When are meter-in flow controls not typically used?

Meter-in flow controls are designed to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid entering a cylinder, therefore controlling its extension speed. They are effective in applications where precise control over the speed of extension is necessary, especially under varying loads.

When extending a cylinder with a tractive load, the system often experiences consistent resistance that necessitates a metered control for optimal operation. However, the other scenarios listed do not require this. When lifting or retracting loads, particularly if the load is less than the force exerted by gravity, meter-in flow controls can introduce unnecessary complexity or affect performance negatively.

In the case of extending a cylinder with a tractive load, the cylinder experiences a more consistent load profile, meaning that a simple on-off control is often adequate. Consequently, using meter-in controls in that context is not typical, as they could complicate the system and are not needed for maintaining proper hydraulic performance.