A variable flow hydraulic device having a first cylinder and a second cylinder for varying a flow of hydraulic fluid from a reservoir to a load, the device comprising:
- a housing having the first cylinder and the second cylinder, the first cylinder and the second cylinder each having a corresponding piston for guiding the hydraulic fluid into and out of the respective cylinder;
- an input port of the housing fluidly connected to each of the first cylinder and the second cylinder, the input port facilitating introduction of the hydraulic fluid to the first cylinder and the second cylinder;
- a first common output port of the housing connected to the first cylinder and the second cylinder, the first common output port facilitating the ejection of the hydraulic fluid from the first cylinder and the second cylinder, the first common output port configured for fluidly coupling the first cylinder and the second cylinder to the load;
- a first flow control valve for the first cylinder, said first flow control valve positioned between at least one of a) the input port and the first cylinder and b) the first common output port and the first cylinder, the first flow control valve for facilitating or inhibiting the flow of the hydraulic fluid between the input port and the first common output port for the first cylinder depending upon an open state or a closed state of the first flow control valve, movement of the first flow control valve from the closed state to the open state dependent upon a fluid pressure of the common output port exceeding a first maximum pressure threshold;
- a second flow control valve for the second cylinder, said second flow control valve positioned between at least one of a) the input port and the second cylinder and b) the first common output port and the second cylinder, the second flow control valve for facilitating or inhibiting the flow of the hydraulic fluid between the input port and the first common output port for the second cylinder depending upon an open state or a closed state of the second flow control valve, movement of the second flow control valve from the closed state to the open state dependent upon the fluid pressure of the common output port exceeding a second maximum pressure threshold, the second maximum pressure threshold less that the first maximum pressure threshold;
- a first fluid pressure sensing device coupled between the first common output port and the first flow control valve, the first fluid pressure sensing device for supplying a first pressure signal generated from the fluid pressure to the first flow control valve for operating the first flow control valve between the open state and the closed state;
- a second fluid pressure sensing device coupled between the first common output port and the second flow control valve, the second fluid pressure sensing device for supplying a second pressure signal generated from the fluid pressure to the second flow control valve for operating the second flow control valve between the open state and the closed state;
- wherein when the first pressure signal represents the fluid pressure as exceeding the first maximum pressure threshold while the second pressure signal represents the fluid pressure as not exceeding the second maximum pressure threshold, the first flow control valve is operated from the closed state to the open state in order to facilitate the flow of the hydraulic fluid between the input port and the first common output port via the first cylinder and the second flow control valve remains in the closed state in order to inhibit the flow of the hydraulic fluid between the input port and the first common output port via the second cylinder.