Method of increasing electro-hydrostatic actuator piston velocity

A method of controlling fluid flow through a pump in an electro-hydraulic system, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a requested user command for a consumer;
• evaluating the user command in relation to a maximum capacity of the an electro-hydraulic system in response to the requested user command;
• diverting flow around the pump to implement the user command based on the evaluation via a variable restrictor of a diverting flow path, and
• wherein the maximum capacity of the electro-hydraulic system is a maximum storage rate or maximum storage capacity of an electrical storage system of the electro-hydraulic system that is operatively connected to the pump and is configured to recuperate energy from the pump being operated by an external load, and wherein the diverting is in response to an evaluation in which the user command indicates a desired consumer movement corresponding to a storage rate or storage capacity greater than the maximum storage rate or maximum storage capacity of the electrical storage system.

A hydraulic system comprising:

• a pump system including a pump operable in a first direction for supplying pressurized fluid;
• a hydraulic circuit having a first side fluidly connecting a first side of the pump to a first port to which a first port of a consumer can be connected and providing a path for flow between the port and the pump, and a second side fluidly connecting the second side of the pump to a second port to which a second port of the consumer can be connected;
• and
• a diverting flow path including a variable restriction for controlling a rate of flow through the first side of the hydraulic circuit, wherein the diverting flow path diverts at least a portion of flow in the first side of the hydraulic circuit to tank,
• wherein the variable restriction is variable as a function of a sensed system parameter, and
• wherein a maximum capacity of the pump system is a maximum storage rate or maximum storage capacity of an electrical storage system of the pump system that is operatively connected to the pump and is configured to recuperate energy from the pump being operated by an external load, and wherein the variable restriction is opened in response to an evaluation in which the user command indicates a desired consumer movement corresponding to a storage rate or storage capacity greater than the maximum storage rate or maximum storage capacity of the electrical storage system.