Agricultural toolbar apparatus, systems, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10555453-B2
Application number	US-201816176409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2018
Priority date	Jan 25, 2012
Publication date	Feb 11, 2020
Grant date	Feb 11, 2020

Abstract

An agricultural implement configured to shift weight between a center toolbar and left and right wing sections. Each wing section includes inner and outer sections pivotally coupled about a horizontal axis. Left and right wing flex actuators pivot the outer wing sections with respect to the inner wing sections about the respective left and right horizontal axes. Each of the inner wing sections is pivotally coupled to the center toolbar about respective left and right vertical axis. The center toolbar section is supported by a center wheel assembly and distal ends of the left and right outer wing sections are supported by respective left and right wing wheel assemblies. A monitor is in signal communication with load sensors on each of the wheel assemblies and a fluid control system to actuate the wing flex actuators so the measured center wheel load approaches a center wheel target load.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agricultural implement with a weight shifting system, comprising:
a center section, including:
a center toolbar supported above a ground surface by a center wheel assembly, said center wheel assembly having a center wheel actuator movable between an extended position and a retracted position;

a left wing section, including:
a left inner wing toolbar having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said left inner wing toolbar pivotally coupled to said center section about a left vertical axis;
a left outer wing toolbar having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said left outer wing toolbar pivotally coupled to said distal end of said left inner wing toolbar about a left horizontal axis oriented generally parallel with the forward direction of travel;
a left wing wheel assembly supporting said distal end of said left outer wing toolbar a distance above the ground surface, said left wing wheel assembly having a left wheel actuator movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
a left wing flex actuator having a first end connected to said distal end of said left inner wing toolbar and a second end connected to said proximal end of said left outer wing toolbar, said left wing flex actuator movable between an extended position and a retracted position;

a right wing section, including:
a right inner wing toolbar having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said right inner wing toolbar pivotally coupled to said center section about a right vertical axis;
a right outer wing toolbar having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said right outer wing toolbar pivotally coupled to said distal end of said right inner wing toolbar about a right horizontal pivot axis oriented generally parallel with the forward direction of travel;
a right wing wheel assembly supporting said distal end of said right outer wing toolbar a distance above the ground surface, said right wing wheel assembly having a right wheel actuator movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
a right wing flex actuator having a first end connected to said distal end of said right inner wing toolbar and a second end connected to said proximal end of said right outer wing toolbar, said right wing flex actuator movable between an extended position and a retracted position;

a center wheel load sensor configured to measure a load carried by said center wheel assembly;
a left wheel load sensor configured to measure a load carried by said left wheel assembly;
a right wheel load sensor configured to measure a load carried by said right wheel assembly;
a monitor in signal communication with said center wheel load sensor, said left wheel load sensor, said right wheel load sensor, said monitor configured to enable an operator to select a center wheel target load, a left wheel target load, and a right wheel target load;
a fluid control system in signal communication with said monitor, said fluid control system in fluid communication with said center wheel actuator, said left wheel actuator, said right wheel actuator, said left wing flex actuator and said right wing flex actuator;
whereby, when said measured center wheel load exceeds said center wheel target load, said fluid control system shifts weight from said center section to said left and right wing sections by causing said left and right wing flex actuators to extend until said measured center wheel load approaches said center wheel target load, and;
whereby, when said measured center wheel load is less than said center wheel target load, said fluid control system shifts load from said left wing section and said right wing section to said center section by causing said left and right wing flex actuators to retract until said measured center wheel load approaches said center wheel target load.

2. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said monitor visually displays to the operator said measured center wheel load, said measured left wheel load and said measured right wheel load.

3. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said measured center wheel load is an amount of load carried by said center wheel actuator, and wherein said measured left wheel load is an amount of load carried by said left wheel actuator, and wherein said measured right wheel load is an amount of load carried by said right wheel actuator.

4. The agricultural implement of claim 3 , wherein said monitor visually displays to the operator said measured center wheel load, said measured left wheel load and said measured right wheel load.

5. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein each of said first end and said second end of said left wing flex actuator is in fluid communication with a respective pressure reducing-relieving valve and wherein each of said first end and said second end of said right wing flex actuator is in fluid communication with a respective pressure reducing-relieving valve, and wherein each of said pressure-reducing relieving valves is in signal communication with said monitor.

6. The agricultural implement of claim 4 , wherein each of said first end and said second end of said left wing flex actuator is in fluid communication with a respective pressure reducing-relieving valve and wherein each of said first end and said second end of said right wing flex actuator is in fluid communication with a respective pressure reducing-relieving valve, and wherein each of said pressure-reducing relieving valves is in signal communication with said monitor.

7. The agricultural implement of claim 5 , wherein said monitor visually displays to the operator a net pressure of said pressure reducing-relieving valves of said left wing flex actuator and a net pressure of said pressure reducing-relieving valves of said right wing flex actuator along with a direction of weight transfer between said center section and said left wing section and a direction of weight transfer between said center section and said right wing section.

8. The agricultural implement of claim 6 , wherein said monitor visually displays to the operator a net pressure of said pressure reducing-relieving valves of said left wing flex actuator and a net pressure of said pressure reducing-relieving valves of said right wing flex actuator along with a direction of weight transfer between said center section and said left wing section and a direction of weight transfer between said center section and said right wing section.

9. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , further including:
a left wing fold actuator connected at a first end to said center section and connected at a second end to said left inner wing section, said left wing fold actuator movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
a right wing fold actuator connected at a first end to said center section and connected at a second end to said right inner wing section, said right wing fold actuator movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
whereby said left and right wing sections respectively pivot about said left vertical axis and said right vertical axis between a transport position and a field position upon movement of said left and right wing fold actuators between said extended and retracted positions, wherein in said transport position said left and right wing sections are generally parallel with a forward direction of travel of the implement and in said field position, said left and right wing sections are generally perpendicular to said forward direction of travel.

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Koch Dale M
• Stoller Jason J

Classifications

• A01B63/145

  for controlling weight transfer between implements and tractor wheels · CPC title

• A01B73/065 Primary

  to a position essentially forward of the axis, in relation to the direction of travel · CPC title

• A01B63/1145

  for controlling weight transfer between implements and tractor wheels · CPC title

• A01B73/044

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