# US 10,309,427 B2 · Variable pressure control system for dual acting actuators > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,427 B2 - Document ID: US10309427B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/694,692 - Filed: 2017-09-01 - Published: 2017-12-21 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-16 - Assignees: Precision Planting LLC - Applicants: Precision Planting LLC - Inventors: Derek A. Sauder; Jeremy J. Hodel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309427B2 ## CPC - F15B 11/042: by means in the feed line (F15B11/046, F15B11/05 take precedence) - A01B 63/008: {Vertical adjustment of tools (A01B63/10 takes precedence)} - A01C 7/006: {Minimum till seeding} - A01C 7/205: {comprising pressure regulation means} - F15B 2211/3057: having two valves, one for each port of a double-acting output member - F15B 2211/50554: the pressure control means controlling a pressure downstream of the pressure control means, e.g. pressure reducing valve - F15B 2211/7053: Double-acting output members - Y02P 60/20: Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2 - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A variable pressure control system for varying pressures in the fluid circuits of a dual acting actuator over a range of pressures. The variable pressure control system includes a controller that cooperates with pressure regulators for regulating the desired pressure in the fluid circuits. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A row cleaner downforce control system, comprising: a planter row unit including a furrow opening assembly configured to open a furrow in a soil surface when moving along a forward direction of travel; a row cleaner pivotally mounted to said planter row unit forward of said furrow opening assembly with respect to said forward direction of travel, said row cleaner having a frame and at least one wheel, said at least one wheel disposed to rollingly contact said soil surface when traveling along said forward direction of travel, said at least one wheel angled with respect to said forward direction of travel such that said at least one wheel throws debris on said soil surface to a side of said forward direction of travel; a dual acting actuator operably coupled to said row cleaner and a pressure source, said dual acting actuator having a down chamber and a lift chamber; and a controller in communication with said pressure source, said lift chamber and said down chamber and operable to control a down pressure in said down chamber and a lift pressure in said lift chamber from said pressure source; whereby increasing said down pressure in said down chamber increases a downforce applied by said at least one wheel on said soil surface, and whereby increasing said lift pressure in said lift chamber decreases said downforce applied by said at least one wheel on said soil surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The row cleaner downforce control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one wheel comprises a first wheel and a second wheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The row cleaner downforce control system of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a pressure regulating valve that selectively maintains said down pressure in said down chamber at any of a continuous range of pressures. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The row cleaner downforce control system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to selectively maintain said lift pressure in said lift chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The row cleaner downforce control system of claim 1, further comprising: a user interface configured to modify an operating state of said controller, whereby when a user modifies a position of said user interface, one of said down pressure and said lift pressure is modified so as to modify said downforce. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The row cleaner downforce control system of claim 5, wherein said user interface is configured to move through a continuous range of motion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The row cleaner downforce control system of claim 6, wherein said range of motion includes a lift range and a down range, wherein said lift pressure varies according to said position of said user interface within said lift range, and wherein said down pressure varies proportionally with said position of said user interface within said down range. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The row cleaner downforce control system of claim 7, wherein said range of motion includes a neutral position, wherein said neutral position is disposed between said lift range and said down range, and wherein said lift pressure and said down pressure are equal when said user interface is in said neutral position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The row unit downforce control system of claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a lift regulator and a down regulator, wherein said lift regulator is in fluid communication with said lift chamber and wherein said down regulator is in fluid communication with said down chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The row unit downforce control system of claim 9, wherein said user interface is configured to move through a continuous range of motion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The row unit downforce control system of claim 10, wherein said range of motion includes a lift range and a down range, wherein a lift outlet pressure of said lift regulator varies according to said position of said user interface within said lift range, and wherein a down outlet pressure of said down regulator varies proportionally with said position of said user interface within said down range. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The row unit downforce control system of claim 11, wherein said range of motion includes a neutral position, wherein said neutral position is disposed between said lift range and said down range, and wherein said lift pressure and said down pressure are equal when said user interface is in said neutral position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The row unit downforce control system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to selectively maintain said lift pressure at one of a first range of pressures, and wherein said controller is configured to selectively maintain said down pressure at one of a second range of pressures. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The row cleaner downforce control system of claim 13, wherein said controller comprises a pressure regulating valve that selectively maintains said down pressure in said down chamber at any of a continuous range of pressures.