Agricultural implement with automatic down pressure control
First Claim
1. An agricultural implement for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor having a hydraulic system for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to said agricultural implement, said agricultural implement comprising at least one row unit comprisingan attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected 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,a soil-engaging tool coupled to 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,a hydraulic line coupled to said hydraulic cylinder for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic cylinder,a controllable pressure control valve in said hydraulic line for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to said hydraulic cylinder through said line,a pressure sensor connected between said hydraulic cylinder and said support member for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the pressure on said soil-engaging tool, anda controller coupled to said pressure sensor and said controllable pressure control valve, said controller being adapted to receive said electrical signal from said pressure sensor and produce a control signal for controlling said controllable pressure control valve thus the supply of said hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic cylinder.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An agricultural row unit includes a hydraulic cylinder coupled to a support member for urging a soil-engaging tool coupled to the support member downwardly toward the soil. A hydraulic line is coupled to the hydraulic cylinder for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the cylinder, and a controllable valve is provided in the hydraulic line for controlling the supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the cylinder through the line. A pressure sensor, such as a load cell or strain gauge, is connected between the hydraulic cylinder and the support member for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the pressure on the tool, and a controller is coupled to the pressure sensor and the controllable valve, the controller being adapted to receive the electrical signal from the pressure sensor and produce a control signal for controlling the valve thus the supply of the hydraulic fluid to the cylinder.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An agricultural implement for use with a towing frame hitched to a tractor having a hydraulic system for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to said agricultural implement, said agricultural implement comprising at least one row unit comprising
an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected 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, a soil-engaging tool coupled to 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, a hydraulic line coupled to said hydraulic cylinder for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic cylinder, a controllable pressure control valve in said hydraulic line for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to said hydraulic cylinder through said line, a pressure sensor connected between said hydraulic cylinder and said support member for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the pressure on said soil-engaging tool, and a controller coupled to said pressure sensor and said controllable pressure control valve, said controller being adapted to receive said electrical signal from said pressure sensor and produce a control signal for controlling said controllable pressure control valve thus the supply of said hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic cylinder.
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8. An agricultural row unit comprising:
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an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to a 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; a soil-engaging tool coupled to said support member; a hydraulic actuator having a ram movable into a cylinder, said ram being attached to the support member for urging said support member downwardly toward a soil surface; a pressure sensor mounted in a position between said movable ram of said hydraulic cylinder and said support member, said pressure sensor producing an electrical signal corresponding to a force on said soil-engaging tool; and a controller coupled to said pressure sensor, said controller being programmed to receive said electrical signal from said pressure sensor and produce a control signal for dynamically controlling said cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification