Hydraulic control system and method with electro-proportional pressure valve and integral check

A method of controlling a hydraulic circuit, the hydraulic circuit including a pump, a main control valve (MCV), a body, a hydraulic valve, a check assembly, a housing, a pilot poppet, a cylinder, and a tank, wherein:

• the body defines a valve cavity, a first port, a second port, and a third port, each of the first port, the second port, and the third port being in fluid communication with the valve cavity, the first port being fluidly connected to the cylinder, the second port being fluidly connected to the MCV through which the second port is fluidly connected to a source of hydraulic fluid from the pump, and the third port being fluidly connected to the tank, the hydraulic valve being mounted to the body such that the hydraulic valve is at least partially disposed within the valve cavity,
• the hydraulic valve comprises an electro-proportional pressure valve and has a nose, and
• the check assembly is disposed within the valve cavity and is in abutting relationship with the hydraulic valve such that the check assembly is seated against the nose of the hydraulic valve,
• wherein the check assembly is configured to permit a flow of hydraulic fluid from the second port to the first port through the check assembly and to prevent the flow of hydraulic fluid from the first port to the second port through the check assembly,
• the housing fixed within the valve cavity of the body, the housing including a longitudinal passageway having an interior opening and an external opening, the longitudinal passageway being in communication with a transverse pilot passageway and a longitudinal bore, and the housing including a pilot seat circumscribing the interior opening of the longitudinal passageway, and
• the pilot poppet moveably disposed within the longitudinal bore of the housing, the pilot poppet adapted to sealingly engage the pilot seat,
• the method comprising:
• performing a lifting operation in which a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid is conveyed from the second port to the first port through the check assembly;
• maintaining a coil of the hydraulic valve in a de-energized condition during the lifting operation.