Patent ID: 7162869

Claim:
A hydraulic system, comprising: a tank adapted to store a supply of fluid; a source of pressurized fluid in fluid communication with the tank; a first hydraulic actuator in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid; a second hydraulic actuator in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid; a first fluid return line adapted to direct a return flow of fluid from the first hydraulic actuator to the tank; a second fluid return line adapted to direct a return flow of fluid from the second hydraulic actuator to the tank; and a pressure control device disposed in the second fluid return line and operable to selectively adjust a magnitude of fluid pressure in the second fluid return line, wherein the pressure control device is configured to receive a signal representing a sensed rate of fluid flow through the second return line and increases the magnitude of the fluid pressure in the second fluid return line in response to a decrease in the sensed rate of fluid flow through the second return line, and wherein the pressure control device includes a check valve disposed in the second fluid return line and a proportional reducing valve adapted to control the magnitude of fluid pressure in the second fluid return line.