Hydraulic implement fluid recovery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11266057-B2
Application number	US-202017070523-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2020
Priority date	May 14, 2018
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

An implement includes a mechanical coupling component configured to removably couple the implement to a support machine, a hydraulic fluid supply line configured to receive a supply flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure from a hydraulic system associated with the support machine, and a hydraulically-powered component configured to be actuated using the hydraulic fluid. The implement also includes a hydraulic fluid recovery system comprising a hydraulic fluid return line configured to fluidically couple to the hydraulic system associated with the support machine and provide a return flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic system. A hydraulic fluid reservoir is configured to, when the hydraulic fluid return line is decoupled from the hydraulic system associated with the support machine, receive a portion of the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid return line when a fluid pressure in the hydraulic fluid return line increases to a pressure threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An implement comprising:
a mechanical coupling component configured to removably couple the implement to a support machine;
a hydraulic fluid supply line comprising a first implement connector configured to:
connect to a corresponding first support machine connector of the support machine; and
receive hydraulic fluid under pressure from a hydraulic system of the support machine;

a hydraulically-powered component configured to be actuated using the portion of hydraulic fluid; and
a hydraulic fluid recovery system comprising:
a hydraulic fluid return line that is separate from the hydraulic fluid supply line and comprises a second implement connector configured to:
connect to a corresponding second support machine connector of the support machine; and
return the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic system; and

a hydraulic fluid reservoir configured to:
when the second implement connector is decoupled from the corresponding second support machine connector,
receive a portion of the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid return line when a fluid pressure in the hydraulic fluid return line increases to a pressure threshold.

2. The implement of claim 1 , wherein the support machine comprises a support vehicle configured to tow the implement using the mechanical coupling component.

3. The implement of claim 1 , wherein the implement comprises an agricultural implement and the hydraulically-powered component is configured to perform an agricultural operation.

4. The implement of claim 3 , wherein the agricultural operation comprises at least one of:
a seeding operation, a planting operation, a bailing operation, a tilling operation, or a mowing operation.

5. The implement of claim 1 , wherein the fluid pressure in the hydraulic fluid return line increases due to thermal expansion of the hydraulic fluid.

6. The implement of claim 1 , wherein the pressure threshold is based on a back pressure applied by the hydraulic fluid reservoir to the hydraulic fluid received from the hydraulic fluid return line.

7. The implement of claim 6 , wherein the hydraulic fluid reservoir comprises a pressurized accumulator.

8. The implement of claim 6 , wherein the reservoir is at an elevated position on the implement relative to the hydraulic fluid return line.

9. The implement of claim 1 , wherein
the pressure threshold comprises a first pressure threshold,
the second implement connector comprises a thermal relief valve configured to open at a second pressure threshold to allow fluid flow through the second implement connector when the fluid pressure reaches the second pressure threshold, and
the first pressure threshold is less than the second pressure threshold.

10. The implement of claim 1 , wherein
when the second implement connector is coupled to the corresponding second support machine connector of the support machine, the hydraulic fluid recovery system is configured to convey the hydraulic fluid stored in the hydraulic fluid reservoir to the hydraulic system of the support machine.

11. A hydraulic system for an implement, the hydraulic system comprising:
a supply line connection configured to removably couple a hydraulic fluid supply line to a source hydraulic system associated with a support machine;
a return line connection configured to removably couple a hydraulic fluid return line to the source hydraulic system, wherein the hydraulic fluid return line comprises an implement connector configured to connect to a corresponding support machine connector on the support machine, the implement connector comprising a thermal relief valve; and
a hydraulic fluid recovery component configured to convey hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid return line to a hydraulic fluid reservoir
while the hydraulic fluid return line is decoupled from the source hydraulic system, and
when fluid pressure in the hydraulic fluid return line reaches a first pressure threshold

wherein
the thermal relief valve is configured to open at a second pressure threshold to allow fluid flow through the implement connector when the fluid pressure reaches the second pressure threshold, and
the first pressure threshold is less than the second pressure threshold.

12. The hydraulic system of claim 11 , wherein the implement comprises an agricultural implement having a hydraulically-powered component configured to perform an agricultural operation.

13. The hydraulic system of claim 11 , wherein the pressure threshold is based on a back pressure applied by the hydraulic fluid reservoir to the hydraulic fluid received from the hydraulic fluid return line.

14. The hydraulic system of claim 13 , wherein the hydraulic fluid reservoir comprises a pressurized accumulator.

15. The hydraulic system of claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic fluid recovery system is configured to convey the hydraulic fluid stored in the hydraulic fluid reservoir to the hydraulic system when the hydraulic fluid return line is coupled to the hydraulic system.

16. An agricultural implement comprising:
a coupling assembly configured to removably couple the agricultural implement to a support machine; and
a hydraulic system comprising:
a supply line connection configured to removably couple a hydraulic fluid supply line to a source hydraulic system associated with the support machine;
a return line connection configured to removably couple a hydraulic fluid return line to the source hydraulic system;
a flow control mechanism configured to prevent fluid flow through the return line connection below a pressure threshold; and
a hydraulic fluid recovery component configured to convey hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid return line to a hydraulic fluid reservoir when:
the hydraulic fluid return line is decoupled from the source hydraulic system, and
fluid pressure in the hydraulic fluid return line is less than the pressure threshold.

17. The agricultural implement of claim 16 , wherein the hydraulic fluid recovery system is configured to convey the hydraulic fluid stored in the hydraulic fluid reservoir to the hydraulic system when the hydraulic fluid return line is coupled to the hydraulic system.

18. The agricultural implement of claim 16 , wherein the hydraulic fluid reservoir comprises at least one of:
a pressurized accumulator, or
a reservoir at an elevated position relative to the hydraulic fluid return line;
and further comprising a hydraulically-powered component configured to perform an agricultural operation, wherein the agricultural operation comprises at least one of:
a seeding operation, a planting operation, a bailing operation, a tilling operation, or a mowing operation.

19. The agricultural implement of claim 16 , wherein
the flow control mechanism is configured to:
allow fluid flow through the return line connection when pressure in the hydraulic fluid return line is above a pressure threshold; and
prevent fluid flow through the return line connection when pressure in the hydraulic fluid return line is below the pressure threshold; and

the hydraulic fluid recovery component is configured to convey hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid return line to a hydraulic fluid reservoir when:
the return line connection is decoupled from the corresponding connection of the source hydraulic system, and
fluid pressure in the hydraulic fluid return line is less than the pressure threshold.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Whitney Michael M
• Maro Randall A

Classifications

• A01B59/00 Primary

  Devices specially adapted for connection between animals or tractors and agricultural machines or implements · CPC title

• A01B63/10 Primary

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means · CPC title

• F15B2211/255

  Flow control functions · CPC title

• F15B1/26

  Supply reservoir or sump assemblies · CPC title

• F15B2211/6355

  having valve means · CPC title