Turf mower hydraulic lift control system and method

A turf mower, said turf mower comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• a cutting implement structure and operable to cut turf;
• and
• an electro-hydraulic flow control system for controlling the movement of the cutting implement, said system comprising:
• a hydraulic system structured and operable to raise the cutting implement to transport mode and lower the cutting implement to a cutting mode, the hydraulic system comprising:
• a hydraulic fluid tank structured and operable to retain hydraulic fluid;
• a hydraulic actuator connected to the cutting implement and structured and operable to raise and lower the cutting implement;
• a plurality of hydraulic fluid lines fluidly connecting the hydraulic actuator to the hydraulic fluid tank;
• and
• a hydraulic pump fluidly connected to the hydraulic fluid tank and the hydraulic actuator and structured and operable to pump hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid tank to the hydraulic actuator;
• and
• an electromechanical fluid flow control system structured and operable to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic system, the electromechanical fluid control system comprising:
• a routing valve structured and operable to be movable between a first position, and a second position to control the routing of the hydraulic fluid through the electromechanical fluid flow control system;
• a float valve structured and operable to be movable between a check position to mono-directionally control the flow of the hydraulic fluid therethrough and a control position to bi-directionally control the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough;
• a weight transfer valve structured and operable to be movable between a weight transfer position to allow the hydraulic fluid mono-directionally flow therethrough and a closed position to prevent the flow of hydraulic fluid from flowing therethrough;
• a weight transfer pressure adjustment (WTPA) valve structured and operable to control the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough from the weight transfer valve to the hydraulic fluid tank;
• and
• a control module structured and operable to control operation of the routing valve, the float valve, the weight transfer valve, and the WTPA valve to control operation of the hydraulic actuator and thereby control movement of the cutting implement.

A method for controlling the movement of a cutting implement of a turf mower, the mower comprising a hydraulic system structured and operable to raise the cutting implement to transport mode and lower the cutting implement to a cutting mode, the hydraulic system including a hydraulic fluid tank structured and operable to retain hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic actuator connected to the cutting implement and structured and operable to raise and lower the cutting implement, and a hydraulic pump fluidly connected to the hydraulic fluid tank and the hydraulic actuator and structured and operable to pump hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid tank to the hydraulic actuator;

• and an electromechanical fluid flow control system structured and operable to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic system, the electromechanical fluid control system including a routing valve movable between a first position and an second position to control the routing of the hydraulic fluid through the electromechanical fluid flow control system, a float valve movable between a check position to mono-directionally control the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough and a control position to bi-directionally control the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough, a weight transfer valve movable between a weight transfer position to allow the hydraulic fluid mono-directionally flow therethrough and a closed position to prevent the flow of hydraulic fluid from flowing therethrough, a weight transfer pressure adjustment (WTPA) valve structured and operable to control the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough from the weight transfer valve to the hydraulic fluid tank, and a control module structured and operable to control operation of the routing valve, the float valve, the weight transfer valve, and the WTPA valve to control operation of the hydraulic actuator and thereby control movement of the cutting implement, said method comprising one of:
• controlling, via the control module, the WTPA valve to meter the rate of hydraulic fluid flow therethrough to raise the cutting implement to a transport position at a first speed, and to lower the cutting implement to a cutting position at a second speed;
• and
• controlling, via the control module, the float valve to meter the rate of hydraulic fluid flow therethrough to raise the cutting implement to a transport position at the first speed, and to lower the cutting implement to a cutting position at the second speed.