Patent ID: 6886278

Claim:
A hydraulic swing damping system for a backhoe including a work vehicle with a backhoe implement that is configured to be pivoted about a substantially vertical axis with respect to the vehicle by at least one dual-ported hydraulic cylinder, and a bi-directional control valve coupled to the dual-ported hydraulic cylinder by first and second supply conduits, the system comprising: a bypass conduit configured to be fluidly coupled between the first and second supply conduits; an electrically actuated bypass valve disposed in the conduit to control fluid flow therethrough; an electronic controller electrically coupled to the bypass valve to selectively open and close the bypass valve; and a sensor configured to be coupled to the backhoe and responsive to a physical parameter indicative of incipient backhoe attachment oscillation, wherein the electronic controller is configured to (a) open the bypass valve in response to at least one signal indicative of incipient boom oscillation for a period sufficient to damp potential boom oscillation, and (b) close the bypass valve once an amount of hydraulic fluid sufficient to damp the potential boom oscillation has passed through the valve.