Variable pressure control system for dual acting actuators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9301438-B2
Application number	US-201314047465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2013
Priority date	Dec 16, 2010
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A variable pressure control system for varying pressures in the fluid circuits of a dual acting actuator over a range of pressures. The variable pressure control system includes a controller that cooperates with pressure regulators for regulating the desired pressure in the fluid circuits.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agricultural implement downforce control system, comprising:
a ground engaging element imposing a downforce on a soil surface;
a dual acting actuator operably coupled to said ground engaging element, said dual acting actuator having a down chamber whereby increased pressure in said down chamber increases said downforce, said dual acting actuator having a lift chamber whereby increased pressure in said lift chamber decreases said downforce;
a pressure source; and
a controller in fluid communication with said pressure source, with said lift chamber and said down chamber, said controller configured to selectively maintain a lift pressure in said lift chamber, wherein said controller comprises a pressure regulating valve that selectively maintains a down pressure in said down chamber at any of a continuous range of pressures.

2. The downforce control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface configured to modify an operating state of said controller, whereby when a user modifies a position of said user interface, one of said down pressure and said lift pressure is modified, whereby when said user modifies said position of said user interface, said downforce is modified.

3. The downforce control system of claim 2 , wherein said user interface is configured to move through a continuous range of motion.

4. The downforce control system of claim 3 , wherein said range of motion includes a lift range and a down range, wherein said lift pressure varies according to said position of said user interface within said lift range, wherein said down pressure varies proportionally with said position of said user interface within said down range.

5. The downforce control system of claim 4 , wherein said range of motion includes a neutral position, wherein said neutral position is disposed between said lift range and said down range, wherein said lift pressure and said down pressure are equal when said user interface is in said neutral position.

6. The downforce control system of claim 2 , wherein said controller comprises a lift regulator and a down regulator, wherein said lift regulator is in fluid communication with said lift chamber, wherein said down regulator is in fluid communication with said down chamber.

7. The downforce control system of claim 6 , wherein said user interface is configured to move through a continuous range of motion.

8. The downforce control system of claim 7 , wherein said range of motion includes a lift range and a down range, wherein a lift outlet pressure of said lift regulator varies according to said position of said user interface within said lift range, wherein a lift outlet pressure of said down regulator varies proportionally with said position of said user interface within said down range.

9. The downforce control system of claim 8 , wherein said range of motion includes a neutral position, wherein said neutral position is disposed between said lift range and said down range, wherein said lift pressure and said down pressure are equal when said user interface is in said neutral position.

10. The downforce control system of claim 2 , wherein said ground engaging element comprises a wheel, said wheel disposed to rollingly contact said soil surface, said wheel traveling along a path of travel, said wheel angled with respect to said path of travel such that said wheel throws debris to a side of said path of travel.

11. The downforce control system of claim 10 , further including a planter row unit, said planter row unit including a furrow opening assembly, said furrow opening assembly configured to open a furrow, wherein said wheel is pivotally mounted to said row unit, wherein said path of travel of said wheel is parallel to said furrow, and wherein said wheel is disposed in front of said furrow opening assembly.

12. The downforce control system of claim 10 , wherein said user interface is configured to move through a continuous range of motion.

13. The downforce control system of claim 12 , wherein said range of motion includes a lift range and a down range, wherein said lift pressure varies according to said position of said user interface within said lift range, wherein said down pressure varies proportionally with said position of said user interface within said down range.

14. The downforce control system of claim 13 , wherein said range of motion includes a neutral position, wherein said neutral position is disposed between said lift range and said down range, wherein said lift pressure and said down pressure are equal when said user interface is in said neutral position.

15. An agricultural implement downforce control system, comprising:
a ground engaging element imposing a downforce on a soil surface, wherein said ground engaging element comprises a wheel, said wheel disposed to rollingly contact said soil surface, said wheel traveling along a path of travel, said wheel angled with respect to said path of travel such that said wheel throws debris to a side of said path of travel;
a dual acting actuator operably coupled to said ground engaging element, said dual acting actuator having a down chamber whereby increased pressure in said down chamber increases said downforce, said dual acting actuator having a lift chamber whereby increased pressure in said lift chamber decreases said downforce;
a pressure source; and
a controller, said controller in fluid communication with said pressure source, with said lift chamber and with said down chamber, said controller configured to modify a lift pressure in said lift chamber, wherein said controller comprises a pressure regulating valve that modifies a down pressure in said down chamber to any of a continuous range of pressures.

16. The downforce control system of claim 15 , further comprising: a user interface configured to modify an operating state of said controller, whereby when a user modifies a position of said user interface, one of said down pressure and said lift pressure is modified, whereby when said user modifies said position of said user interface, said downforce is modified.

17. The downforce control system of claim 16 , wherein said user interface is configured to move through a range of motion.

18. The downforce control system of claim 17 , wherein said range of motion includes a lift range and a down range, wherein said lift pressure varies according to said position of said user interface within said lift range, wherein said down pressure varies proportionally with said position of said user interface within said down range.

19. The downforce control system of claim 18 , wherein said range of motion includes a neutral position, wherein said neutral position is disposed between said lift range and said down range, wherein said lift pressure and said down pressure are equal when said user interface is in said neutral position.

20. The downforce control system of claim 16 , further including a planter row unit, said planter row unit including a furrow opening assembly, said furrow opening assembly configured to open a furrow, wherein said wheel is pivotally mounted to said row unit, wherein said path of travel of said wheel is parallel to said furrow, and wherein said wheel is disposed in front of said furrow opening assembly.

21. The downforce control system of claim 16 , wherein said controller is configured to selectively maintain said lift pressure at one of a first range of pressures, and wherein said controller is configured to selectively maintain said down pressure at one

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Sauder Derek A
• Hodel Jeremy J

Classifications

• F15B2211/50554

  the pressure control means controlling a pressure downstream of the pressure control means, e.g. pressure reducing valve · CPC title

• F15B2211/3057

  having two valves, one for each port of a double-acting output member · CPC title

• F15B2211/7053

  Double-acting output members · CPC title

• A01C7/205

  comprising pressure regulation means · CPC title

• A01C7/006

  Minimum till seeding · CPC title