# US 2022/0030757 A1 · Fluid control assembly and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0030757 A1 - Document ID: US20220030757A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/276,460 - Filed: 2019-09-14 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-14 - Assignees: Precision Planting LLC - Applicants: Precision Planting LLC - Inventors: Tristan Herrmann; Jason Stoller; Ben Schlipf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220030757A1 ## CPC - F15B 11/10: in which the servomotor position is a function of the pressure {; Pressure regulators as operating means therefor} - F16K 27/003: {Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements} - F15B 11/006: {Hydraulic "Wheatstone bridge" circuits, i.e. with four nodes, P-A-T-B, and on-off or proportional valves in each link} - F15B 13/02: Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors - F15B 13/044: operated by electrically-controlled means, e.g. solenoids, torque-motors - G05D 7/0652: {the plurality of throttling means being arranged in parallel} - A01C 5/068: {Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels} - A01C 7/205: {comprising pressure regulation means} - F15B 15/10: the motor being of diaphragm type - F15B 2013/002: {Modular valves, i.e. consisting of an assembly of interchangeable components} - F15B 2013/006: {Modular components with multiple uses, e.g. kits for either normally-open or normally-closed valves, interchangeable or reprogrammable manifolds} - F15B 2211/3056: Assemblies of multiple valves - F15B 2211/30575: in a Wheatstone Bridge arrangement (also half bridges) - F15B 2211/327: electrically or electronically - F15B 2211/6313: the pressure being a load pressure - F15B 2211/6656: Closed loop control, i.e. control using feedback - F15B 2211/7052: Single-acting output members - F15B 2211/7053: Double-acting output members - F15B 2211/7107: the output members being mechanically linked - F15B 2211/8855: Compressible fluids, e.g. specific to pneumatics - Y02P 60/20: Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2 - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A fluid system includes a fluid control assembly in fluid communication with a fluid source in fluid communication with a fluid supply port and the fluid control assembly is in fluid communication with an actuator via an outlet port. A controller controls at least one supply valve and at least one exhaust valve. The at least one supply valve and exhaust valve are in a normally closed position until being actuated by the controller to an open position. The fluid control assembly includes a pressure sensor in communication with the outlet port. Whereby when pressure in the outlet port is less than a predetermined pressure, a controller opens the supply valve to communicate fluid to the actuator via the actuator line and when the pressure in the outlet port is greater than a predetermined pressure the controller opens the exhaust valve to vent the is outside a predetermined range. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid control assembly, comprising: a first supply valve having a first supply valve inlet and a first supply valve outlet, the first supply valve being in a normally closed position in which fluid is unable to pass between the first supply valve inlet and the first supply valve outlet until the first supply valve is actuated to an open position in which fluid is able to pass between the first supply valve inlet and the first supply valve outlet; a first exhaust valve having a first exhaust valve inlet and a first exhaust valve outlet, the first exhaust valve being in a normally closed position in which fluid is unable to pass between the first exhaust valve inlet and the first exhaust valve outlet until the first exhaust valve is actuated to an open position in which fluid is able to pass between the first exhaust valve inlet and the first exhaust valve outlet; and a housing in which the first supply valve and the first exhaust valve are received, the housing defining: a first supply port having a first supply passage in fluid communication with the first supply valve inlet; a first outlet port having a first outlet passage in fluid communication with the first supply valve outlet, the first outlet port having a second outlet passage in fluid communication with the first exhaust valve inlet; a first exhaust port having a first exhaust passage in fluid communication with the first exhaust valve outlet; and a first pressure sensor port in fluid communication with the first outlet port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid control assembly of claim 1, wherein the first supply valve, the first exhaust valve, the first supply port, the first outlet port, the first exhaust port and the first pressure sensor port comprise a down circuit portion of the fluid control assembly, and wherein the fluid control assembly further includes a lift circuit portion, the lift circuit portion comprising: a second supply valve having a second supply valve inlet and a second supply valve outlet, the second supply valve being in a normally closed position in which fluid is unable to pass between the second supply valve inlet and the second supply valve outlet until the second supply valve is actuated to an open position in which fluid is able to pass between the second supply valve inlet and the second supply valve outlet; and a second exhaust valve having a second exhaust valve inlet and a second exhaust valve outlet, the second exhaust valve being in a normally closed position in which fluid is unable to pass between the second exhaust valve inlet and the second exhaust valve outlet until the second exhaust valve is actuated to an open position in which fluid is able to pass between the second exhaust valve inlet and the second exhaust valve outlet; wherein the housing receives the second supply valve and the second exhaust valve, the housing further defining: a second supply port having a second supply passage in fluid communication with the second supply valve inlet; a second outlet port having a third outlet passage in fluid communication with the second supply valve outlet, the second outlet port having a fourth outlet passage in fluid communication with the second exhaust valve inlet; a second exhaust port having a second exhaust passage in fluid communication with the second exhaust valve outlet; and a second pressure sensor port in fluid communication with the second outlet port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A fluid system for controlling an agricultural operation, comprising: the fluid control assembly of claim 1; a controller in signal communication with the first supply valve and the first exhaust valve; an actuator configured to exert a force on an agricultural tool; a first fluid supply line fluidly connecting the first supply port to a fluid source; a first actuator line fluidly connecting the actuator to the first outlet port; and a first pressure sensor in fluid communication with the first pressure sensor port, the first pressure sensor in signal communication with the controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fluid system of claim 3, wherein the agricultural tool is a downforce assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The fluid system of claim 3, wherein the agricultural tool is a row cleaner. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The fluid system of claim 3, wherein the agricultural tool is a trench closing assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The fluid system of claim 3, wherein the actuator is a cylinder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The fluid system of claim 3, wherein the actuator is an airbag. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The fluid system of claim 3, wherein: when the first pressure sensor detects a pressure in the first actuator line being less than a predetermined pressure, the controller is configured to generate a signal to cause the first supply valve to actuate to the open position, whereupon fluid flows from the fluid source via the first fluid supply line and through the open first supply valve and then to the actuator via the first actuator line connecting the first outlet port to the actuator, all while the first exhaust valve is in the normally closed position; and when the first pressure sensor detects a pressure in the first actuator line being greater than a predetermined pressure, the controller is configured to generate a signal to cause the first exhaust valve to actuate to the open position, whereby fluid flows from the actuator via the first fluid supply line, through the open first exhaust valve exhausting the fluid through the first exhaust port, all while the first supply valve is in the normally closed position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) A fluid system for controlling an agricultural operation, comprising: the fluid control assembly of claim 2; a controller in signal communication with the first supply valve, the first exhaust valve, the second supply valve and the second exhaust valve; an actuator configured to exert a force on an agricultural tool; a first fluid supply line fluidly connecting the first supply port to a fluid source; a second fluid supply line fluidly connecting the second supply port to the fluid source; a first actuator line fluidly connecting the actuator to the first outlet port; a second actuator line fluidly connecting the actuator to the second outlet port; a first pressure sensor in fluid communication with the first pressure sensor port, the first pressure sensor in signal communication with the controller; and a second pressure sensor in fluid communication with the second pressure sensor port, the second pressure sensor in signal communication with the controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fluid system of claim 10, wherein the agricultural tool is a downforce assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The fluid system of claim 10, wherein the agricultural tool is a row cleaner. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The fluid system of claim 10, wherein the agricultural tool is a trench closing assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The fluid system of claim 10, wherein: when the first pressure sensor detects a pressure in the first actuator line being less than a predetermined pressure, the controller is configured to generate a signal to cause the first supply valve to actuate to the open position and to cause the second exhaust valve to actuate to the open position, whereupon fluid flows from the fluid source via the first fluid supply line and through the open first supply valve and then to the actuator via the first actuator line connecting the first outlet port to the actuator, and whereupon fluid flows from the actuator via the second actuator line connecting the actuator to the second outlet port exhausting the fluid through the second exhaust port. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The fluid system of claim 10, wherein: when the second pressure sensor detects a pressure in the second actuator line being less than a predetermined pressure, the controller is configured to generate a signal to cause the second supply valve to actuate to the open position and to cause the first exhaust valve to actuate to the open position, whereby fluid flows from the fluid source via the second fluid supply line and through the open second supply valve and then to the actuator via the second actuator line connecting the second outlet port to the actuator, and whereby fluid flows from the actuator via the first actuator line connecting the actuator to the first outlet port exhausting the fluid through the first exhaust port. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The fluid system of claim 14, wherein the actuator is an airbag. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The fluid system of claim 14, wherein the actuator is a cylinder having a down chamber and a lift chamber, and wherein the first actuator line is in fluid communication with the down chamber and the second actuator line is in fluid communication with the lift chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The fluid system of claim 14, wherein the actuator comprises a first airbag and a second airbag, and wherein the first actuator line is in fluid communication with the first airbag and wherein the second actuator line is in fluid communication with the second airbag. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The fluid system of claim 10, wherein the actuator is an airbag and wherein: when the first pressure sensor detects a pressure in the first actuator line being less than a predetermined pressure, the controller is configured to generate a signal to cause the first supply valve to actuate to the open position and to cause the second supply valve to actuate to the open position, whereupon fluid flows from the fluid source via the first fluid supply line through the open first supply valve and to the airbag via the first actuator line connecting the first outlet port to the actuator and fluid flows from the fluid source via the second fluid supply line through the open second supply valve to the airbag via the second actuator line connecting the second outlet port to the actuator, all while the first exhaust valve and the second exhaust valve are in the normally closed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The fluid system of claim 10, wherein the actuator is an airbag and wherein: when the first pressure sensor detects a pressure in the first actuator line being greater than a predetermined pressure, the controller is configured to generate a signal to cause the first exhaust valve to actuate to the open position and to cause the second exhaust valve to actuate to the open position, whereupon fluid flows from the airbag via the first actuator line connecting the airbag to the first outlet port and through the open first exhaust valve exhausting the fluid from the first exhaust port and via the second actuator line connecting the airbag to the second outlet port and through the open second exhaust valve exhausting the fluid from the second exhaust port.