Dynamic blade distance ratio system and method

• US 20060124329A1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Radke, Daniel Dean, Nagorcka, James Arthur, Allen, Lyal Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,641,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 172/821
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/02 Travelling-gear, e.g. associated with slewing gears drives therefor E02F9/20; for motor vehicles B60B, B60G; undercarriages for locomotives or railroad cars B61F; track-laying vehicles B62D; for cranes B66C23/18
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0841 Articulated frame, i.e. having at least one pivot point between two travelling gear units tractor-trailer combinations B62D53/00

Abstract

The blade ratio of an articulated work vehicle with multiple tracks is adjusted by shifting a load from the weight of the vehicle toward the front or rear of one or more of the tracks. The load may be shifted through the actuation of a hydraulic cylinder that applies a biasing load between a frame on which a track frame is mounted and a front or rear portion of the track frame.

Claims

1. A track system for a multi-track work vehicle, comprising:

a track having a first side and a second side;

a first idle roller engaging the first side of the track;

a second idle roller engaging the first side of the track;

a drive wheel engaging the first side of the track, the second side of the track engaging the ground between at least two of the first idle roller, the second idle roller and the drive wheel; and

an actuator, the actuator shifting a load from a weight of the vehicle toward at least one of the first and second idle rollers when the actuator is activated.

2. The track system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a biasing hydraulic cylinder.

3. The track system of claim 2, further comprising a hydraulic circuit, the hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic pump, a pressure reducing valve having a first valve position and a second valve position, a pressure relief valve, an accumulator, a controller and a switch control, the switch control having a first switch position and a second switch position, the hydraulic circuit controlling the hydraulic cylinder by controlling a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the biasing hydraulic cylinder.

4. The track system of claim 3, wherein the actuator is activated when the hydraulic circuit allows the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow to the biasing hydraulic cylinder.

5. The track system of claim 4, wherein the second switch position causes the pressure reducing valve to move to the second valve position and allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow to the hydraulic cylinder.

6. The track system of claim 5, wherein the controller causes the pressure reducing valve to move to the second valve position.

7. The track system of claim 3, wherein the first switch position allows the displacement valve to move to the first valve position and prevent the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder.

8. The track system of claim 3, wherein a pressure across the pressure relief valve is adjusted by the controller.

9. The track system of claim 8, wherein a pressure delivered to the hydraulic cylinder is controlled by the pressure relief valve and a preload on the accumulator.

10. The track system of claim 9, wherein a preload comprises a pre-charge.

11. A pivotable track system for a multi-track work vehicle, comprising:

a track assembly, including;

a track,

a track frame,

a first main idle roller engaging a first side of the track and pivotally attached to the tension link,

a second main idle roller engaging the first side of the track and pivotally attached to the track frame,

at least one minor idle roller engaging the first side of the track and pivotally attached to the track frame,

a drive wheel engaging the first side of the track,

a mounting frame, the track frame pivotally mounted to the mounting frame, the drive wheel pivotally mounted to the mounting frame, and

a biasing cylinder, the biasing cylinder pivotally mounted to the mounting frame, the biasing cylinder pivotally mounted to the track frame, the biasing cylinder arranged to cause a load from a weight of the vehicle to shift toward the first main idle roller when the biasing cylinder is actuated; and

a hydraulic circuit, including;

a hydraulic pump;

a load sense actuating valve;

a check valve;

a pressure reducing valve having at least two positions;

a pressure relief valve;

a first accumulator;

a second accumulator;

a controller;

a control switch having a first switch position and a second switch position; and

a fluid reservoir, the load sense actuating valve in communication with the hydraulic pump, the first accumulator and the pressure reducing valve, the check valve in communication with the hydraulic pump and the pressure reducing valve, the pressure reducing valve in communication with the second accumulator, the pressure relief valve and the biasing cylinder, the controller adjusting a position of the pressure reducing valve, the controller adjusting pressure a reducing setting of the pressure reducing valve and the pressure relief setting of the pressure relief valve.

12. A method of changing a blade distance ratio in an articulated vehicle having a blade and a plurality of track assemblies, at least one of the plurality of track assemblies having a first roller and a second roller, the first roller and the second roller bearing a portion of a weight of the vehicle, the first roller being closer to the blade than the second roller, the method comprising:

shifting a load from the weight of the vehicle toward one of the first roller and the second roller.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein shifting the load comprises actuating a hydraulic cylinder.

14. A method of changing a blade distance ratio in an articulated vehicle having a blade and a plurality of track assemblies, at least one of the plurality of track assemblies having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion and the rear portion bearing a load of a weight of the vehicle, the front portion being closer to the blade than the rear portion, the method comprising:

shifting the load from the weight of the vehicle toward one of the front portion and the rear portion.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein shifting the load comprises actuating a hydraulic cylinder.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of track assemblies comprises four track assemblies and the at least one of the plurality of track assemblies comprises two of the plurality of track assemblies.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the two of the plurality of track assemblies are closer to the blade than a remainder of the plurality of track assemblies.