Piston hydraulic device

A piston hydraulic device, comprising:

• a cylinder block having a plurality of cylinder assemblies, the cylinder block being rotatable about a first rotation axis wherein each cylinder assembly comprises a cylinder and a piston;
• a port plate having a first port and a second port, the first and second ports being angularly spaced relative to the first rotation axis;
• and
• a plurality of first conduits for connecting respective cylinder alternately to the first port or the second port relative to an angular position of the cylinder assembly about the first rotation axis, wherein, the axial piston hydraulic device further comprises:
• at least one second conduit connected to a fluid reservoir;
• at least one directional control valve positioned in at least one of the first conduits and fluidly connected to the second conduit wherein the at least one directional control valve connects the cylinder to the port plate in a first position and to the fluid reservoir in a second position;
• wherein
• a portion of a total number of cylinders in the cylinder block is connected directly to a respective first conduit and wherein the cylinders that are connected directly to the respective first conduit are not connected to a directional control valve of a plurality of directional control valves including the at least one directional control valve;
• and
• a controller operatively associated with the directional control valve for switching between the first and the second positions.