System and method for controlling hydraulic valve operation within a work vehicle

A system for controlling hydraulic valve operation within a work vehicle, the system comprising:

• a first hydraulic load;
• a second hydraulic load in parallel with the first hydraulic load;
• a pump configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the first and second hydraulic loads via first and second fluid conduits, respectively;
• a first flow control valve defining an adjustable orifice, the first flow control valve fluidly coupled to the first fluid conduit upstream of the first hydraulic load such that the first flow control valve is configured to control a flow rate of the hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic load;
• a second flow control valve defining an adjustable orifice, the second flow control valve fluidly coupled to the second fluid conduit upstream of the second hydraulic load such that the second flow control valve is configured to control a flow rate of the hydraulic fluid to the second hydraulic load;
• a first pressure sensor configured to capture data indicative of a first pressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied to the first hydraulic load by the first flow control valve;
• a second pressure sensor configured to capture data indicative of a second pressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied to the second hydraulic load by the second flow control valve;
• and
• a computing system communicatively coupled to the first and second pressure sensors, the computing system configured to:
• receive a first input associated with controlling an operation of the first hydraulic load;
• receive a second input associated with controlling an operation of the second hydraulic load;
• determine one of the first or second hydraulic loads associated with a greater hydraulic fluid pressure based on the received first and second inputs;
• control an operation of the first or second flow control valve corresponding to the one of the first or second hydraulic loads associated with the greater hydraulic fluid pressure based on the corresponding received first or second input;
• determine the first or second pressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied to another of the first or second hydraulic loads based on the data received from the corresponding first or second pressure sensor;
• and
• control an operation of the first or second flow control valve corresponding to the other of the first or second hydraulic loads based on the corresponding received first or second input and the determined first or second pressure.

A method for controlling hydraulic valve operation within a work vehicle, the work vehicle including first and second hydraulic loads in parallel, a pump configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the first and second hydraulic loads, respectively, the work vehicle further including a first flow control valve configured to control a flow rate of the hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic load and a second flow control valve configured to control a flow rate of the hydraulic fluid to the second hydraulic load, the method comprising:

• receiving, with a computing system, a first input associated with controlling an operation of the first hydraulic load;
• receiving, with the computing system, a second input associated with controlling an operation of the second hydraulic load;
• determining, with the computing system, one of the first or second hydraulic loads associated with a greater hydraulic fluid pressure based on the received first and second inputs;
• controlling, with the computing system, an operation of the first or second flow control valve corresponding to the one of the first or second hydraulic loads associated with the greater hydraulic fluid pressure based on the corresponding received first or second input;
• receiving, with the computing system, first pressure sensor data indicative of a first pressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied to the first hydraulic load by the first flow control valve;
• receiving, with the computing system, second pressure sensor data indicative of a second pressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied to the second hydraulic load by the second flow control valve;
• determining, with the computing system, the first or second pressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied to another of the first or second hydraulic loads based on the corresponding received first or second pressure data;
• and
• controlling, with the computing system, an operation of the first or second flow control valve corresponding to the other of the first or second hydraulic loads based on the corresponding received first or second input and the determined first or second pressure.