Patent ID: 7194856

Claim:
A hydraulic control system for a work machine, comprising: a reservoir configured to hold a supply of fluid; a source configured to pressurize the fluid; at least one actuator having a first chamber and a second chamber; a first independent metering valve disposed between the source and the first chamber, the first independent metering valve having a valve element movable between a flow blocking position and a flow passing position to facilitate movement of the at least one actuator in a first direction; a second independent metering valve disposed between the reservoir and the second chamber, the second independent metering valve having a valve element movable between a flow blocking position and a flow passing position to facilitate movement of the at least one actuator in the first direction; an accumulator; a third independent metering valve disposed in parallel with the first independent metering valve and between the accumulator and the first chamber, the third independent metering valve configured to selectively communicate the accumulator with the first chamber to cushion movement of the at least one actuator; a fourth independent metering valve disposed between the first chamber and the reservoir, the fourth independent metering valve having a valve element movable between a flow blocking position and a flow gassing position to facilitate movement of the at least one actuator in a second direction; a fifth independent metering valve disposed between the second chamber and the source, the fifth independent metering valve having a valve element movable between a flow blocking position and a flow gassing position to facilitate movement of the at least one actuator in the second direction; and a controller in communication with each of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth independent metering valves, the controller being configured to control the second, third, and fifth independent metering valves to substantially balance pressures of the fluid in the first chamber and the accumulator.