Patent ID: 7614336
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: F15B

Abstract:
1. A hydraulic system comprising: a source of pressurized fluid; a first hydraulic circuit having a first hydraulic actuator, a first valve, and a first pressure compensating valve disposed between the source and the first valve; a second hydraulic circuit having a second hydraulic actuator, a second valve and a second pressure compensating valve disposed between the source and the second valve; and the first valve having a first valve element movable relative to a first valve bore between a plurality of positions from a first position in which pressurized fluid is substantially blocked from flowing toward the first hydraulic actuator to a second position in which a maximum flow of pressurized fluid is allowed to flow toward the first hydraulic actuator, the first valve element being configured to be selectively moved from a third flow passing position located between the first and second positions to a fourth flow passing position disposed between the third and second positions independent of a corresponding movement of the second valve when a sensed pressure of pressurized fluid directed toward the first hydraulic actuator is greater than the pressurized fluid directed toward the second hydraulic actuator, the movement of the first valve to the fourth position being a function of the sensed pressure; wherein the first hydraulic actuator includes a plurality of chambers; and the first valve is one of a first set of valves, each valve of the first set of valves configured to be independently controlled with respect to the other valves of the first set of valves to affect a flow of pressurized fluid with respect to a single one of the plurality of chambers.