Harvesters – Raking and bundling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-15
2001-08-14
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Raking and bundling
C100S088000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272825
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to round balers and, more particularly, to a hydraulic sequencing circuit that sequences operation of the clutch and tailgate piston and cylinder assemblies so that the tailgate is not raised until the clutch is disengaged (to drivingly disconnect the bale forming components from the source of driving power) and the clutch is not re-engaged until the tailgate is fully closed.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Some conventional round balers utilize a clutch for drivingly disconnecting at least some of the driveable components (e.g., the pickup, the bale forming mechanism, etc.) while the tailgate is raised to discharge the bale. Those ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that such an arrangement significantly reduces the risk of damage to the bale during its discharge from the baling chamber, permits the operator to avoid such damage without having to stop the PTO, etc. Furthermore, it is known to couple the clutch to the tailgate so that the clutch is automatically disengaged when the tailgate is raised.
However, traditional tailgate responsive clutch arrangements are often incapable of declutching the driven baler components before the tailgate is raised. Additionally, some clutch arrangements fail to assuredly declutch the driven components altogether. Even in those conventional balers that provide means for preventing raising of the tailgate before disengagement of the clutch (e.g., a sensor that senses stoppage of the bale forming components and an actuator that activates the tailgate lift only when signaled to do by the sensor), such a construction is typically expensive and complex. It is also known that a number of conventional tailgate responsive clutch arrangements do not have the durability required to withstand normal baler operations.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Responsive to these and other problems, an important object of the present invention is to provide a round baler that successfully addresses the problems associated with the prior art. Another important object of the present invention is to provide a round baler having a clutch arrangement that is inexpensive yet durable. It is particularly an important object of the present invention to provide clutch and tailgate controls that assuredly disengage the clutch before the tailgate is raised and prevents re-engagement of the clutch until the tailgate is fully closed.
In accordance with these and other objects evident from the following description of the preferred embodiment, the present invention concerns a round baler including a clutch that serves to control driving power to the various driven components of the baler (e.g., the bale forming mechanism, the pickup, etc.). A piston and cylinder assembly is provided for engaging and disengaging the clutch. The tailgate is moved into and out of the closed position by at least one piston and cylinder unit. Moreover, the baler includes a sequencing circuit that not only connects the clutch assembly and the tailgate unit to a common source of pressurized fluid, but also controls fluid flow to the assembly and the unit so that the unit is inhibited from moving the tailgate out of the closed position until the clutch is disengaged and the clutch is not re-engaged until at least substantially all movement of the tailgate toward the closed position has been effected.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawing figures.
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Hesston Farm Equipment Operator's Manual 5545/5585 Rounder; Form No. 700 705 288; front and back covers, pp. 1, 9-17 and 25-32 (Jul. 8, 1985).
Hesston The Prime Line 550 Round Baler Operators's Manual; Form No. 700 709 159, Revision B; front and back covers, Introductory Page, pp. III, 19-26 and 49-56 (Dec., 1989).
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Anderson J. Dale
Fell Ferol S.
Pecenka Craig
Hay & Forage Industries
Hovey Williams Timmons & Collins
Kovács Arpád Fáb
Pezzuto Robert E.
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