Farm implement having a frame supported by a lift wheel assembly and a pair of gull wings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9526200-B2
Application number	US-201414507421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2014
Priority date	Sep 29, 2011
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automating some of the tasks that heretofore required operator action at headland turns or similar events are provided. The present invention automates operation of lift assist wheels and/or gull wings, such as those found on a stack-fold implement, based on the position of the tractor hitch to which the implement is coupled. An operator may control the position of the implement, such as at a headland turn, by raising and lowering the tractor hitch using a remote control. The invention enables the planter to compare the tractor hitch position relative to an implement position and control operation of the implement accordingly without additional user inputs.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. For use with a tractor equipped with a hydraulic system and an ISOBUS hitch, a farm implement having a frame supported by a lift wheel assembly and a pair of gull wings, comprising:
a connector for coupling the farm implement to the ISOBUS hitch;
a first electrical input that receives a hitch position signal from the tractor;
an electric over hydraulic valve that controls hydraulic fluid flow from the hydraulic system to the lift wheel assembly and the pair of gull wings; and
an electronic control unit (ECU) operatively connectable to the hydraulic system, the ECU receiving the hitch position signal and being configured to provide a command signal to the electric over hydraulic valve to control hydraulic fluid flow in the hydraulic system to raise the frame and the pair of gull wings when the hitch is in a raised position.

2. The implement of claim 1 wherein the pair of gull wings are movable between a float position and a retracted position, and wherein the ECU is configured to command the hydraulic valve to control hydraulic fluid flow in the hydraulic system to move the pair of gull wings to the float position when the hitch is in a fully lowered position.

3. The implement of claim 2 further comprising a frame position sensor that measures a position of the frame relative to the lift wheel assembly and provides a frame position signal to the ECU, and wherein the ECU is configured to command the hydraulic valve to pivot the lift wheel assembly to maintain the frame in a level position as the vertical position of the hitch changes.

4. The implement of claim 1 wherein an operator input to raise or lower the hitch automatically causes positioning of the pair of gull wings and the lift wheel assembly.

5. The implement of claim 1 wherein the lift wheel assembly includes first and second hydraulic cylinders flow-coupled to the hydraulic system.

6. The implement of claim 1 further comprising first and second hydraulic actuators for raising and lowering the pair of gull wings, wherein the first and second hydraulic cylinders are flow-coupled to the hydraulic system.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Tuttle Thomas
• Remoue Tyler

Classifications

• A01B73/044

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

• A01B63/22 Primary

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/208

  Chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers · CPC title

• A01B73/02 Primary

  Folding frames · CPC title