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US 2025/0169388 A1Published application
Ground pressure control for agricultural implement
OwnerRheal Boileau, Owen Darrach +1inventors
InventorsRheal Boileau, Owen Darrach, Ray Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A harrow implement comprises of a tool bar with harrow sections attached in which each section is supported by one or more hydraulic cylinders mounted such that the cylinders force translated through the section provides a substantially constant force to the ground throughout the cylinders travel. A hydraulic pressure control is used such that the hydraulic oil on both sides of each hydraulic cylinder is regulated. The control is operated to vary the pressure differential between sides of the cylinder allowing a continuous range of ground force between zero (sections lifted) and a maximum, transferring tool bar mass to the sections.
Claims30
A towed agricultural implement comprising:
- a tool bar;
- ground wheels supporting the tool bar for movement across a ground surface in a forward working direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tool bar;
- a plurality of frame sections movably mounted on the tool bar for movement in the forward working direction with the tool bar and carrying ground working tools for engaging the ground surface, each frame section being movably mounted on the tool bar by a respective operating linkage such that the frame section extends rearward from the tool bar and is movable up and down relative to the tool bar independently of other ones of the frame sections;
- a hydraulic actuator operatively connected to each operating linkage, each hydraulic actuator including a first port operable to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid to lift the respective frame section relative to the tool bar and a second port operable to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid to lower the respective frame section relative to the tool bar;
- and
- a hydraulic controller assembly including (i) at least one first pressure control valve operative to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid at a substantially constant, first controlled pressure to the first port of each hydraulic actuator to exert an upward bias force to the frame sections, and (ii) at least one second pressure control valve operative to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid at a substantially constant second controlled pressure to the second port of each hydraulic actuator to exert a downward bias force to the frame sections, whereby the hydraulic controller is arranged to exert a net bias force to the frame sections corresponding to a difference between said upward bias force and said downward bias force;
- wherein at least one of the first and second controlled pressures is controllably adjustable by the hydraulic controller to vary the net bias force exerted on the frame sections.
4 more elements
A towed agricultural implement comprising:
- a tool bar;
- ground wheels supporting the tool bar for movement across a ground surface in a forward working direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tool bar;
- a plurality of frame sections movably mounted on the tool bar for movement in the forward working direction with the tool bar and carrying ground working tools for engaging the ground surface, each frame section being movably mounted on the tool bar by a respective operating linkage such that the frame section extends rearward from the tool bar and is movable up and down relative to the tool bar independently of other ones of the frame sections;
- a hydraulic actuator operatively connected to each operating linkage, each hydraulic actuator including a first port operable to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid to lift the respective frame section relative to the tool bar and a second port operable to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid to lower the respective frame section relative to the tool bar;
- and
- a hydraulic controller assembly including at least one pressure control valve operative to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid at a substantially constant, controlled pressure to one of the first or second ports port of each hydraulic actuator to exert a bias force to the frame sections, in which the controlled pressure is controllably adjustable by the hydraulic controller to vary the bias force exerted on the frame sections;
- wherein said at least one pressure control valve includes a respective regeneration hydraulic line in communication between a controlled output of the pressure control valve and a regeneration valve, the regeneration valve being configured to allow excess pressure at the controlled output above the controlled pressure to be discharged from the controlled output through the regeneration line to another pressurized portion of the hydraulic controller.
4 more elements
A towed agricultural implement comprising:
- a tool bar;
- ground wheels supporting the tool bar for movement across a ground surface in a forward working direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tool bar;
- a plurality of frame sections movably mounted on the tool bar for movement in the forward working direction with the tool bar and carrying ground working tools for engaging the ground surface, each frame section being movably mounted on the tool bar by a respective operating linkage such that the frame section extends rearward from the tool bar and is movable up and down relative to the tool bar independently of other ones of the frame sections;
- a hydraulic actuator operatively connected to each operating linkage, each hydraulic actuator including a first port operable to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid to lift the respective frame section relative to the tool bar and a second port operable to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid to lower the respective frame section relative to the tool bar;
- and
- a hydraulic controller assembly including (i) at least one pressure control valve operative to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid at a substantially constant, controlled pressure to one of the first or second ports port of each hydraulic actuator to exert a bias force to the frame sections in which the controlled pressure is controllably adjustable by the hydraulic controller to vary the bias force exerted on the frame sections;
- wherein each operating linkage comprises a first link and a second link connected between the toolbar and the respective frame section, wherein the hydraulic actuator comprises a piston cylinder assembly connected between the first link of the operating linkage and one of (i) the second link and (ii) the respective frame section.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.