Pressure compensated steering system

A pair of steering cylinders (10, 12) are selectively supplied with pressurized fluid from a source (6) in dependence upon the setting of a pressure-compensated steering valve (20) as determined by means of a hand pump (70) operated from a steering wheel (5). … To avoid problems of so-called jerk-steering associated with such systems, and without requiring provision of a feedback system between the articulated portion of the vehicle and the steering valve actuating means (26, 28), internal passageways (36, 39, 40, 45) are provided within the spool (24) for placing end cap actuators (26, 28) in restricted fluid communication with a low-pressure reservoir (8) whenever the spool (24) is displaced from its neutral position in response to the admission of pressurized fluid to one of the actuators (26, 28) so that, upon cessation of the input to the respective actuator from hand pump (70), the actuators (26, 28) slowly drain to reservoir (8), thereby permitting spool (24) slowly to return to its neutral position under the action of spring (32).