Hydraulic down pressure control system for closing wheels of an agricultural implement

• US 8,544,398 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dawn Equipment Company
• Original Assignee: Dawn Equipment Company
• Inventors: Bassett, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US13/075,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20120060731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 111/139, 111/140, 111/143, 111/157, 111/163, 111/167, 111/168, 111/52, 111/59, 111/62, 111/63, 111/65, 111/66, 111/164, 111/149, 111/135, 111/134, 172/551, 172/624.5, 172/705, 172/613, 172/619, 172/624, 172/634, 172/635, 172/639, 172/661, 172677-681, 172/684, 172/684.5, 172/734, 172/739, 172/744, 172/748, 172/261, 172264-268, 172/518, 172/579, 172/583, 172/605, 701/50
• US Class Current: 111/167
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 61/046 the device including an energy accumulator for restoring the tool to its working position
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/205 comprising pressure regulation means

Abstract

In one embodiment, an agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor includes an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame. A support member is pivotably coupled to the attachment frame to permit vertical pivoting movement of the support member relative to the attachment frame, and at least one furrow-closing device is mounted on the support member. A hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the support member for urging the row unit frame downwardly toward the soil. The hydraulic cylinder includes a movable ram extending into the cylinder, and a hydraulic-fluid cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for urging the ram in a first direction that pivots the support member in a first vertical direction. An accumulator has a fluid chamber containing a pressurized gas for urging the ram in a second direction that pivots the support member in a second vertical direction.

Claims

1. An agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor, said agricultural row unit comprising

an attachment frame adapted to be coupled to said towing frame,

a support member pivotably coupled to said attachment frame to permit vertical pivoting movement of said support member relative to said attachment frame,

at least one furrow-closing device mounted on said support member,

a hydraulic cylinder coupled to said support member for urging said support member downwardly toward the soil, said hydraulic cylinder including a movable ram extending into said hydraulic cylinder, and a hydraulic-fluid cavity within said hydraulic cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for urging said ram in a first direction that pivots said support member in a first vertical direction, and

an accumulator having a fluid chamber containing a pressurized gas for urging said ram in a second direction that pivots said support member in a second vertical direction.

2. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 in which a single unitary housing forms said hydraulic cylinder and said fluid chamber.

3. The agricultural row unit of claim 2 in which said single unitary housing forms a fluid passageway connecting said hydraulic cylinder and said accumulator.

4. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 in which said hydraulic-fluid cavity is on one side of said ram, and said fluid chamber is on the other side of said ram.

5. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 in which said accumulator includes a diaphragm separating first and second fluid chambers, said first fluid chamber being coupled to said hydraulic-fluid cavity on one side of said ram, and said second fluid chamber comprising said fluid chamber containing said pressurized gas.

6. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 in which said fluid chamber is formed by said hydraulic cylinder on the opposite side of said ram from said hydraulic-fluid cavity.

7. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 in which said hydraulic cylinder is connected to said attachment frame, and said ram is connected to said support member.

8. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 which includes a biasing element urging said ram in a direction opposite the direction in which said ram is urged by said hydraulic fluid.

9. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 in which said accumulator is positioned adjacent to said hydraulic cylinder and having a fluid chamber containing a diaphragm, the portion of said chamber on one side of said diaphragm being connected to said hydraulic-fluid cavity in said hydraulic cylinder, and the portion of said chamber on the other side of said diaphragm containing a pressurized gas.

10. The agricultural implement of claim 1 which includes a parallel-bar linkage coupling a row unit frame to said attachment frame.

11. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 in which said hydraulic cylinder includes a single-acting ram.

12. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 in which said hydraulic cylinder includes a double-acting ram.

13. An agricultural row unit for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor, said row unit comprising

an attachment frame adapted to be coupled to said towing frame,

a support member pivotably coupled to said attachment frame to permit vertical pivoting movement of said support member relative to said attachment frame,

at least one furrow-closing device mounted on said support member,

an adjustable actuator coupled to said support member for urging said support member downwardly toward the soil, said adjustable actuator including a movable ram extending into said actuator, and a fluid cavity within said actuator for receiving pressurized fluid for urging said ram in a first direction that pivots said support member in a first vertical direction, and

an energy storage device having a fluid chamber containing a pressurized fluid for urging said ram in a second direction that pivots said support member in a second vertical direction.

14. The agricultural row unit of claim 13 in which said adjustable actuator includes a single-acting ram.

15. The agricultural row unit of claim 13 in which said adjustable actuator includes a double-acting ram.