Localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading in a self-propelled agricultural product applicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10912252-B2
Application number	US-201715855059-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2017
Priority date	Dec 27, 2017
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

A localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading arrangement, and method, utilize a pattern of pins in an electrical interface connector that is unique to a particular hydraulically powered product delivery unit mounted on a self-propelled agricultural product applicator to close or leave open electrical circuits in solenoid operated pump control valve arrangements for selectively connecting a flow of hydraulic fluid at an operating pressure from one or more continuously operating pumps of the applicator to the product delivery unit, or for selectively bypassing the flow of fluid from one or more of the pumps back to a hydraulic reservoir of the applicator at a low, bypass pressure. When no product delivery unit is mounted on the applicator, the flows from all of the pumps are bypassed to the reservoir at the low, bypass pressure.

First claim

We claim:

1. A localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading arrangement for a self-propelled agricultural product applicator having a frame defining a bed for receiving a hydraulically powered product delivery unit, with the applicator having a hydraulic circuit including a reservoir and one or more continuously running hydraulic pumps operatively attached to the frame for delivering a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid at an operating pressure from the reservoir to a product delivery unit mounted on the bed of the applicator, the applicator and product delivery units each also having respective electrical circuits adapted for connection in electrical communication with one another, the localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading arrangement comprising:
a quick-coupler manifold arrangement having a valve block adapted for fixed attachment to the frame of the applicator adjacent the bed, and an electrical interface arrangement for connecting the electrical circuit of a product delivery unit mounted on the bed in electrical communication with the electrical circuit of the applicator;
the valve block including one or more solenoid operated pump control valve arrangements configured and operatively connected for selectively directing a flow of hydraulic fluid at an operating pressure from one or more of the continuously operating pumps of the applicator to the product delivery unit, and for selectively bypassing the flow of fluid from one or more of the pumps back to the hydraulic reservoir of the applicator at a low, bypass pressure, with the solenoid operated pump control arrangements each including a dedicated solenoid activation circuit connected in an open circuit relationship to pins of an applicator electrical connector of the electrical interface arrangement that is mounted on the valve body;
the electrical interface arrangement further including an electrical interface connector of the product delivery unit that has a pattern of pins unique to a particular hydraulically powered product delivery unit mounted on the self-propelled agricultural product applicator, with the unique pattern of pins being configured and interconnected to close one or more of the dedicated solenoid activation circuits in the solenoid operated pump control valve arrangements for selectively connecting a flow of hydraulic fluid at an operating pressure from one or more of the continuously operating pumps of the applicator to the product delivery unit, in a manner unique to the particular product delivery unit mounted on the bed of the applicator.

2. The localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the solenoid operated pump control valve arrangements are configured and connected in such a manner that the flow of fluid from all of the pumps is bypassed back to the hydraulic reservoir of the applicator at the low, bypass pressure when no product delivery unit is mounted on the bed of the applicator.

3. The localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the solenoid operated pump control valve arrangements are configured and connected in such a manner that the flow of fluid from all of the pumps is bypassed back to the hydraulic reservoir of the applicator at the low, bypass pressure when a product delivery unit is mounted on the bed of the applicator but the electrical interface connector of the product delivery unit is not connected to the applicator.

4. The localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the unique pattern of pins in the electrical interface connector of the product delivery unit is further configured and interconnected to leave open one or more of the dedicated solenoid activation circuits in the solenoid operated pump control valve arrangements for selectively bypassing the flow of fluid from one or more of the pumps back to the hydraulic reservoir of the applicator at the low, bypass pressure in a manner unique to the particular product delivery unit mounted on the bed of the applicator.

5. The localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the applicator includes at least two continuously running pumps and the bed of the applicator is configured to receive at least a first and a second product delivery unit, with the first product delivery unit being configured to receive flow at operating pressure from only one of the at least two continuously running pumps, wherein the remaining pumps bypassing oil to the hydraulic reservoir at the low, bypass pressure and the second product delivery unit being configured to receive flow at operating pressure from more than one of the at least two continuously running pumps; wherein any remaining pumps bypassing oil to the hydraulic reservoir at the low, bypass pressure.

6. The localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the bed of the applicator is configured to receive at least one additional product delivery unit configured for receiving flow from an additional unique combination of the operating pressure or the bypass pressure configurations for the at least two continuously running pumps that is different from the unique combinations of the operating pressure or the bypass pressure configurations for the at least two continuously running pumps supplying flow to the first and second product delivery units.

7. The localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading arrangement of claim 1 , wherein:
the valve block includes an individual inlet passage configured for receiving a flow of pressurized fluid from each pump, with each individual inlet passage being connected in fluid communication with an individual outlet hydraulic interface connection for that pump that is adapted for connection in fluid communication with a product delivery unit mounted on the bed;
the valve block also defines a return passage for each pump adapted for connection in fluid communication with the reservoir;
the valve block further includes a solenoid operated pump control valve arrangement connected in fluid communication between the individual inlet passage and the return line for that pump, with the solenoid operated pump control valve arrangement for each pump having a solenoid operated bypass valve arrangement for that pump connected in fluid communication between the individual inlet passage and the return line for that pump;
the solenoid operated bypass valve arrangement is configured in such a manner that when the solenoid of the solenoid operated bypass valve arrangement for a particular pump is not energized, the flow from that particular pump passes through that bypass valve arrangement from the inlet to the return line for that particular pump at the low, bypass pressure across the solenoid operated bypass valve; and
the solenoid operated bypass valve is further configured in such a manner that when the solenoid of the solenoid operated bypass valve arrangement for a particular pump is energized, bypass flow through the solenoid operated bypass valve arrangement for that particular pump is blocked so that flow from that particular pump is directed to the product delivery unit through the pump inlet passage for that particular pump at the operating pressure of that pump, up to a predetermined maximum operating pressure.

8. The localized hydraulic circuit configuration detection and loading arrangement of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the solenoid operated bypass valve arrangements includes:
a normally-closed, high-flow, low differential pressure relief valve connected in fluid communication between the pump inlet passage and the return line fo

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Hafvenstein David J
• Martin Jeffrey S
• Schwiderski Jason Matthew
• Beaucaire James

Classifications

• A01B71/06 Primary

  Special adaptations of coupling means between power take-off and transmission shaft to the implement or machine · CPC title

• A01B51/026

  of the automotive vehicle type, e.g. including driver accommodation (A01B51/023 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L37/56

  for double-walled or multi-channel pipes {or pipe assemblies} · CPC title

• A01M7/0082

  Undercarriages, frames, mountings, couplings, tanks · CPC title

• A01C23/047

  Spraying of liquid fertilisers · CPC title