Control device for controlling a hydraulic consumer, consisting of a hydraulic consumer, control electronics, a sensor device (58, 60, 62) and at least one control valve with a valve spool which is guided so as to be longitudinally movable in a valve housing such that it can be operated by means of an electric motor and which can be controlled by means of the control electronics which receive input signals from the sensor device (58, 60, 62) that detects at least one operating state of the consumer, wherein at least one pressure supply port and one return port are provided on the inlet side of the valve housing and at least two work ports (R, K) for the hydraulic consumer and two control ports (XR, XK) for the connection of hydraulically unlockable valves, in particular in the form of check valves (42, 44), are provided on the outlet side, wherein an operating cylinder, as the hydraulic consumer, has a piston rod unit which is displaceable in a cylinder housing, said piston rod unit dividing the cylinder housing into an annular space and a piston chamber and that the annular space is connected to one of the work ports and the piston chamber is connected to the other work port in a fluid-conducting manner, wherein, in a central position, supported by an energy accumulator, such as a compression spring, all ports on the outlet side of the valve housing are shut off by the pressure supply port, wherein on both sides, in addition to the central position, the valve spool performs two further control functions in each case, namely - a switching position (+2) for retracting the piston rod unit, - a switching position (+1) for loading the annular space, - a switching position (-1) for loading the piston chamber and - a switching position (-2) for extending the piston rod unit; and wherein the annular space and the piston chamber are each connected to a hydraulic accumulator (8, 12). wherein at least one pressure supply port and one return port are provided on the inlet side of the valve housing and at least two work ports (R, K) for the hydraulic consumer and two control ports (XR, XK) for the connection of hydraulically unlockable valves, in particular in the form of check valves (42, 44), are provided on the outlet side, wherein an operating cylinder, as the hydraulic consumer, has a piston rod unit which is displaceable in a cylinder housing, said piston rod unit dividing the cylinder housing into an annular space and a piston chamber and that the annular space is connected to one of the work ports and the piston chamber is connected to the other work port in a fluid-conducting manner, wherein, in a central position, supported by an energy accumulator, such as a compression spring, all ports on the outlet side of the valve housing are shut off by the pressure supply port, wherein on both sides, in addition to the central position, the valve spool performs two further control functions in each case, namely - a switching position (+2) for retracting the piston rod unit, - a switching position (+1) for loading the annular space, - a switching position (-1) for loading the piston chamber and - a switching position (-2) for extending the piston rod unit; and wherein the annular space and the piston chamber are each connected to a hydraulic accumulator (8, 12). - a switching position (+2) for retracting the piston rod unit, - a switching position (+1) for loading the annular space, - a switching position (-1) for loading the piston chamber and - a switching position (-2) for extending the piston rod unit; and wherein the annular space and the piston chamber are each connected to a hydraulic accumulator (8, 12).