Patent ID: 8549983

Claim:
A hydraulic drive comprising: a double-acting work cylinder with a piston having a first working surface effective in a retracting direction and a second working surface effective in an extending direction, wherein the first working surface delimits a first pressure chamber and the second working surface delimits a second pressure chamber; at least two different pressures being applicable to at least one of the first working surface and the second working surface for retracting or extending the piston into and out of the work cylinder; an actuator unit which optionally enables a throttled return flow of a hydraulic medium from the first pressure chamber delimited by the first working surface; control means for triggering the actuator unit in such a way prior to a sudden acceleration of the piston due to a sudden force release that there is a hydraulic damping of a movement of the piston as a result of a throttled return flow of the hydraulic medium from the first pressure chamber caused by the actuator unit directly or indirectly; wherein the actuator unit switches to the second pressure chamber delimited by the second working surface depending on a pressure rise so that the same causes a throttled return flow of the hydraulic medium from the first pressure chamber delimited by the first working surface; and wherein the actuator unit comprises a throttle valve arranged in a first line through which the hydraulic medium can flow off from the first pressure chamber, the actuator unit comprises at least two switching position, wherein in a first switching position the throttling of the return flow of hydraulic medium from the first pressure chamber is achieved and in a second switching Position a comparatively lower throttling or substantially throttle-free return flow or inflow of the hydraulic medium from the first pressure chamber or into the first pressure chamber is achieved.