Agricultural implement and attachment with down pressure control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9723776-B2
Application number	US-201414459967-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2014
Priority date	Aug 14, 2014
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

An agricultural implement and attachment are described for soil conditioning. The implement may include an implement frame, with the attachment configured to be towed by the implement frame. A pressurized fluid circuit may be configured to control one or more actuators, in order to provide lifting or lowering force to the attachment. The attachment may include a leading frame and a trailing frame, each configured to support a set of agricultural tools. The trailing frame may be mounted to the implement frame via the leading frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural implement comprising:
an implement frame;
a trailing attachment configured to be towed by the implement frame; and
a rigid wing pivotally mounted to the implement frame, the rigid wing supporting a third set of agricultural tools;
a pressurized fluid circuit configured to provide lifting or lowering force to the trailing attachment and the rigid wing;
wherein the trailing attachment includes:
a leading frame supporting a first set of agricultural tools; and
a trailing frame supporting a second set of agricultural tools;
wherein the leading frame and the trailing frame are configured to move, at least in part, independently of each other;

wherein the leading frame is mounted to the implement frame with a first attachment structure, the first attachment structure permitting vertical movement of the leading frame relative to the implement frame;
wherein the trailing frame is mounted to the leading frame with a second attachment structure, such that the trailing frame is mounted to the implement frame via the leading frame, the second attachment structure permitting vertical movement of the trailing frame relative to the leading frame and the implement frame;
wherein, as viewed from above, the first attachment structure and the second attachment structure extend along a common line in the fore-to-aft direction with respect to the agricultural implement;
wherein the pressurized fluid circuit includes
a wing cylinder mounted at a first end to the rigid wing and mounted at a second end to the implement frame;
a pressure source in fluid communication with the wing cylinder via an inlet flow line; and
a pressure control assembly disposed between the pressure source and the wing cylinder;

wherein the pressure source is configured to provide continuous flow of pressurized fluid to the pressure control assembly during operation of the implement; and the pressure control assembly is configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure at the wing cylinder such that substantially constant down pressure is provided at the rigid wing during operation of the implement;
wherein the pressure control assembly includes a pressure control valve disposed on the inlet flow line between the pressure source and the wing cylinder, a first one way valve in parallel with the pressure control valve between the pressure source and the wing cylinder, a second one-way valve in series with the pressure control valve between the wing cylinder and an outlet flow line, and a hydraulic accumulator connected to the inlet flow line between the pressure control valve and the wing cylinder, the second one-way valve allowing flow from the pressure control valve to the outlet flow line and blocking flow from the outlet flow line to the pressure control valve.

2. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the first set of agricultural tools includes one or more closing disk assemblies.

3. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the second set of agricultural tools includes one or more finishing baskets.

4. An agricultural implement comprising:
an implement frame;
a trailing attachment configured to be towed by the implement frame, the trailing attachment comprising a leading frame, a trailing frame, a first attachment structure and a second attachment structure; the leading frame supporting a first set of agricultural tools, the trailing frame supporting a second set of agricultural tools, the leading frame being mounted to the implement frame with the first attachment structure, and the trailing frame being mounted to the leading frame with the second attachment structure such that the trailing frame is mounted to the implement frame via the leading frame;
a rigid wing pivotally mounted to the implement frame, the rigid wing supporting a third set of agricultural tools;
a pressurized fluid circuit configured to provide lifting or lowering force to the trailing attachment, the pressurized fluid circuit comprising a pressure source, a trailing attachment pressure control assembly, and a trailing attachment cylinder having a first end and a second end; the pressure source being in fluid communication with the trailing attachment cylinder, and being configured to provide continuous flow of pressurized fluid during operation of the implement; the trailing attachment pressure control assembly being disposed between the pressure source and the trailing attachment cylinder, and being configured to maintain generally constant pressure at the trailing attachment cylinder such that generally constant down pressure is provided at one of the leading frame and the trailing frame during operation of the implement;
the pressurized fluid circuit further comprising a wing cylinder mounted at a first end to the rigid wing and mounted at a second end to the implement frame; and a wing pressure control assembly disposed between the pressure source and the wing cylinder;
wherein the first end of the trailing attachment cylinder is mounted to one of the implement frame and the leading frame, if the first end of the trailing attachment cylinder is mounted to the implement frame then the second end of the trailing attachment cylinder is mounted to one of the first attachment structure and the leading frame, and if the first end of the trailing attachment cylinder is mounted to the leading frame then the second end of the trailing attachment cylinder is mounted to one of the second attachment structure and the trailing frame;
wherein the leading frame and the trailing frame are configured to move, at least in part, independently of each other, the first attachment structure permitting vertical movement of the leading frame relative to the implement frame, and the second attachment structure permitting vertical movement of the trailing frame relative to the leading frame and the implement frame;
wherein the trailing attachment pressure control assembly includes a trailing attachment pressure control valve, a trailing attachment pressure relief valve, a first trailing attachment one-way valve and a second trailing attachment one-way valve; the trailing attachment pressure control valve being disposed in parallel with the first trailing attachment one-way valve between the pressure source and the trailing attachment cylinder, and being disposed in series with the second trailing attachment one-way valve between the trailing attachment cylinder and a trailing attachment outlet flow line, the second trailing attachment one-way valve allowing flow from the trailing attachment pressure control valve to the trailing attachment outlet flow line and blocking flow from the trailing attachment outlet flow line to the trailing attachment pressure control valve; the trailing attachment pressure relief valve being disposed between a rod end of the trailing attachment cylinder and a base end of the trailing attachment cylinder; the trailing attachment pressure relief valve being configured to release pressure from the rod end to the base end of the trailing attachment cylinder when fluid pressure at the rod end exceeds a predetermined trailing attachment threshold;
wherein the pressure source is configured to provide continuous flow of pressurized fluid to the wing pressure control assembly during operation of the implement, and the wing pressure control assembly is configured to maintain generally constant pressure at the wing cylinder such that generally constant down pressure is provided at the rigid wing during operation of the implement; and
wherein the wing pressure control assembly includes a wing pressure control valve disposed on a wing inlet flow line between the pressure source and the wing cylinder, a first wing one way valve in parallel with the wing pressure control valve between the pressure source and the wing cylinder, a second win

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Sporrer Adam D
• Rosin Thomas J
• Casper Robert T
• Janelle Luc
• Blauwet Bryan D
• Nefzger Jeremy

Classifications

• A01B63/32 Primary

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means {without automatic control} · CPC title

• A01B29/048

  Bar cage rollers · CPC title