Electronic control system for adjusting smoothing tools of a harrow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10448554-B2
Application number	US-201615297684-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2016
Priority date	Oct 19, 2016
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

By providing an electronic control system in communication with a hydraulic system for adjusting an angle of smoothing tools of a harrow, the smoothing tools may be adjusted more quickly and on the go, including from a tractor cab, for optimum field leveling during a tilling session. The control system may include a hydraulic control valve in communication with a linear actuator. The linear actuator may be in communication with a slide bar disposed in a channel. By configuring multiple bars of a harrow to achieve an angle of rotation defined by the slide bar, the angle of rotation for smoothing tools of the harrow may be precisely controlled by the control system.

First claim

We claim:

1. An agricultural tillage implement, comprising:
a main implement frame supporting a set of ground-engaging tillage tools for tilling soil during a tilling session for seedbed preparation;
a soil finish system supported by the main implement frame for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools, the soil finish system including:
a harrow supported in a trailing position with respect to the main implement frame, the harrow including:
a harrow arm;
a strut pivotably connected to the harrow arm and having multiple bars pivotably connected thereto, the strut including an upper wall having a passage therethrough and defining a downwardly directed channel, wherein the multiple bars are arranged generally transversely with respect to a travel direction of the agricultural tillage implement;
a slide bar having an upper portion extending through the passage in the upper wall of the strut and a lower portion slidably received in the channel; and
a first set of smoothing tools connected to the multiple bars and being configured for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools;
a tow line operatively connecting the strut to the main implement frame, the tow line limiting movement of the harrow as the agricultural tillage implement travels during the tilling session;
a linear actuator having a first end fixed to the upper wall and a second end interconnected to the upper portion of the slide bar; and
a hydraulic system configured to provide a hydraulic pressure to the linear actuator connected to the slide bar, wherein linear movement of the linear actuator causes the lower portion of the slide bar to slide within the channel of the strut and pivot the multiple bars relative to the strut thereby altering an angle of the first set of smoothing tools relative to the strut to one of an infinite range of angles; and

a control system in communication with the hydraulic system, wherein the control system is configured to actuate the hydraulic system to define the angle of the first set of smoothing tools.

2. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 , wherein the control system includes a hydraulic control valve in communication with the linear actuator connected to the harrow.

3. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 2 , wherein the control system further includes at least one of an HMI (human machine interface) and a control knob for actuating the hydraulic system.

4. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 3 , wherein the at least one of an HMI and a control knob is mounted on the agricultural tillage implement.

5. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 3 , wherein the at least one of an HMI and a control knob is mounted within a cab of a tractor configured to tow the agricultural tillage implement.

6. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 2 , wherein the linear actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.

7. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 2 , wherein the slide bar is operable to define the angle of the first set of smoothing tools by stopping a rotation of the multiple bars.

8. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 , wherein the multiple bars of the harrow frame including a front bar arranged toward a front end of the harrow, a back bar arranged toward a back end of the harrow, and an intermediate bar arranged between the front and back bars of the harrow.

9. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 8 , wherein the harrow is a spring tine harrow with each of the front, rear and intermediate bars of the harrow supporting spring tines that define the first set of smoothing tools.

10. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 9 , wherein the strut supports a bracket on a first side of the strut for mounting to the linear actuator, and the strut includes a slot for connecting the linear actuator to the slide bar on a second side of the strut.

11. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 , further comprising a finishing tool supported in a trailing position with respect to the harrow with the finishing tool including a second set of smoothing tools for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools.

12. An agricultural tillage implement, comprising:
a main implement frame supporting a set of ground-engaging tillage tools for tilling soil during a tilling session for seedbed preparation; and
a soil finish system supported by the main implement frame for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools, the soil finish system including:
a harrow supported in a trailing position with respect to the main implement frame, the harrow including:
a harrow arm;
a strut pivotably connected to the harrow and having multiple bars pivotably connected thereto, the struct including an upper wall having a passage therethrough and defining a downwardly directed channel, wherein the multiple bars are arranged generally transversely with respect to a travel direction of the agricultural tillage implement and wherein the multiple bars include a front bar arranged toward a front end of the harrow, a back bar arranged toward a back end of the harrow, and an intermediate bar arranged between the front and back bars of the harrow;
a slide bar having an upper portion extending through the passage in the upper wall of the strut and a lower portion slidably received in the channel;
a first set of smoothing tools operatively connected to and supported by the front, back, and intermediate bars of the harrow frame for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools;
a tow line operatively connecting the strut to the main implement frame, the tow line limiting movement of the harrow as the agricultural tillage implement travels during the tilling session;
a linear actuator having a first end fixed to the upper wall and a second end interconnected to the upper portion of the slide bar;
a hydraulic system configured to provide a hydraulic pressure to the linear actuator connected to the slide bar, wherein linear movement of the linear actuator causes the lower portion of the slide bar to slide within the channel of the strut and to pivot the multiple bars relative to the strut thereby altering an angle of the first set of smoothing tools relative to the strut to one of an infinite range of angles; and
a finishing tool supported in a trailing position with respect to the harrow with the finishing tool including a second set of smoothing tools for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools; and

a control system in communication with the hydraulic system, wherein the control system is configured to actuate the hydraulic system to define the angle of the first set of smoothing tools.

13. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 12 , wherein the control system includes a hydraulic control valve in communication with the linear actuator connected to the strut.

14. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 13 , wherein the control system further includes at least one of an HMI (human machine interface) and a control knob for actuating the hydraulic system.

15. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 14 , wherein the at least one of an HMI and a control knob is mounted on the agricultural tillage implement.

16. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 14 , wherein the at least one of an HMI and a control knob is mounted within a cab of a tractor configured to tow the agricultural tillage implement.

17. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 13 , wherein the linear actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.

18. The agricultural tillage

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Gerber Rick L
• Knobloch Dean A

Classifications

• A01B23/02

  Teeth; Fixing the teeth · CPC title

• A01B19/04

  with two or more tool-frames · CPC title

• A01B49/02

  with two or more soil-working tools of different kind · CPC title

• A01B63/32 Primary

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means {without automatic control} · CPC title

• A01B19/10

  Lifting or cleaning apparatus · CPC title