Automatic pressure release

A hydraulic system for a work machine having a power source, the hydraulic system comprising:

• a spool valve including a high pressure inlet and a low pressure outlet;
• a first worktool line and a second worktool line;
• a first worktool port connected to the spool valve by the first worktool line;
• a second worktool port connected to the spool valve by the second worktool line;
• the first and second worktool ports configured to be connected to a worktool having a worktool actuator;
• a high pressure flow source of hydraulic fluid connected to the high pressure inlet of the spool valve by a high pressure line;
• a low pressure tank line connected to the low pressure outlet of the spool valve, the low pressure tank line at a lower pressure than a pressure of the high pressure line;
• a controller configured to perform a worktool disconnect routine to reduce pressure in the first worktool line and the second worktool line of the hydraulic system, wherein the controller is configured to:
• check that the power source of the work machine is operating;
• instruct the high pressure flow source of hydraulic fluid to provide no flow of hydraulic fluid in the high pressure line to the high pressure inlet of the spool valve during operation of the work machine;
• instruct the spool valve to move to a first position wherein the first worktool port is connected to the low pressure tank line via the first worktool line fluidly connecting with the low pressure outlet and the second worktool port is connected to the high pressure flow source via the second worktool line fluidly connecting with the high pressure inlet in order to reduce a pressure in the first worktool line during operation of the work machine and limit flow of hydraulic fluid across the worktool actuator to inhibit movement of the worktool actuator during the worktool disconnect routine;
• and
• instruct the spool valve to move to a second position wherein the second worktool port is connected to the low pressure tank line via the second worktool line fluidly connecting with the low pressure outlet and the first worktool port is connected to the high pressure flow source via the first worktool line fluidly connecting with the high pressure inlet in order to reduce a pressure in the second worktool line during operation of the work machine and limit flow of hydraulic fluid across the worktool actuator to inhibit movement of the worktool actuator during the worktool disconnect routine.