Patent ID: 8061261

Claim:
A fluid control system employing antagonistic pressure control, said fluid control system comprising: a load actuator having an actuator piston coupled to a load, said load actuator configured to facilitate active and passive displacement of said load; a first pressure control valve operable with said load actuator and configured to provide a control pressure to a first side of said piston of said load actuator and to facilitate active and passive displacement of said actuator piston and said load; and a second pressure control valve operable with said load actuator and configured to provide a control pressure to a second side of said piston of said load actuator, and to facilitate active and passive displacement of said actuator piston and said load in a direction opposite that facilitated by said first pressure control valve, said first and second pressure control valves comprising an active valving state for selectively driving said actuator piston and said load in respective directions, and a passive valving state, wherein local fluid is caused to shunt back and forth within said fluid control system to allow said actuator piston and said load to passively displace in response to a non-actuated force acting on said load.