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US 9,883,623 B2Granted
Agricultural toolbar apparatus, systems, and methods
AssigneePrecision Planting LLC
InventorsDale M. Koch, Jason J. Stoller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods and apparatus for shifting weight between a tractor and toolbar and between sections of the toolbar and for folding a toolbar between a work position and a transport position.
Claims22
A toolbar of an agricultural implement, comprising:
- a left member of the toolbar of the agricultural implement;
- a right member of the toolbar of the agricultural implement;
- and
- a synchronizing mechanism by which said left member and said right member of the toolbar of the agricultural implement are pivotally engaged and constrained so as to transfer pivotal forces between them such that said left and right members pivot symmetrically and synchronously with respect to one another about a vertical longitudinal plane;
- a left wing section having a first plurality of ground-engaging tools mounted thereto;
- a right wing section having a second plurality of ground-engaging tools mounted thereto, wherein said toolbar has a field position in which said wing sections extend generally transversely and a transport position in which said wing sections extend generally longitudinally, and wherein as the toolbar folds from said field position to said transport position, a proximal end of each said wing section moves rearward relative to the tractor and a distal end of each said wing section moves inward;
- wherein said left wing section is pivotally coupled to the toolbar at a left horizontal pivot axis, wherein said left horizontal pivot axis extends generally longitudinally, wherein said right wing section is pivotally coupled to the toolbar at a right horizontal pivot axis, wherein said right horizontal pivot axis extends generally longitudinally, wherein said left member is pivotally coupled to the toolbar at a left outboard pivot axis, and wherein said right member is pivotally coupled to the toolbar about a right outboard pivot axis;
- and
- wherein said left outboard pivot axis is located outboard of said left horizontal pivot axis when the toolbar is in said field position, and wherein said right outboard pivot axis is located outboard of said right horizontal pivot axis when the toolbar is in said field position.
6 more elements
An agricultural toolbar, comprising:
- a longitudinally extending weight transfer frame;
- and
- a weight transfer actuator disposed to transfer weight between a tractor and the toolbar, said weight transfer actuator pivotally coupled to said weight transfer frame, wherein said weight transfer actuator is in fluid communication with a pressure control valve, wherein said pressure control valve is configured to select a pressure in said weight transfer actuator;
- processing circuitry configured to modify a pressure set by said pressure control valve, wherein said pressure control valve is in electrical communication with said processing circuitry;
- wherein said weight transfer actuator is a dual-acting hydraulic cylinder, wherein when the weight transfer actuator applies force in a first direction, weight is transferred from the toolbar to the tractor, and wherein when the weight transfer actuator applies force in a second direction, weight is transferred from the tractor to the toolbar.
2 more elements
A method of transferring weight between a tractor and an agricultural toolbar, comprising:
- determining a net toolbar ground force acting on a plurality of toolbar wheels supporting the toolbar;
- determining an estimated tractor weight carried by the rear tractor wheels of the tractor based on a user input;
- determining an estimated tractor weight transfer amount transferred between the tractor and the toolbar based on a pressure in an actuator configured to transfer weight between the tractor and the toolbar;
- calculating a net tractor ground force by adding said weight transfer amount to said estimated tractor weight;
- comparing said net tractor ground force to said net toolbar ground force;
- and
- modifying a pressure in said actuator so that said net toolbar ground force more closely approximates said net tractor ground force.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.