling riser to control well pressure, Afypical subsea blowout preventer ("SOP") has many components, sueh as one or more annular blowout preventers, several pipe rams, connectors for connecting to weUhead equiprnettt, and a quick release connector for releasing an upper portion of the BOP and the drilling riser from a lower portion in the event of an emergency. Mosi of these components. also rcferred as functions, are hydraulically actuated.

The BOP has a control system, also referred to as a multiplex or MUX pod layout, to control thcse various functions by supplying hydraulic fluid pressure to perform the particular function. The control system has hydraulic valves, caiied SPM (sub plate manifold) valves, that supply hydraulic fluid pressure to the various BOP components. The control system has solenoid vaives, that when receiving an electrical signal, send a hydraulic pilot signal to one of the hydraulic valves.

In typical applications, the cap portions of the hydraulic valves may require threading to a valve body, which can cause cross threading and gal Ung. In addition, thcre can be overlapping extemal tubing runs that connect to each individual pilot line, making some hydraulic valves difficult to aceess. Some prior art arrangements require removal or repositioning of the external tubing to access tlic hydraulic valve of mtercst for purposes of replacing or repairing die valve. Fittings of cxtemal tubing typically have a limited time they can be removed and fitted, and they may leak. ff tightened incorrectly.

Summar}'

A blowout preventer control system includes a valve block håving a hydraulic valve face. An electrically aetuated solenoid valve secures to the valve block. A hydraulic valve cavity extends into the valve block from the hydraulic valve face. A hydraulic valve fils at least partially within the hydraulic valve cavity. A hydraulic valve cap secures to the hydraulic valve face, covering the hydraulic valve cavity. The cap has a pislon chamber that sealingly receives the piston, A solenoid valve pilot passage in communication with the solenoid valve has a valve block portion in the valve block that extends to the hydraulic valve face. The pilot passage has a cap portion within a side wall of the cap that sealingly joins the valve block portion of the pilot passage and leads to the piston chamber. A hydraulic pilot signal from the solenoid valve to the hydraulic valve moves the hydraulic valve when the solenoid valve is electrically aetuated.

The valve block may also have a solenoid valve face. A solenoid valve cavity extends into the valve block from the solenoid valve face. The solenoid valve is mounted in the solenoid valve cavity. The valve block portion of the pilot passage has an inner end that joins the solenoid valve cavity. A solenoid valve supply passage may extend within the valve block to the solenoid valve cavity.

A hydraulic valve supply passage extends within the valve block to the hydraulic valve cavity. A hydraulic valve outicl passage extends within the valve block hydraulic valve cavity. Movement of the hydraulic valve in one direction selectively opens the hydraulic valve supply passage to the hydraulic valve outlet passage.

The valve block may have a plurality of solenoid valve cavities, each extending into the valve block from the solenoid valve face. The valve block may have a plurality of hydraulic valve cavities, each extending into the valve block from the hydraulic valve face. Each of the caps of the hydraulic valves may be secured by a plurality of fasteners to the hydraulic valve face.

In one embodiment, the solenoid valve cavities are located side-by-side along a length of the valve block. The solenoid valve supply passage extends lengthwise within the valve block. The hydraulic valve cavities are located side-by-side along a length of the valve block. The hydraulic valve supply passage extends lengthwisc within the valve block. The hydraulic valve supply passage may be parallel with the solenoid valve supply passage.

The valve block has a back on an opposite side from the hydraulic valve face. ln the example shown, each of the hydraulic valve out] et passages extends from one of the hydraulic valve cavities to the back.

In one embodiment, the valve block has two ends facing in opposite direclion. The solenoid valve supply passage has an inlet at one of the ends. The hydraulic valve supply passage has an inlet at one of the ends.

Brief Description of the Drawings

So that the manner in whieh the features, advantages and objects of the disciosure, as well as others which will become apparent, are atlained and can be understood in more detail, more particular description of the disciosure briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiment thereof which is iSlustxated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a patt of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrerte only a preferred embodiment of the disciosure and is therefore not to be considered limiling of its scope as the disciosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of an upper portion of a blowout preventer control system in accordance with this disciosure. Fig. 2 is perspective view of one of the control mod ules of the control system of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the control module of Fig. 2 tåken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Detatlcd Description of the Disciosure

Hie methods and systems of the present disciosure will no w be dcscribed more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments are shown. The methods and systems of the present disciosure may be in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embcK&ments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disciosure will be thorough and complcte, and will fully convey its scope to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Fig. 1 schemattcallyillustrates an upper part of a control system 11 for a subsea blowout preventer (not shown). The subsea blowout preventer ("BOP") has many components, such as one or more annular blowout preventers, several pipe rams, cormectors for connecting to wellhead equipment, and a quick release connector for releasing an upper portion of the BOP and a riser from a lower portion in the event of an emergency. Most of these components, also referrcd as functions, are hydraulicaliy aetuated. Control system 11, also referred to as a muMplex or MUX pod layout, is mounted to the BOP and controls these various functions by supplying hydraulic fluid pressure to perform the particular function.

Control system 11 includes a supporting frame 13, which may be of various configurations, Several control modules 15 raouni to frame 13. In this cxamplc, Fig. 1 shows oniy four control modules 15, and normally there wouid be at least four times that amount Control modules 15 may be mounted to frame 13 one above the other in one or more vertical columns, and

Fig. 1 shows two vertical columns.

Each control moduie 15 has a number of hydraulic valves 17, commonly called SPM (sub plate mounted) valves. Each hydraulic valve 17 controls hydraulic fluid flow to one of the components of the blowout preventer to perform one of the functions. Each control moduie 15 has a nuxnber of solenoid valves 19, each of which controls one of the hydraulic valves 17. Solenoid valves 19 are electrically aetuated and deliver hydraulic pilot signals to the hydraulic valves 17. Fig. 1 shows six hydraulic valves 17 and six solenoid valves 19 in each control moduie 15, but that number can vary. Each control moduie 15 has a solenoid valve housing 21 that encloses all of the solenoid valves 19. Housing 21 normally contains an electrical insulation dielectric liquid that is pressure compensated to equal the hydrostatie pressure of sea water. Each housing 21 may have a remo vable cover plate 23 to pro vide access to solenoid valves 19 when control system 11 is retrieved for maintenance. Fig. 1 shows one of the cover plates 23 broken out to illustrate the solenoid valves 19 therein. Fig. 3 shows the cover plate 23 removed.

Control system i! has two subsea electronics modules (SEM) 25, each mounied to a reæptacie 27 that may be connected ta frame 13. Each SEM 25 has electrorab circuitry to send signals to the various solenoid valves 19. SEMs 25 are redundant with each other. Further, typicalry all of the control modules 15 are redundant with another control moduie 15.

Rfiferring to Fig. 2, each control moduie 15 hasa manifold or valve block 29, which may be a solid single piece of a steel alloy. Valve block 29 has a hydraulic valve face 31, which in this example, is flat and located in a single plane that extends the length of valve block 29, Valve block 29 also has a solenoid valve face 33, which in this example, is flat and located kt a single plane that extends the length of val ve block 29. Solenoid val ve face 33 is shown as the upper horizontai side of valve block 29. Hydraulic valve face 31 is shown as the vertical front of valve block 29, in a plane perpendicular to the plane of solenoid valve face 33. Valve block 29 has two oppositely facing ends 34.

Each hydraulic valve 17 has a separate cap 35 with a flange 37 andacylindrical portion 39 extending outward from flange 37. Fasteners 41 extend through each flange 37 to secure hydraulic valve caps 35 side-by-side to hydraulic valve face 31. Each solenoid valve 19 has a separate cover 43 thai secures with fasteners to solenoid valve face 33.

Referring to Fig. 3, valve block 29 also has a back 45, which may beina single vertical plane paralle] to hydraulic valve face 31. Also, valve block 29 may have a flat bottom 47 that is in a single horizontal plane parallel with solenoid valve face 33.

Solenoid valve face 33 has a row of solenoid valve cavities 49 (one shown in Fig. 3), the row extending along the length of valve block 29. Each solenoid valve cavity 49 extends into valve block 29 from and normal to solenoid valve face 33. Solenoid valve cavities 49 may be idcntical. One of the solenoid valves 19 secures within each of the solenoid valve cavities 49. Fig. 3 shows one of the solenoid valves 19 schemalically, illustrating that a lower portion fits within solenoid valve cavity 49 wblie an upper pardon protrudes a short distance above solenoid valve face 33. Solenoid valve 19 may be secured in solenoid valve cavity 49 by various mariners, such as by threads. Solenoid valves 19 may be idenlical, each håving an dectrical solenoid portion that when energized by an electrical signal skifts a valve portion from a closed position to an open position.

Å solenoid valve supply passage 51 extends lengthwise through valve block 29, intersecting the lower end of each of the solenoid valve cavities 49. Solenoid valve supply passage 51 joins each of the solenoid valve cavities 49 together. Solenoid valve supply passage 51 has an inlet 53 (Fig. 2) on one of the valve block ends 34 for sinpplying hydraulic fluid pressure to each solenoid valve cavity 49.

Hydraulic valve face 31 has a row ofhydraulic valve cavities 55 (one shown in Fig. 3), the row extending along the length ofvalve block 29. Each hydraulic valve cavity 55 extends into valve block 29 normal to hydraulic valve face 31. The axis of each hydraulic valve cavity 55 is perpendicular lo the axis of each solenoid valve cavity 49 and intersects the axis of one of the solenoid valve cavities 49. Hydraulic valve cavities 55 may be idenlical. One of the hydraulic valves 17 secures into each of the hydraulic valve cavities 55. An hiner portion ofhydraulic valve 17 fits within hydraulic valve cavity 55 and an outer portion protrudes forward from hydraulic valve face 31. Hydraulic valves 17 may have a variety of configurations and may be identicai.

A hydraulic valve supply passage 57 extends lengthwise through valve block 29, intersecttng a lower side of each of the hydraulic valve cavities 55, Hydraulic valve supply passage 57 joins each of the hydraulic valve cavities 55 together. Hydraulic valve supply passage 57 has an inlet 58 (Fig. 2) on one of the valve block ends 34 for supplying hydraulic fluid pressure to each hydraulic valve cavity 55. Hydraulic valve supply inlet 58 may be on the same valve block end 34 as solenoid valve supply passage inlet 53, as shown, or altemateiy on an opposite end 34. Hydraulic valve supply passage 57 is parallei to solenoid valve supply passage 51 in this embodiment

A separate hydraulic valve outlet passage 5 9 extmds from each Hydraulic valve cavity 55 to valve block back 45. Hydraulic valve outlet passages 59 are parallei with each other and generally perpendicutar to hydraulic valve supply passage 57. A hydraulic line (not shown) connects each hydraulic valve outlet passage 59 to a component of the BOP to perform a function. When one of the solenoid valves 19 hydraulically signals one of the hydraulic valves 17, the hydraulic valve 17 will movc to an open position, providing hydraulic fluid from hydraulic valve supply passage 57 to one of the hydraulic valve outlet passages 59. ln an alternate embodiment, when solenoid valve 19Lsde-energized, fluid pressure at the component BOP function may exit from hydraulic valve outlet passage 59 through a vent port (not shown) located on valve block 29.

A separate pilot passage 61 extends from each solenoid valve cavity 49 to one of the hydraulic valve cavities 55: Each pilot passage 61 has an inner or valve block portion 61a that extends from solenoid valve cavity 49 to hydraulic valve face 31. Each pilot passage 61 has an outer or cap portion 61 b that mates with pilot passage inner portion 61 a and extends within a side wall of hydraulic valve cap 35. In this embodiment, the side wall of each hydraulic valve cap 35 has a ridge 63 (shown also in Fig. 2) that joins and extends along an upper side ihe cylindrical portion 39 of cap 35 parallei with an axis of the cylindrical portion 39. Pilot passage outer portion 61 b extends within ridge 63 coaxial with pilot passage inner portion 61a. A seal (not shown) seals the junetion of pilot passage inner portion 61a and outer portion 61b. Pilot passage 61 has a connecting portion 61c that joins the outer end of pilot passage outer portion 61b and extends down to a piston chamber 65 formed in the cylindrical portion 39 of cap 35. Pilot passage connecting portion 61c is formed by drilling a hole perpendicular to the drilled hole that forms pilot passage outer portion 61b. After drilling connecting portion 61c, a machinist will install a plug 66 to block the entry portion of the drilled hole forming cormecting portion 61c. When one of the solenoid valves 19 is electrically aetuated, a hydraulic signal flows from solenoid valve supply passage 51 through pilot passage 61 to piston chamber 65. pptionaUy, a vent passage (not shown) may extend mrough valve block 29 to allow pressure to escape from the hydraulic valve pilot passage 61 when one of the solenoid valves 19 is de-energized.

In this embodiment, hydraulic valve 17 includes a stationary cage 67 located in hydraulic valve cavity 55. An outer annulus seal 69 seals cage 67 to the cylindrical inner wall surface of hydraulic valve cavity 55. Cage 67 has a plurality of apertures or ports 71 formed therein that register with hydraulic valve supply passage 57. Cage 67 has a rearward end that abuts and seals against a back end seat 73 that surrounds the entrarice ofhydraulic valve outlet passage 59. Cage 67 has an opposite end that abuts and seals against a forward end seat 75.

A movable spoo! 77 is located in cage 67 and is sealed by an inner annulus seal 78, Spool 77 strokes relative to cage 67 betwecn the closed position shown and an open position. ln the closed position, which is shown, a forward end of spool 77 seals against forward end seat 75. The closed position blocks flow ofhydraulic fluid from hydraulic valve supply passage 57 into the interior of spool 77. In the open position, spool 77 abuts and seals against back end seal 73. Hydraulic fluid fiows from hydraulic vai ve supply passage 5 7 through cage ports 71, into spool 77 and out hydraulic vai ve outlet 59.

A stem 79 connects to spool 77 to move spool 77. Stem 79 extends forward from spool 77 into cap piston chamber 65. Stem 77 has a piston 81 on ils forward end within cap piston chamber 65. One or more concentric coil springs 83 (two shown) surround stem 79 and urge spool 77 toward the closed position. A spring housing 85 surrounds apart of spring 83 and has thrcads 86 that secure to threads in hydraulic valve cavity 55. Spring housing 85 also secures a spring rearward retaincr 87 against forward seal 75. A spring forward retainer 89 secures to stem 79 for movcment therewith. Stem 79 will slide relative to spring rearward retainer 87 and forward seat 75. When solenoid valve 19 is de-energized, spring 83 returns hydraulic valve 17 to the normal position.

In operatien, an operator on the drilling rig sends a signal to one of the control pods 25, which in response, sends an electrical signal to one of the solenoid vai ve 19. The solenoid valve 19 shifts, opening solenoid valve supply passage 51 to pilot passage 61. Hydraulic fluid fiows from solenoid valve supply passage 51 through pilot passage 61 to piston chamber 65. Piston 81 moves stem 79 and spool 77 from the closed position shown in Fig. 3 to an open position, with spool 77 abuttiag back end seat 73. Hydraulic fluid from hydraulic valve supply passage 57 then fiows through cage ports 71 into the tnterior of spool 77 and out outlet passage 59. The hydraulic fluid fiows to a component of the BOP lo perform a function.

I f a vent passage arrangement (not shown) is used, when solenoid valve 19 is de-energized, pilot passage 61 opens to the vent passage (not shown). Hydraulic fluid would then flow through piston chamber 65 through pilot passage 61 and out the vent passage. Spring 83 moves stem 79 and spool 77 from the open position to the closed position, with spool 77 abutting front end seat 75. Hydraulic fluid pressure then travels from hydraulic outlet 59 to the hydraulic valve vent passage (not shown), releasmg pressure from a component of the BOP.

The intemal passages of valve moduie disclosed in one of the embodiments eliminate the need for extemal tubing to provide pilot pressure to the hydraulic valves. Some embodiments of the disciosure include a bolt-on instaliation method for the hydraulic valve caps, which will make the assembly easier ihan prior art rypes that require rotation of a cap to secure threads. The face mounted cap slims nates the problem of cross threading and gall ing caused by mis-threading the assembly during makeup of the assembly. The embodiments described and shown herein elixninate or reduce the need for an operator to remove components from the system to access the hydraulic valves. For example, the design of the present disciosure can improve access by eliminating the tubing in front of the hydraulic valves and the fittings. The resulting clear access to the hydraulic valves will make it easier to detect kaks, conduct maintenance and repairs, and/or replace valves. The embodiments of the disciosure will also elirainate the need to re-tighten fittings that may otherwise result in leaks. In addition, the overall reduction in the number of components in the system leads to an increase in reliability, which is advanlageous.

It is to be understood that the scope of the present disciosure is not limited to the exact delails of construction, operation, exact materials, or embodiments shown and described, as modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed illustrative embodiments and, although specific terms are empioyed, they are used in a genene and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation.

Claims

1. A blowout preventer control system, comprising: a valve block håving a hydraulic valve face; an electrically aetuated solenoid valve secured to the valve block; a hydraulic valve cavity extending into the valve block from the hydraulic valve face; a hydraulic valve at least partially within the hydraulic valve cavity; a hydraulic valve cap secured to the hydraulic valve face covering the valve cavity; and a solenoid valve pilot passage in communication with the solenoid valve and håving a valve block portion in the valve block that extends to the hydraulic valve face, the pilot passage håving a cap portion within a side wall of the cap that sealingly joins the valve block portion ofthe pilot passage and leads to the hydraulic valve to communicate a hydraulic pilot signal from the solenoid valve to move the hydraulic valve when the solenoid valve is electrically aetuated.

2. The system according to claim 1, whercin: the valve block has a solenoid valve face; a solenoid valve cavity extends into the valve block from the solenoid valve face; the solenoid valve is mounted in the solenoid valve cavity; and the valve block portion of the pilot passage has an inner end that joins the solenoid valve cavity.

3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein: a hydraulic valve supply passage extends within the valve block to the hydraulic valve cavity; a hydraulic valve outlet passage extends within the valve block hydraulic valve cavity; and movement of the hydraulic valve in one direction sclcctively opens the hydraulic valve supply passage to the hydraulic valve outlet passage.

4. The system according to claim l, wherdn: the valve block has a solenoid valve face; a solenoid valve cavity extends into the valve block from the solenoid valve face; the solenoid valve is mounted in the solenoid valve cavity; the valve block portion of the pilot passage has an inner end that joins the solenoid valve cavity; a solenoid valve supply passage extends within the valve block to the solenoid valve cavity; and actuation of the solenoid valve causes hydraulic fluid to flow from the solenoid valve supply passage into the pilot passage.

5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein: a hydraulic valve supply passage extends within the valve block to the hydraulic valve cavity; a hydraulic valve outlet passage extends within the valve block hydraulic valve cavity; the valye block has a solenoid valve face; a solenoid valve cavity extends into the valve block from the solenoid valve face; the solenoid valve is mounted in the solenoid valve cavity; the valve block portion of the pilot passage has an inner end that joins the solenoid valve cavity; and a solenoid valve supply passage extends within the valve block to the solenoid valve cavity.

6, A blowout preventer control system, comprising: a valve block håving a solenoid valve face and a hydraulic valve face; a plurality of solenoid valve cavities extending into the valve block from the solenoid valve face; a plurality of electrically aetuated solenoid valves, each secured within one of the solenoid valve cavities; a plurality ofhydraulic valve cavities extending into the valve block from the hydraulic valve face; a plurality ofhydraulic valves, each secured within one of the hydraulic valve cavities; a solenoid valve supply passage in the valve block that joins each of the solenoid valve cavities and provides a pilot supply ofhydraulic fluid to each of the solenoid valves; a plurality of solenoid valve pilot passages in the valve block, each extending from one of the solenoid valve cavities to one of the hydraulic valves to provide a hydraulic pilot signal to one of the hydraulic valves when one of the solenoid valves is electrically aetuated; a hydraulic valve supply passage in the valve block that joins each of the hydraulic valve cavities and provides a hydraulic fluid supply to each of the hydraulic valves; and a plurality ofhydraulic valve outlet passages, each extending from one of the hydraulic valve cavities out of the valve block, to Sow hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic valve supply passage out one of the hydraulic valve outlet passages when said one of the hydraulic valves receives one of the pilot signals.

7, The systera according to claim 6, wherein: each of the hydraulic valves has an inner portion located within one of the hydraulic valve cavities and an outer portion protruding oulward from the valve block; and wherein the system fortner comprises: a cap secured to the hydraulic valve face and enclosing the outer portion of one of the hydraulic valves; wherein each of the pilot passages has a valve block portion in the valve block and a cap portion in a side wall of the cap; and the valve block portion of each of the pilot passages sealingly registers with the cap portion of one of the pilot passage at the hydraulic valve face.

8, The system according to claim 6, wherein: each of the hydraulic valves has an inner portion located within one of the hydraulic valve cavities and an outer portion protruding outward from the valve block; and wherein the system fiirther comprises: a plurality of caps, each secured by a plurality of fasteners to the hydraulic valve face and enclosing the outer portion of one of the hydraulic valves; wherein each of the pilot passages has a valve block portion in the valve block and a cap portion in a side wall of one of the caps; and the valve block portion of each of the pilot passages sealingly registers with the cap portion of one of the pilot passage at the hydraulic valve face.

9, The system according to claim 6, wherein: the solenoid valve cavities are side-by-side along a length of the valve block; and the solenoid valve supply passage extends lengthwise within the valve block.

10. The system according to claim 6, wherein: the hydraulic valve cavities are side-by-side along a length of the valve block; and the hydraulic valve supply passage extends lengthwise within the valve block.

11. The system according to claim 6, wherein: the solenoid valve cavities are side-by-side along a length of the valve block; the solenoid valve supply passage extends lengthwise within the valve block; the hydraulic valve cavities are side-by-side along a length of the valve block; and the hydraulic valve supply passage extends lengthwise within the valve block parallei with the solenoid valve supply passage.

12. The control system according to claim 6, wherein: the valve block has a back on an opposite side from the hydraulic valve face; and each of the hydraulic valve outlet passages extends from one of the hydraulic valve cavities to the back.

13. The control system according lo claim 6, wherein: the valve block has two ends facing in opposite direction; the solenoid valve supply passage has an inlet at one of the ends; and the hydraulic valve supply passage bas an inlet at one of the ends.

14. A blowout preventer control system, comprising: a valve block håving a solenoid valve face and a hydraulic valve face; a plurality of solenoid valve cavities spaced side-by-side along a length of the valve block, each of the solenoid valve cavities extending into the valve block from the solenoid valve face; a plurality of electrically aetuated solenoid valves, each secured within one of the solenoid valve cavities; a plurality of hydraulic valve cavities spaced side-by-side along a length of the valve block, each of the hydraulic valve cavities extending into the valve block from the hydraulic valve face; a plurality of hydraulic valves, each håving an inner portion secured within one of the hydraulic valve cavities and an outer portion protruding from the hydraulic valve face, the outer portion håving a piston; a plurality ofhydraulic valve caps, each secured to the hydraulic valve face and håving a piston chamber that sealingly receivcs the piston of one of the hydraulic valves; a solenoid valve supply passage in the valve block that joins each of the solenoid valve cavities and provides a pilot supply ofhydraulic fluid to each of the solenoid valves; a plurality of solenoid valve pilot passages, each håving a valve block portion in the valve block and extending from one of the solenoid valve cavities to the hydraulic valve face, each of the pilot passages håving a cap portion extending within a side wall of one of the caps to one of the piston chambers; a hydraulic valve supply passage in the valve block that joins each of the hydraulic valve cavities and provides a hydraulic fluid supply to each of the hydraulic valves; and a plurality ofhydraulic valve outlet passages, each extending from one of the hydraulic valve cavities out of the valve block, to flow hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic valve supply passage out one of the hydraulic valve outlet passages when said one of the hydraulic valves receives one of the pilot signals.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein: the solenoid valve supply passage extends lengthwise within the valve block; and the hydraulic valve supply passage extends lengthwise within. the valve block parallei with the solenoid valve supply passage,

16. The control system according to claim 14, wherein: the valve block has a back on an opposite side from the hydraulic valve face; and each of the hydraulic valve outlet passages extends from one of the hydraulic valve cavities to the back,

17. The control system according to claim 14, wherein: the valve block has two ends facing in opposite direclion; the solenoid valve supply passage has an inlet at one of the ends; and the hydraulic valve supply passage has an inlet at one of the ends.

18. The control system according to claim 14, further comprising: a plurality of solenoid valve covers, each mounted to the solenoid valve face over one of the solenoid valves.

19. The control system according to claim 14, further comprising: a plurality of solenoid valve covers, each mounted to the solenoid valve face over one of the solenoid valves; a solenoid valve housing mounted to the solenoid valve face and enclosing the plurality of solenoid valve covers.

20. The control system according to claim 14 wherein the solenoid valve face and the hydraulic valve face are in planes perpendicuiar to each other.