Control for electro-hydraulic valve arrangement

A method of controlling a flow of fluid from a pump having a stand-by pressure through an electro-hydraulic valve arrangement having an outlet, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement to a closed position to prevent fluid from flowing through the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement in response to a received signal to close the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement;
• sensing a first pressure representative of the fluid pressure at the outlet of the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement;
• comparing the first pressure to the pump stand-by pressure;
• and
• opening the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement allowing fluid to flow from the pump through the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement when the difference between the pump stand-by pressure and the first pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure limit.

A system for controlling a flow of fluid to an actuator, comprising:

• a pump having a stand-by pressure;
• an electro-hydraulic valve arrangement in fluid connection with the pump and the actuator, the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement operable to control the amount of fluid flowing from the pump to the actuator;
• a control lever having a neutral position, where movement of the control lever to the neutral position acts to close the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement and prevent the flow of fluid to the actuator;
• a pressure sensor operable to sense a first pressure representative of the pressure of the fluid within the actuator;
• and
• a control device operable to override the control of the control lever over the electro-hydraulic valve arrangement when the difference between the pump stand-by pressure and the first pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure limit.