Computer controlled hydraulic bleed sequence
First Claim
1. An agricultural machine or implement, comprising:
- a main frame section;
at least one wing section;
at least one first hydraulic subsystem including at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering said main frame section, at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering said at least one wing section, and at least one first bypass circuit bypassing at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder;
at least one controller operably connected to at least one valve controlling hydraulic flow to at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder, said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder, and said at least one first bypass circuit, said at least one controller configured to bleed air from said at least one first hydraulic subsystem using the steps of;
first, extending said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder;
second, retracting said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder;
third, bypassing at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder while extending at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder; and
fourth, extending said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An agricultural machine or implement has a main frame section and at least one wing section, each having lift cylinders. A main shank frame may be pivotally attached to the main frame section and may have hydraulically adjustable gauge wheels. Wing shank frames may be pivotally attached to the wing sections and may also have hydraulically adjustable gauge wheels. Bypass circuits may be used to individually adjust the lift cylinders and gauge wheel cylinders. A controller or controllers is used to purge air from the lift cylinders, gauge wheel cylinders, cylinders used to raise the shank frames for transport, and from the bypass circuits. The purge routine may be selectable as individual steps, hydraulic subsystem purges, or as one automatic purge routine.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An agricultural machine or implement, comprising:
-
a main frame section; at least one wing section; at least one first hydraulic subsystem including at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering said main frame section, at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering said at least one wing section, and at least one first bypass circuit bypassing at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder; at least one controller operably connected to at least one valve controlling hydraulic flow to at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder, said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder, and said at least one first bypass circuit, said at least one controller configured to bleed air from said at least one first hydraulic subsystem using the steps of; first, extending said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder; second, retracting said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder; third, bypassing at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder while extending at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder; and fourth, extending said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A hydraulic system of an agricultural machine or implement having a main frame section, at least one wing section, at least one main structure pivotally connected to the main frame section, and at least one wing structure pivotally connected to the at least one wing section, comprising:
-
at least one first hydraulic subsystem including at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the main frame section, at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the at least one wing section, and at least one first bypass circuit bypassing at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder; at least one controller operably connected to at least one valve controlling hydraulic flow to at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder, said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder, and said at least one first bypass circuit, said at least one controller configured to bleed air from said at least one first hydraulic subsystem using the steps of; first, extending said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder; second, retracting said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder; third, bypassing at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder while extending at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder; and fourth, extending said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of bleeding air from a hydraulic system of an agricultural machine or implement having a main frame section, at least one wing section, at least one main structure pivotally connected to the main frame section, and at least one wing structure pivotally connected to the at least one wing section, comprising the steps of:
-
providing at least one first hydraulic subsystem including at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the main frame section, at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the at least one wing section, and at least one first bypass circuit bypassing at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder; providing each of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder with at least one re-phasing port; operably connecting at least one controller to at least one valve controlling hydraulic flow to at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder, said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder, and said at least one first bypass circuit; configuring said at least one controller to bleed air from said at least one first hydraulic subsystem using the sub-steps of; first, extending said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder until each said at least one re-phasing port of each of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder releases hydraulic pressure; second, retracting said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder; third, bypassing at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder while extending at least one of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder; and fourth, extending said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder until each said at least one re-phasing port of each of said at least one main frame lift hydraulic cylinder and said at least one wing section lift hydraulic cylinder releases hydraulic pressure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification