Directly actuated depth control
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsDavid Lee Steinlage, Brian Thomas Mosdal, James Thomas Noonan, Garrett Lee Goins, Anthony Scott Royer, David Alan Payne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A depth control system particularly useful for single point depth control on an agricultural implement includes a valve and actuator mounted directly to the pivotal connection areas of a hydraulic cylinder that controls height. Cylinder motion directly controls valve actuation independently of complicated linkages to reduce the size and cost of the system and substantially overcome hysteresis problems.
Claims20
Height control for an implement having hydraulically controlled lift structure connected to a frame and operable to raise and lower the frame, the height control comprising:
- an extendable and retractable lift cylinder;
- a linkage connected to the lift structure;
- cylinder pivot structure connecting the cylinder between the frame and the linkage for adjusting the height of the implement by extension and retraction of the cylinder;
- a valve supported on the cylinder pivot structure and having an on position and a blocking position;
- and
- valve actuator structure supported from the cylinder pivot structure and operable with extension and retraction of the cylinder to change the position of the valve for establishing a selected frame position.
Position control for an implement having hydraulically controlled lift structure connected to a frame and operable to raise and lower the frame, the position control comprising:
- an extendable and retractable cylinder having an axis, a base end connected to the frame, and a rod end;
- a linkage connecting the rod end to the lift structure for raising and lowering the frame with extension and retraction of the cylinder;
- a valve supported from one of the ends of the cylinder and having an on position and a blocking position;
- actuator structure supported from the rod and base ends of the cylinder and including an axially adjustable contact member;
- and
- wherein the contact member and the valve move relative to each other along a linear path generally parallel to the cylinder axis directly with extension and retraction of the cylinder, the valve movable to the blocking position by the relative movement of the contact member and valve to establish an adjusted implement frame position.
Position control for an implement having hydraulically controlled lift structure connected to a frame and operable to raise and lower the frame, the position control comprising:
- an extendable and retractable cylinder having a rod end and a base end connected to the frame and the lift structure for raising and lowering the frame with extension and retraction of the cylinder;
- a valve support connected to one of the ends of the cylinder;
- a valve having an on position and a blocking position mounted to the valve support;
- actuator structure extending between the rod and base ends and slidably received by the valve support, the actuator structure including an adjustable contact member;
- and
- wherein the adjustable contact member and valve move relative to each other along a path directly with extension and retraction of the cylinder, the valve movable to the blocking position by the relative movement of the contact member and valve to establish an adjusted implement frame position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.