Hydraulic actuator and method for operating a hydraulic actuator

A method for operating a hydraulic actuator, the hydraulic actuator comprising a hydraulic drive cylinder with a drive piston, a drive actuator coupled in terms of movement to the hydraulic drive cylinder or the drive piston, and a pressure-limiting valve, wherein the hydraulic drive cylinder is hydraulically coupled, by a non-return valve and a first throttle, to a prestressing volume located in a prestressing hydraulic cylinder via a prestressing piston, the method comprising:

• limiting, by the pressure-limiting valve of the hydraulic actuator, a hydraulic pressure on the hydraulic output cylinder depending on an action time of a force on the hydraulic drive cylinder, the drive piston, or the hydraulic drive cylinder and the drive piston;
• actuating the pressure-limiting valve by the prestressing hydraulic cylinder or the prestressing piston;
• and
• deflecting the drive actuator, the deflection having a deflection period at a deflection frequency for a duration of an operating or non-operating phase of the hydraulic actuator,
• wherein the deflection period defines a movement stiffness of the hydraulic actuator, and the deflection frequency defines a resulting deflection rate of the hydraulic actuator.