Negative load control and energy utilizing system

A fluid power and control system having a valve assembly (10) interposed between an outlet port (11a) of a fluid motor (11) controlling a negative type load and subjected to negative load pressure, fluid exhaust means (13a) maintained at a relatively low pressure level and absorbing means (12) maintained at a relatively high variable pressure level during control of said negative load, said valve assembly (10) comprising flow control means (51a) operative to control the velocity of fluid flow from said fluid motor (11) in response to an external control signal (27) so that the velocity of said fluid motor (11) can be controlled at a relatively constant level proportional to the magnitude of the external control signal (27) and independent of the magnitude of the negative load pressure, said flow control means (51a) including flow sensing means (24a) for sensing the magnitude of the fluid flow from the fluid motor (11), fully throttling means (36) for directing fluid flow from the fluid motor (11) to the fluid exhaust means (13a) and recovery means (51) for diverting on a priority basis fluid flow from the fluid motor (11) to said absorbing means (12) said recovery means (51) being operatively responsive to said flow sensing means (24a).