Fluid circuit for bale ejection with restricted flow

A system for operation of a panel 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 bale 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 and returns pressurized fluid into a hydraulic circuit;
• the hydraulic circuit comprising
• a source of pressurized fluid in fluid communication with the first and second openings for supplying fluid to and returning fluid from the at least one actuator in the hydraulic circuit operable in at least first and second hydraulic state;
• at least one fluid stop valve in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid and the at least one actuator, the fluid stop valve comprising at least one restrictive orifice;
• and
• at least one fluid controller that controls the flow of pressurized fluid through the at least one fluid stop valve;
• wherein the system operates in at least a first and second hydraulic state;
• whereby, in the first hydraulic state, the at least one fluid stop valve is in an open configuration and pressurized fluid from the source of the pressurized fluid flows to the first fluid opening of the at least one actuator through the at least one fluid stop valve;
• whereby, in the second hydraulic state, the restrictive orifice of the fluid stop valve is partially closed or closed as compared to the position of the fluid orifice in the first hydraulic state, thereby reducing the rate of flow of pressurized fluid from entering the first fluid opening of the at least one actuator and substantially reducing the rate of and/or stopping movement of the at least one actuator.

A hydraulic circuit comprising:

• at least one actuator mechanically linked to a panel, the at least one actuator capable of moving the panel between a closed and one or more open positions and comprising
• a first fluid opening on one end of the actuator,
• a second fluid opening on the opposite end of the actuator,
• wherein the first and second fluid openings feed and return pressurized fluid into the hydraulic circuit;
• a source of pressurized fluid in fluid communication with the first and second fluid openings for supplying fluid to the at least one actuator in the hydraulic circuit;
• at least one fluid stop valve in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid and the at least one actuator, the stop valve comprising at least one restrictive orifice;
• at least one 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 path, operable when the at least one fluid stop valve is in one or more open positions, in which pressurized fluid from the source of the pressurized fluid flows to the first fluid opening of the at least one actuator through the open fluid stop valve, and, simultaneously, pressurized fluid from the at least one actuator returns to the source of the pressurized fluid through the second fluid opening without passing through the at least one fluid stop valve;
• a second hydraulic path, operable when the at least one fluid stop valve is closed or at least partially closed as compared to its open configuration in the first hydraulic path, whereby the restrictive orifice of the fluid stop valve is narrowed, thereby reducing the rate of flow of pressurized fluid from the at least one fluid stop valve and entering the first fluid opening of the at least one actuator and substantially reducing the rate of and/or stopping movement of the actuator;
• a third hydraulic path, operable when the fluid stop valve is in one or more open positions, in which pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid flows to the second fluid opening of the at least one actuator, and, simultaneously, pressurized fluid returns from the at least one actuator through the first fluid opening and through the open stop valve allowing free flow of pressurized fluid from the at least one actuator to the source of the pressurized fluid;
• and
• a fourth hydraulic path, whereby the restrictive orifice of the fluid stop valve is closed or partially closed, thereby substantially slowing the rate of the flow of the pressurized fluid from the at least one fluid stop valves and/or stopping the movement of the panel as it moves from an open position to one or more closed position;
• and
• at least one fluid source controller that controls the direction of pressurized fluid flow in the hydraulic circuit such that pressurized fluid may flow from the source of the pressurized fluid toward the first fluid opening when opening the panel in the first or second hydraulic paths or from the source of the pressurized fluid toward the second fluid opening when closing the panel in the third or fourth hydraulic paths.

A system for operation of a panel 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
• a first fluid opening on one end of the actuator,
• a second fluid opening on the opposite end of the actuator,
• wherein the first and second fluid openings feed and return pressurized fluid into a hydraulic circuit;
• the hydraulic circuit comprising
• a source of pressurized fluid in fluid communication with the first and second openings for supplying fluid to and returning fluid from the at least one actuator in the hydraulic circuit;
• at least one fluid stop valve in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid and the at least one actuator, the fluid stop valve comprising at least one restrictive orifice;
• and
• at least one fluid controller that controls the flow of pressurized fluid through the at least one fluid stop valve;
• wherein the at least one restrictive orifice is adjustable based upon one or more predetermined positions of one or more serpentine arms of a baling mechanism.