Hydraulic system

A method of controlling a hydraulic system, comprising:

• providing fluid to a first actuator with a variable displacement first pump via a first closed-loop circuit;
• providing fluid to a second actuator with a variable displacement second pump via a second closed-loop circuit;
• providing fluid to a third actuator with a variable displacement third pump via a third closed-loop circuit;
• providing fluid to a fourth actuator with a variable displacement fourth pump via a fourth closed-loop circuit;
• transitioning a first combining valve fluidly connected to the first and fourth circuits to a flow-passing position in response to a demand of the first actuator exceeding a capacity of the first pump, the first combining valve forming a combined flow of fluid comprising fluid from the first circuit and fluid from the fourth circuit;
• and
• directing the combined flow to the first actuator, via the first combining valve, while simultaneously operating the first, second, third, and fourth actuators.

A method of controlling a hydraulic system, comprising:

• providing fluid to a first actuator with a variable displacement first pump via a first closed-loop circuit of a machine;
• providing fluid to a second actuator with a variable displacement second pump via a second closed-loop circuit of the machine;
• providing fluid to a third actuator with a variable displacement third pump via a third closed-loop circuit of the machine;
• providing fluid to a fourth actuator with a variable displacement fourth pump via a fourth closed-loop circuit of the machine;
• forming a combined flow of fluid in response to a demand of the first actuator exceeding a combined capacity of the first, second, and third pumps, the combined flow comprising fluid from the first, second, third, and fourth circuits;
• and
• directing the combined flow to the first actuator, while simultaneously operating the first and fourth actuators, and while simultaneously blocking flow to the second and third actuators.