Fluid power control system for mobile load handling equipment

A fluid power control system for regulating a respective flow of hydraulic fluid through a first hydraulic actuator and a respective flow of hydraulic fluid through a second hydraulic actuator, to enable said actuators to move respective load-engaging members simultaneously, said control system comprising:

• (a) an electrically-controlled fluid-power valve assembly including a valve controller, said valve assembly being automatically operable to regulate said respective flows of hydraulic fluid so as to control movement of said first hydraulic actuator separately from movement of said second hydraulic actuator;
• (b) a sensor assembly operable to enable said controller to sense a difference in movement, between said first hydraulic actuator and said second hydraulic actuator, and to generate a signal in response to said difference;
• (c) said controller being operable to sense respective speeds of each of said actuators, and said electrically-controlled fluid-power valve assembly being operable to control respective maximum speed limits of said actuators in response to said respective speeds sensed by said controller;
• (d) said electrically-controlled fluid-power valve assembly being operable, automatically in response to said signal and to said respective speeds of each of said actuators, to decrease said difference by controlling a maximum speed for said second hydraulic actuator while simultaneously permitting a speed higher than said maximum speed for said first hydraulic actuator.