# US 2015/0143791 A1 · Fluid circuit for bale ejection with restricted flow

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- Number: US 2015/0143791 A1
- Document ID: US20150143791A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/089,512
- Filed: 2013-11-25
- Published: 2015-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-25
- Assignees: CNH America LLC
- Applicants: Cnh America LLC
- Inventors: Kevin M. Smith; Luke J. Harris
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150143791A1

## CPC

- A01F 15/0883: {for round balers}
- E05F 3/04: with liquid piston brakes (rotary type E05F3/14)
- E05F 15/50: using fluid-pressure actuators
- A01F: PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE (devices for topping or skinning onions or flower bulbs A23N15/08)
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING

## 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 fluid stop valve comprising a restrictive orifice which, when narrowed, reduces the rate of pressurized fluid flow into a hydraulic actuator during the actuator's extension. The reduced flow of pressurized fluid into the hydraulic cylinder substantially reduces the speed at which the panel opens or closes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An agricultural harvester comprising:
a baling chamber comprising 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 actuator, wherein the first fluid opening feeds and/or returns pressurized fluid into a hydraulic circuit, the hydraulic circuit comprising:
a source of pressurized fluid in fluid communication with at least the first opening for supplying fluid to and returning fluid from the actuator in the hydraulic circuit;
at least one fluid stop valve in fluid communication with the hydraulic circuit; and
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;
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 open allowing pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid to enter the first fluid opening; and, whereby, in the second hydraulic state, a restrictive orifice in the fluid stop valve is at least partially narrowed or closed thereby reducing the rate of flow of pressurized fluid from the source of the pressurized fluid through the at least one fluid stop valve and substantially reducing and/or stopping movement of the at least one actuator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator comprises:
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/or 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 actuator in the hydraulic circuit;
at least one fluid stop valve in fluid communication with the hydraulic circuit; and
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;
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 open allowing pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid to enter the first fluid opening; and, simultaneously, pressurized fluid returns from the at least one actuator through the second fluid opening to the source of the pressurized fluid; and whereby, in the second hydraulic state, a restrictive orifice in the fluid stop valve is at least partially narrowed or closed thereby reducing the rate of flow of pressurized fluid from the source of the pressurized fluid through the at least one fluid stop valve and substantially reducing and/or stopping movement of the at least one actuator.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator further comprises a first switch and a second switch, the first switch and second switch each having a first state and a second state and being in operable connection to the fluid controller, wherein the tailgate moves from the first to the second hydraulic state upon activation of the first switch from its first to second state.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The agricultural harvester of claim 3 further comprising a controller that measures a time period for the first switch change from a first state to a second state and a time period for the second tailgate switch to change from a first state to a second state, wherein the time period for the first tailgate switch to change from a first state to a second state is dependent upon at least one or a combination of: (i) a diameter or density of a bale growing in the bale chamber; (ii) a presence or absence of a bale in the bale chamber; (iii) a predetermined position of the tailgate relative to its closed position; (iv) a predetermined position of a serpentine arm mechanically linked to the agricultural harvester and capable of upward movement upon initiating ejection of the bale from the bale chamber; and (v) a predetermined position of a bale ramp mechanically linked to the agricultural harvester and capable of supporting a bale ejected from the bale chamber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The agricultural harvester of claim 4, wherein the at least one fluid controller is programmed to adjust the rate of flow of the pressurized fluid through the fluid stop valve by adjusting the position of a restrictive orifice, and wherein the time period for the first tailgate switch to change from a first state to a second state is dependent upon at least a predetermined position of the tailgate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The agricultural harvester of claim 4, wherein the at least one fluid controller is a solenoid programmed to be energized and at least partially close the restrictive orifice in the fluid stop valve relative to its position in the first hydraulic state thereby reducing the rate of flow of the pressurized fluid to the at least one actuator.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The agricultural harvester of claim 4, wherein the at least one fluid controller is a solenoid programmed to be energized and at least partially close the restrictive orifice in the fluid stop valve relative to its position in the first hydraulic state thereby reducing the rate of flow of the pressurized fluid to the at least one actuator, wherein the solenoid is energized at least partially based upon the predetermined position of the bale ramp.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The agricultural harvester of claim 4, wherein the at least one fluid controller is a solenoid programmed to be energized and at least partially close the restrictive orifice in the fluid stop valve relative to its position in the first hydraulic state thereby reducing the rate of flow of the pressurized fluid to the at least one actuator, wherein the solenoid is energized at least partially based upon at least a predetermined position of the tailgate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The agricultural harvester of claim 4, wherein the at least one fluid controller is a solenoid programmed to be energized and at least partially close the restrictive orifice in the fluid stop valve relative to its position in the first hydraulic state thereby reducing the rate of flow of the pressurized fluid to the at least one actuator, wherein the solenoid is energized at least partially based upon a predetermined position of a serpentine arm mechanically linked to the agricultural harvester.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The agricultural harvester of claim 2, wherein the tailgate moves from an opened position to a closed position in a third and a fourth hydraulic state; whereby, in the third hydraulic state, the flow of the pressurized fluid is reversed in the hydraulic circuit such that fluid from the source of pressurized fluid flows directly 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 whereby, in the fourth hydraulic state, the fluid stop valve is narrowed either instantaneously or gradually, thereby reducing the flow of pressurized fluid from the at least one fluid stop valve into the source of pressurized fluid relative to flow of the pressurized fluid in the third hydraulic state and thereby substantially slowing and/or stopping the movement of the tailgate as it approaches its closed position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic circuit comprises a single fluid stop valve.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The agricultural harvester of claim 9, wherein the tailgate moves from the third to the fourth hydraulic state based upon one or a combination of: (i) activation of the second switch from its first to second state; or (ii) one or more movements and/or one or more positions of one or more serpentine arms in one or more baling mechanisms.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The agricultural harvester of claim 1, further comprising at least one activation device in operable connection to the fluid controller and manually activatable to commence movement of the tailgate from the one or more open positions and/or from the closed position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid controller is a solenoid.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid controller is a mechanical controller.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The agricultural harvester of claim 14, wherein the solenoid is programmed to be energized based upon the activation of one or a combination of: (i) the first switch from its first to second state; or (ii) the second switch from its first to second state.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The agricultural harvester of claim 14 further comprising a controller that measures a time period for the second switch change from a first state to a second state and a time period for the second tailgate switch to change from a first state to a second state, wherein the time period for the second tailgate switch to change from a first state to a second state is dependent upon at least one or a combination of: (i) a diameter or density of a bale growing in the bale chamber; (ii) a presence or absence of a bale in the bale chamber; (iii) a predetermined position of the tailgate relative to its open position; (iv) a predetermined position of a serpentine arm mechanically linked to the agricultural harvester and capable of upward movement upon initiating ejection of the bale from the bale chamber; and (v) a predetermined position of a bale ramp mechanically linked to the agricultural harvester and capable of supporting a bale ejected from the bale chamber.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein the agricultural harvester is chosen from a round baler cotton harvester, or combine comprising a baling mechanism.

### Claim 19

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.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one actuator the at least one actuator comprises 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; the system operating in 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, and, simultaneously, pressurized fluid from the at least one actuator returns to the source of the pressurized fluid through the second fluid opening; 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.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the hydraulic circuit further operates in a third hydraulic state and a fourth hydraulic state, whereby
in the third hydraulic state 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 at least one fluid stop valve configured in an open position and allowing flow of pressurized fluid from the at least one actuator to the source of the pressurized fluid; and
in a fourth hydraulic state, the restrictive orifice of the fluid stop valve is partially closed or closed as compared to its open configuration in the third hydraulic state, thereby substantially reducing the rate of flow of pressurized fluid in the hydraulic circuit and/or substantially reducing the rate of or stopping the movement of the tailgate as it moves from an open position to one or more closed position.

### Claim 22

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.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The hydraulic circuit of claim 22, wherein the at least one actuator further comprises a first switch and a second switch, the first switch and second switch each having a first state and a second state and being in operable connection to the fluid controller, wherein the panel moves from a first hydraulic state to a second hydraulic state upon activation of the first switch from its first to its second state.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The hydraulic circuit of claim 23 further comprising a controller that measures a time period for the first switch change from a first state to a second state and a time period for the second switch to change from a first state to a second state, wherein the time period for the first switch to change from a first state to a second state is dependent upon at least one or a combination of: (i) a diameter or density of a bale growing in a bale chamber; (ii) a presence or absence of a bale in a bale chamber; (iii) a predetermined position of the panel relative to its closed position; (iv) a predetermined position of a serpentine arm mechanically linked to an agricultural harvester comprising the hydraulic circuit and capable of upward movement upon initiating ejection of a bale from a bale chamber in the agricultural harvester; and (v) a predetermined position of a bale ramp mechanically linked to the agricultural harvester and capable of supporting the bale ejected from the bale chamber.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The hydraulic circuit of claim 24, wherein the controller that measures a time period for the first switch change from a first state to a second state and/or a time period for the second switch to change from a first state to a second state is a potentiometer.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

A method of extending or contracting an actuator mechanically linked to a panel, the method comprising using the hydraulic system of claim 19, wherein, using the hydraulic system comprises:
directing the flow of pressurized fluid into the first hydraulic state and then subsequently into the second hydraulic state if to extend the actuator; and/or
directing the flow of pressurized fluid into the third hydraulic state and then subsequently into a fourth hydraulic state if to contract the actuator.

### Claim 27

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.