Which valve function restricts oil flow going to the actuator?

• A. Meter-in
• B. Meter-out
• C. Counterbalance valve
• D. Flow control valves

Answer: (A)

Controlling how fast a hydraulic actuator moves comes down to throttling the oil flow in the path to or from the actuator. When a valve restricts the line that feeds oil into the actuator, it limits how much oil can reach the piston per unit time, which directly slows the actuator’s movement. This specific function is known as meter-in.

Meter-out, on the other hand, throttles the flow leaving the actuator, mainly affecting the return or retraction speed. A counterbalance valve is used to hold a load or prevent undesired motion, not to throttle flow into the actuator. Flow control valves are capable throttling devices in general, but the term that precisely describes restricting flow going to the actuator is meter-in.