Earth working – Automatic power control
Patent
1997-01-21
1998-09-22
Carone, Michael J.
Earth working
Automatic power control
701 50, A01B 63108
Patent
active
058100962
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is the national phase of international application PCT/FR95/00996, filed Jul. 25, 1995 which designated the U.S.
The invention relates to a device for controlling an agricultural implement equipped with at least one gage wheel and intended to be pushed by a tractor, the device being of the sort comprising a hitch and lift system intended to be mounted at the front of the tractor in order to fasten the implement, this system including: articulation to the structural part of the tractor, and the front ends of which are equipped with a means of attaching the implement in order to constitute two bottom attachment points, tractor to the implement, the latter being equipped, at its rear part, with three attachment means which are the conjugate of those of the hitch system, or lowering of the longitudinal arms; information regarding the slippage of the tractor originating from slippage-measuring means provided on the tractor,
the assembly being arranged so as to command a raising of the lower arms and a reduction in the working depth of the implement when the amount of slippage of the tractor becomes greater than a given reference value.
A device of this sort is known from FR-A-2,649,810 and plays a part in improving the working conditions of the tractor. However, although the reduction in depth by reducing the effort required is accompanied by a reduction in slippage, there is no improvement in the traction. One of the objects of the invention is for the reduction in working depth of the implement to be accompanied by a transfer to the tractor of the load normally supported by the gage wheels of the implement.
Another cause of loss of traction is explained hereafter.
Pushed implements which work in the ground are equipped with gage wheels especially to allow them to follow the lie of the land in all conditions.
In order to avoid mechanical stresses which are detrimental to the operation of the tractor/implement combination, it is appropriate, when working the ground, for the hydraulic hitch and lift system to act in a floating mode so as to allow the longitudinal and possibly transverse lie of the land to be followed, or for the front lift to be equipped with means allowing the implement to pivot longitudinally (pivoting about an axis substantially parallel to the axes of the wheels of the tractor) and possibly laterally (pivoting about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tractor), with respect to the lift system.
Using the hydraulic lift system in floating mode does not allow the implement to be supported during work, and this implement is therefore supported essentially by the gage wheel or wheels. This results in a loss of traction at the tractor and in difficulty in driving the latter. The implement is tricky to adjust.
The use of an upper attachment member formed by a sliding link system, combined with holding the lower arms in position, makes it possible to bear some of the weight of the implement and simplify adjustment. However, a substantial amount of the weight of the implement is still supported by the gage wheels. Here too this results in a loss of traction at the tractor.
In order to improve the traction of tractors, there is known, from FR-A-2,512,319, a device in which the upper attachment member comprises at least one ram, while a system of load sensors is provided on the gage wheel or wheels so as, by means of an electro-hydraulic unit, to command feed to the top link ram in order to remove some of the weight borne by the gage wheels and transfer it to the tractor to improve its traction.
A significant drawback in such a device is that it requires gage wheels equipped with sensors for each implement. This results in an appreciable purchase on-cost, and an additional maintenance burden because the sensors, which are highly stressed, are situated in regions which are exposed to attack. In addition, it is necessary to provide on the implement passage for the bundles of electrical cables which are intended to connect the sensors to the electro-hydraulic unit, and for th
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patent: 3913680 (1975-10-01), Carlson
patent: 4282933 (1981-08-01), Suganami et al.
patent: 4437295 (1984-03-01), Rock
patent: 4878543 (1989-11-01), Kauss
patent: 5092409 (1992-03-01), Defrancq
Carone Michael J.
Novosad Christopher J.
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