Pressure-Compensated hydraulic circuit with regeneration

A method for substantially simultaneously operating at least two actuators having different loads, comprising:

• supplying pressurized fluid to a first control valve and to a second control valve;
• controlling fluid flow to and from the first actuator with the first control valve;
• controlling fluid flow to and from the second actuator with the second control valve;
• combining exhaust flow from a second end port of the first actuator with a supply of pressurized fluid to provide a fluid flow to a first end port of the first actuator;
• outputting a first signal pressure from the first control valve;
• outputting a second signal pressure from the second control valve;
• comparing the first signal pressure with the second signal pressure;
• and
• controlling fluid flow from the first control valve to the first actuator based on a greater of the first signal pressure and the second signal pressure.

A fluid system, comprising:

• a source of pressurized fluid;
• a first cylinder in operable communication with the source of pressurized fluid, the first cylinder including a first end port and a second end port;
• a first control valve operable to control fluid communication to and from the first cylinder, the first control valve being structured and arranged to combine fluid flow from the second end port with fluid flow from the source of pressurized fluid when providing a supply of fluid to the first end port, the first control valve including a first signal port in fluid communication with the supply of fluid to the first cylinder, the first signal port being configured to output a first signal pressure;
• a second cylinder in operable communication with the source of pressurized fluid;
• a second control valve operable to control fluid communication to and from the second cylinder, the second control valve including a second signal port in fluid communication with a supply of fluid to the second cylinder, the second signal port being configured to output a second signal pressure;
• a resolver in fluid communication with the first signal port and the second signal port, the resolver being structured and arranged to output a resolved signal pressure equal to a greater of the first signal pressure and the second signal pressure;
• a compensator in fluid communication with the first control valve and the first cylinder, the compensator structured and arranged to control fluid flow from the first control valve to the first cylinder based on the resolved signal pressure, the compensator including a load check valve and a piston;
• and
• a duplicating valve in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid, the resolved signal pressure, and the compensator, the duplicating valve being structured and arranged to provide a control signal pressure to a working surface of the piston.