Patent ID: 8887499

Claim:
A method for overpressure control in a hydraulic system having multiple hydraulic pumps, each hydraulic pump being connected by a respective hydraulic circuit for actuating a single respective hydraulic actuator, the method comprising; actuating, at a first flow rate, a first variable displacement hydraulic pump of the multiple hydraulic pumps, the first hydraulic pump being fluidly linked by a first hydraulic circuit to a first hydraulic actuator for powering the first hydraulic actuator; detecting a first pressure in the first hydraulic circuit, the first pressure being below a predetermined threshold pressure; subsequently detecting a second pressure in the first hydraulic circuit, the second pressure exceeding the predetermined threshold pressure; and electronically modifying the flow rate of the first hydraulic pump to a second flow rate lower than the first flow rate whereby the pressure in the first hydraulic circuit is reduced to a pressure that is below the predetermined threshold pressure, wherein the detecting a second pressure in the first hydraulic circuit exceeding the predetermined threshold pressure is preceded by encountering an obstacle to movement of the first hydraulic actuator, thereby raising the pressure in the first hydraulic circuit.