Hydraulic system for agricultural baler

An agricultural baler towable by a vehicle comprising a vehicle hydraulic system, the agricultural baler comprising:

• a frame;
• a baler hydraulic system supported by the frame, comprising:
• a plurality of hydraulically operated subsystems;
• a plurality of hydraulic subsystem lines being fluidly connected to the plurality of hydraulically operated subsystems;
• and
• a hydraulic manifold fluidly connected to the plurality of hydraulic subsystem lines and configured for connecting to the vehicle hydraulic system;
• and
• an electrical processing circuit operably connected to the hydraulic manifold and configured for switching the hydraulic manifold for connecting at least one hydraulic subsystem line of the plurality of hydraulic subsystem lines to the vehicle hydraulic system, wherein the electrical processing circuit is configured for automatically switching the hydraulic manifold in a transport mode for transporting the agricultural baler.

A method for operating an agricultural baler towable by a vehicle, comprising:

• providing a baler hydraulic system comprising a plurality of hydraulically operated subsystems, a plurality of hydraulic subsystem lines being fluidly connected to the plurality of hydraulically operated subsystems, and a hydraulic manifold fluidly connected to the plurality of hydraulic subsystem lines and configured for connecting to a vehicle hydraulic system of the vehicle, and further providing an electrical processing circuit operably connected to the hydraulic manifold;
• selecting at least one hydraulically operated subsystem for operation thereof;
• switching the hydraulic manifold, by the electrical processing circuit, for connecting at least one hydraulic subsystem line of the plurality of hydraulic subsystem lines to the vehicle hydraulic system for operating the at least one hydraulically operated subsystem, wherein the hydraulic manifold includes a plurality of solenoid valves connected to the plurality of hydraulic subsystem lines, and each solenoid valve being associated with a respective hydraulically operated subsystem of the plurality of hydraulically operated subsystems, the electrical processing circuit being operably connected to the plurality of solenoid valves, and the step of switching the hydraulic manifold includes switching the plurality of solenoid valves, by the electrical processing circuit, for operating at least one hydraulically operated subsystem of the plurality of hydraulically operated subsystems, wherein the plurality of hydraulically operated subsystems comprises a drop floor subsystem, a first knife tray subsystem, a second knife tray subsystem, a pickup unit subsystem, and a tail gate subsystem;
• and
• automatically cleaning at least one of the first knife tray subsystem and the second knife tray subsystem, by the electrical processing circuit, upon a cycling of the tail gate subsystem.