Back to results
US 2015/0143789 A1Published application
Fluid circuit for bale ejection
AssigneeCNH America LLC
InventorKevin M. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a hydraulic circuit mechanically linked to a panel and agricultural harvesters comprising the same. The hydraulic circuit of the present invention can be used to facilitate the transition of hydraulic states from a quick speed to a slow speed, when opening and closing the panel. The hydraulic circuit comprises a restrictive orifice and a fluid stop valve that, when opened, diverts the path of pressurized fluid away from a hydraulic actuator during the actuator's extension. The diversion of pressurized fluid away from the hydraulic cylinder or through the restrictive orifice substantially reduces the speed at which the panel opens or closes.
Claims26
An agricultural harvester comprising:
- a baling chamber having a bale outlet and a tailgate at a rear section of the baling chamber, the tailgate movable between a closed and one or more open positions and obstructing the bale outlet in its closed position;
- at least one actuator mechanically linked to the tailgate, the at least one actuator capable of moving the tailgate between the closed and one or more open positions and having
- at least a first fluid opening on one end of the at least one actuator,
- wherein the at least first fluid opening feeds pressurized fluid into a hydraulic circuit;
- the hydraulic circuit comprising:
- a source of pressurized fluid in fluid communication with the first openings for supplying fluid to and returning fluid from the actuator in the hydraulic circuit;
- a fluid stop valve in fluid communication with the hydraulic circuit;
- and
- a fluid controller that controls the flow of pressurized fluid through the fluid stop valve from the source of pressurized fluid or from the at least one actuator;
- wherein the tailgate moves from a closed position to one or more open positions in a first and a second hydraulic state;
- whereby, in the first hydraulic state, the stop valve is closed allowing pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid to enter the first fluid opening and to bypass the fluid stop valve;
- whereby, in the second hydraulic state, the fluid stop valve is open allowing pressurized fluid from the source of the pressurized fluid to flow through the open fluid stop valve and to return pressurized fluid to the source of the pressurized fluid thereby diverting a volume of pressurized fluid from entering the at least one first fluid opening of the at least one actuator and substantially reducing and/or stopping movement of the actuator.
9 more elements
A system for operation of an ejection mechanism on an agricultural harvester comprising,
- an outlet and a panel, the panel movable between a closed and one or more open positions and obstructing the outlet in its closed position;
- at least one actuator mechanically linked to the panel, the at least one actuator capable of moving the panel between the closed and one or more open positions and having:
- at least a first fluid opening on one end of the actuator, wherein the first fluid opening feeds pressurized fluid into a hydraulic circuit;
- the hydraulic circuit comprising
- a source of pressurized fluid in fluid communication with at least the first fluid opening for supplying fluid to and returning fluid from the at least one actuator in the hydraulic circuit;
- a fluid stop valve in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid and the at least one actuator;
- and
- a fluid controller that controls the flow of pressurized fluid through the fluid stop valve from the source of pressurized fluid or from the at least one actuator;
- a first hydraulic state in which pressurized fluid from the source of the pressurized fluid flows to the at least first fluid opening of the at least one actuator without contacting the fluid stop valve;
- and
- a second hydraulic state, whereupon the fluid stop valve is open, pressurized fluid from the source of the pressurized fluid flows through the open stop valve and returns to the source of the pressurized fluid thereby diverting a volume of pressurized fluid from entering the first fluid opening of the at least one actuator and substantially reducing and/or stopping movement of the at least one actuator.
8 more elements
A system for operation of an ejection mechanism on an agricultural harvester comprising:
- an outlet and a panel, the panel movable between a closed and one or more open positions and obstructing the outlet in its closed position;
- at least one actuator mechanically linked to the panel, the at least one actuator capable of moving the panel between the closed and one or more open positions and having at least a first fluid opening on one end of the actuator, wherein the at least one fluid opening feeds and returns pressurized fluid into a hydraulic circuit;
- the hydraulic circuit comprising:
- a source of pressurized fluid in fluid communication with the first fluid opening for supplying fluid to and returning fluid from the at least one actuator in the hydraulic circuit;
- a fluid stop valve in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid and the at least one actuator;
- and
- a fluid controller that controls the flow and/or direction of pressurized fluid through the fluid stop valve from the source of pressurized fluid or from the at least one actuator;
- wherein the panel moves from one or more open positions to a closed position in a first and a second hydraulic state;
- whereby, in the first hydraulic state, the fluid stop valve is open, allowing pressurized fluid from at least one actuator through at least the first fluid opening to flow to the source of pressurized fluid;
- whereby, in the second hydraulic state, the pressurized fluid returns from the at least one actuator through the at least first fluid opening and through a restrictive opening, thereby diverting a volume of pressurized fluid from passing through the fluid stop valve and substantially reducing and/or stopping movement of the actuator.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.