Tillage implement with sectional down force control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10485155-B2
Application number	US-201715400669-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2017
Priority date	Jan 6, 2017
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

An agricultural tillage implement including a main frame section having a pull hitch tube extending in a travel direction and a plurality of pivotally coupled wing sections coupled with the main frame section. Each of the plurality of wing sections has at least one pivotal sub-frame. A hydraulic actuator is connected between the wing frame and the sub-frame to urge the sub-frame between an operating position and an elevated transport position. An actuator controller is configured to apply a predetermined force of the sub-frame towards the ground independently of other sub-frames so as to provide a more uniform tillage of the ground.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tillage implement comprising:
a main frame section having a tool bar and including a pull hitch extending in a travel direction, said tool bar extending laterally relative to said pull hitch;
at least one wing section having a tool bar extending laterally relative to said pull hitch and pivotally coupled with said main frame section about at least one axis to pivot outward to a laterally extending operating position;
at least one forward sub-frame pivotally connected to said at least one wing section about a generally horizontal axis forward of said tool bar and at least one rearward sub-frame pivotally connected to said at least one wing section rearward of said tool bar;
a gauge wheel assembly connected to said at least one forward sub-frame for establishing the elevation of said at least one forward sub-frame relative to the ground;
actuators connected between said at least one wing section and said at least one forward and rearward sub-frames to pivot the said at least one forward and rearward sub-frames between an operating position where the gauge wheel contacts the ground and an elevated transport position;
a controller formatted to and energizing said actuators to displace said at least one forward and rearward sub-frames between said operating and transport positions;
said controller being configured to urge said actuators to pivot said at least one forward and rearward sub-frames towards the ground in said operating position with a predetermined force urging the said at least one forward and rearward sub-frames towards the ground independent of one another.

2. The tillage implement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said actuators are hydraulic actuators.

3. The tillage implement as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said actuators operate on hydraulic pressure and said implement further comprises a pressure regulator regulating the pressure urging the said at least one sub-frame towards the ground in proportion to the pressure set by the regulator.

4. The tillage implement as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising ground engaging components fixed to said at least one forward and rearward sub-frames.

5. The tillage implement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one rearward sub-frame further comprises a rocker frame.

6. The tillage implement as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising ground engaging components on said rocker frame with the said at least one rearward sub-frame being connected to said rocker frame in between adjacent said ground engaging components.

7. The tillage implement as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said ground engaging components comprise at least one of a spring tooth drag, crumbler basket, spike tooth drag, and cultivator shank.

8. The tillage implement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing section comprises right and left wing sections connected to said main frame section.

9. The tillage implement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said actuators are interconnected between said at least one wing section and said at least one forward and rearward sub-frames with connections permitting only pivotal relative movement.

10. A method of managing ground engaging loads on a tillage implement having a main frame and at least one wing section pivotally coupled to the main frame to pivot outward to a laterally extending operating position, including a laterally extending tool bar and at least one forward sub-frame pivotally connected to the at least one wing section forward of said tool bar and at least one rearward sub-frame pivotally connected to said at least one wing section rearward of said tool bar and actuators connected between said at least one wing section and the at least one forward and rearward sub-frames to pivot the at least one forward and rearward sub-frames between an operating position towards the ground and an elevated transport position, said method comprising the step of lowering said at least one forward and rearward sub-frames to their operating position; and
applying a predetermined force on said at least one forward and rearward sub-frames towards the ground independent of one another.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Henry James W

Classifications

• A01B63/32 Primary

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

• A01B73/044

  the axis being oriented in a longitudinal direction (A01B73/042 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01B73/048

  the axis being oriented in transverse direction (A01B73/042 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01B49/027

  with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller · CPC title

• A01B23/043

  specially adapted for harrows with non-rotating tools · CPC title