Hydraulic system providing down force on a work implement
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsMichael L. Knussman, Glen P. Running, Arlyn P. Wilcox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic system (20) for controlling the seed/fertilizer supply system (10) and the down pressure on a plurality of individual row units (12). A secondary supply arrangement (60) interconnects a first control circuit (26) of supply system (10) with a second control circuit (28), when the row units (12) are in a float mode, to provide pressurized fluid for the down force on the row units (12) during operation.
Claims11
A hydraulic system for a work implement (8) towed by a work machine (6) comprising:
- a source of pressurized fluid (22);
- a first control valve (30) being connected to said source of pressurized fluid (22);
- a second control valve (40) being connected to said source of pressurized fluid (22);
- a fluid motor (32) being connected to said first control valve (30) by a supply conduit (34) and a return conduit (36);
- an actuator (42) having a down force end (42a) being connected to said second control valve (40) by a conduit (44) and a lift end (42b) being connected to said second control valve (40) by a conduit (46);
- a pressure responsive valve (62) disposed between the supply conduit (34) and the down force end (42a) of said actuator (42) and movable between a first position communicating the supply conduit (34) with the down force end (42a) of said actuator (42) and a second position blocking the supply conduit (34) from the down force end of said actuator (42);
- and
- said pressure responsive valve (62) having first and second ends (68,70), a spring (72) disposed at the first end (68) biasing the pressure responsive valve (62) to the first position and a pilot line (74) communicating the lift end (42b) of the actuator (42) with the second end (70).
A secondary supply arrangement (60) of a hydraulic system (20) adapted for controlling a work implement (8) towed by a work machine (6), said secondary supply arrangement (60) supplying pressurized fluid from a first control circuit (26) having a first control valve (30) being connected to a fluid motor (32) by a supply conduit (34) and a return conduit (36) to a second control circuit (28) having a second control valve (40) being connected to an actuator (42) having a down force end (42a) and a lift end (42b) comprising:
- a pressure responsive valve (62) disposed between supply conduit (34) and the down force end (42a) of actuator (42) and movable between a first position communicating the supply conduit (34) with the down force end (42a) of the actuator (42) and a second position blocking supply conduit (34) from the down force end (42a) of the actuator (42), said pressure responsive valve (62) having first and second ends (68,70), a spring (72) disposed at the first end (68) biasing the pressure responsive valve (62) to the first position, and a pilot line (74) communicating the lift end (42b) of the actuator (42) with the second end (70);
- and
- said secondary supply arrangement (60) being connected to one of the work machine (6) and the work implement (8).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.