Cylindrical baler having hydraulic circuit for controlling bale density and tailgate operation
AssigneeGehl Company
InventorsKim P. Viesselmann, Steven J. Henderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cylindrical baler is comprised of an adjustable bale forming chamber for forming spirally wound, cylindrical bales. A completed bale is discharged on the ground through a rear tailgate. The chamber is defined by a plurality of belts supported on a system of rollers. Tensioning cylinders are mounted on each side of the baler to provide variable bale density and tailgate cylinders are positioned on the rear of the baler to actuate the tailgate after a bale is formed. A two-way proportional valve acts alone or in cooperation with an adjustable rotary valve and an adjustable relief valve to coordinate the flow, to vary the belt tension, and to open and close the tailgate.
Claims22
A cylindrical baler for processing cylindrical bales, said baler comprising:
- a front section;
- a rear discharge tailgate connected to said front section;
- a plurality of guide and tensioning rollers in said front section and said rear discharge tailgate;
- a plurality of belts supported on and extending around said rollers for defining an expandable bale forming chamber and providing variable bale density, said tailgate being movable between an open position for bale discharge and a closed position for bale formation;
- tensioning cylinder means for providing variable tension on said belts during bale formation;
- tailgate cylinder means for providing actuation of said tailgate between said open position and said closed position;
- pressurized fluid source means for supplying fluid to and returning fluid from said tensioning cylinder means and said tailgate cylinder means;
- and
- fluid circuit means including a singular, proportional valve means connected with supplementary valve means and located between said tensioning cylinder means and said tailgate cylinder means for controlling the pressure requirements between said tensioning cylinder means and said tailgate cylinder means, for controlling said variable bale density during said bale formation and for opening and closing said tailgate following said bale formation.
A machine for forming cylindrical bales of crop having a variable volume baling chamber and a hydraulic system which includes a tensioning cylinder for providing variable bale density, a tailgate cylinder for enabling discharge of a formed bale from the baling chamber and a source of hydraulic fluid connectable to a rod end and a piston end of each tensioning cylinder and tailgate cylinder, the machine comprising:
- a proportional valve connected between the tensioning cylinder and the tailgate cylinder;
- a first fluid path having a first part supplying hydraulic fluid to the piston end of the tailgate cylinder and a second part returning hydraulic fluid from the rod end of the tailgate cylinder to the source;
- a second fluid path having a first part supplying hydraulic fluid to the rod end of the tailgate cylinder and a second part returning fluid from the piston end of the tailgate cylinder to the source;
- a third fluid path having a first part supplying fluid from one of said first fluid path and said second fluid path to said proportional valve and a second part returning fluid from said proportional valve to the source;
- a fourth fluid path having a first part supplying fluid from one of said first fluid path and said second fluid path through said proportional valve to the rod end of the tensioning cylinder and a second part returning fluid from the piston end of the tensioning cylinder to the source;
- and
- a fifth fluid path interconnecting said first fluid path and said second fluid path.
A cylindrical baler for processing cylindrical bales, said baler comprising:
- a front section;
- a rear discharge tailgate pivotally connected to said front section;
- a plurality of guide and tensioning rollers in said front section and rear tailgate;
- a plurality of belts supported on and extending around said rollers for defining an expandable bale forming chamber and providing variable bale density, said tailgate being movable between an open position for bale discharge and a closed position for bale formation;
- tensioning cylinder means for providing variable tension on said belts during bale formation;
- tailgate cylinder means for providing actuation of said tailgate between said open position and said closed position;
- each of said tensioning cylinder means and said tailgate cylinder means having a rod end and a piston end;
- fluid source means for supplying fluid to and returning fluid from tensioning cylinder means and said tailgate cylinder means;
- and
- fluid circuit means located between said tensioning cylinder means and said tailgate cylinder means, said fluid circuit means including:
- a proportional valve;
- an adjustable rotary valve connected to said proportional valve;
- and
- an adjustable relief valve connected to said rotary valve;
- whereby during a bale formation phase, fluid flows initially from said rod end of said tensioning cylinder means through said rotary valve, through said proportional valve and back to said piston end of said tensioning cylinder means until the bale reaches a predetermined size after which fluid flows through said relief valve to said piston end of said tensioning cylinder means;
- whereby during a bale ejection phase, fluid flows from said source means to said rod end of said tailgate cylinder means and from said rod end of said tailgate cylinder means back to said source means;
- whereby after the bale is ejected, fluid flows from said source means to said rod end of said tailgate cylinder means and from said piston end of said tailgate cylinder means to said source means;
- and
- whereby depending on the pressure demands between said rod end of said tensioning cylinder means and said proportional valve, fluid flows through said proportional valve and returns to said source means.
A cylindrical baler for processing cylindrical bales, said baler comprising:
- a front section;
- a rear discharge tailgate connected to said front section;
- a plurality of guide and tensioning rollers in said front section and rear tailgate;
- a plurality of belts supported on and extending around said rollers for defining an expandable bale forming chamber and providing variable bale density;
- tensioning cylinder means for providing variable tension on said belts during bale formation;
- pressurized fluid source means for supplying fluid to and returning fluid from said tensioning cylinder means;
- and
- fluid circuit means including a singular, solenoid valve means connected to said tensioning cylinder means for controlling the pressure requirements of said tensioning cylinder means and said variable bale density during said bale formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.