Patent ID: 8893490

Claim:
A method of controlling a hydraulic system, comprising: providing fluid to a first actuator with a variable displacement first pump via a first closed-loop circuit of a machine; providing fluid to a second actuator with a variable displacement second pump via a second closed-loop circuit of the machine; providing fluid to a third actuator with a variable displacement third pump via a third closed-loop circuit of the machine; providing fluid to a fourth actuator with a variable displacement fourth pump via a fourth closed-loop circuit of the machine; forming a combined flow of fluid in response to a demand of the first actuator exceeding a capacity of the first pump, the combined flow comprising fluid from the first circuit and fluid from at least one of the second, third, and fourth circuits; and directing the combined flow to the first actuator while providing fluid to the actuator of the at least one of the second, third, and fourth circuits such that the first actuator operates simultaneously with the actuator of the at least one of the second, third, and fourth circuits.