Hydraulic controls for agricultural implements

Details Hydraulic controls for agricultural implements Hydraulic controls for agricultural implements

1999-11-10

2001-10-23

Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)

Earth working

With actuator adapted to lift tool for transport on wheeled...

Vertical movement interrelated with another

C172S668000, C172S004000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06305478

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to agricultural implements such as cultivators that have a framework for supporting ground engaging tools that can be used for a variety of farming operations including tilling soil, applying fertilizer, and seeding. Implements such as these can be effectively used in different farming practices such as conventional-till, low-till, or no-till methods. Such implements required a framework through which, during operation, draft forces are transmitted with a minimum of moment forces being generated, which otherwise force some ground engaging tools to work deeper while causing others to work more shallow than the desired set working depth.
It is also desirable and common for implements of this type to have hitch frames pivotally connected to the front of the implement for connection to a pulling, vehicle, providing up-down movement of the forward end of the hitch relative to the implement so the implement frame is better able to remain parallel to the ground being engaged. There have also been implements of these types which have a framework of wing sections that pivot relative to one another along axis aligned with a direction of travel so the individual sections are able to remain parallel to respective sectional regions of the ground being engaged.
Known tillage implements have wings or sections pivotal to each other on axis that are angled from a direction of travel, providing some accommodation for ground that varies in slope in which the pitch varies from the left to right side of the implement framework. Other implements show a framework which is loosely jointed such that it can twist to accommodate such variations in ground pitch.
These implements of the prior art have served well to provide good ground following a depth control for a variety of farming operations. But it is yet desirable to provide an implement that has excellent ground following characteristics, yet also is capable of very compact folding. As farms become larger, implements are transported greater distances between fields. Implements of larger widths are being used to perform farming operations in reduced time. It is desirable to provide an implement that is available in large widths, is easily configurable for transport on roadways in which the implement is folded compactly having small dimensions in width and height for transport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an implement with good ground following ability for consistent depth control across the whole implement, the implement being able to conform to variation in both ground pitch and roll.
It is also an object of this invention to provide an implement frame having such ground following characteristics which can be folded compactly for low and narrow transport.
It is also an object of this invention to provide an implement which is modular and capable of being configured when assembled for attachment of hoe or disc type ground engaging tools, and be used for either conventional-till, low-till, or no-till operations.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a framework through which biasing forces can be applied to transfer downward forces to distal ends of the framework.
These and other objects, features, and advantage are accomplished by the present invention by providing an agricultural implement, having ground engaging tools mounted on subframes that are movable through hydraulic actuators between raised transport and lowered working positions, with a hydraulic circuit in which the actuators are connected in parallel with one another within a grouping of the actuators. The positioning of the ground engaging tools into a lowered working position closes the hydraulic circuit for the group of actuators. The subframes are arranged to float over ground undulations to maintain a common working depth for the ground engaging tools. The vertical movement of any one of the actuators in the common group will force a displacement of a corresponding amount of hydraulic fluid, which will then be shared by all of the remaining actuators in the corresponding group. A depth averaging control for the ground engaging tools and a mechanical headland stop apparatus are also provided for the agricultural implement.


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