What are hydraulic manifolds

A hydraulic manifold block is a component that regulates fluid flow between pumps and actuators and other components in a hydraulic system. It could be compared to a switchboard in an electrical circuit, because it lets the operator control how much fluid flows between components of a hydraulic machinery. For example, in a backhoe loader, a manifold turns on or shuts off or diverts flow to the telescopic arms of the front bucket and the back bucket. The manifold is connected to the levers in the operator’s cabin, which the operator uses to achieve the desired behavior.
A manifold is composed of assorted monoblock hydraulic valves connected to each other. It is the various combinations of states of these valves that allow complex control behavior in a manifold.
Simply put, a hydraulic manifold distributes hydraulic oil throughout a circuit. The flow of pressurized oil is regulated by hydraulic valves installed within the manifold and directed through hoses to some kind of work device, such as a hydraulic motor or a cylinder.