Deere & Company

Aaron L Barfels

Randall A Maro

William Douglas Graham

Agricultural implements and hydraulic circuits for agricultural implements are disclosed herein. An agricultural implement includes a fluid source, a plurality of fluid demand devices, a delivery control valve, and a priority valve. The fluid source is configured to supply hydraulic fluid. The plurality of fluid demand devices are each configured to receive hydraulic fluid supplied by the fluid source during operation of the agricultural implement. The delivery control valve is fluidly coupled between the fluid source and a first fluid demand device. The delivery control valve is configured to selectively deliver hydraulic fluid supplied by the fluid source to the first fluid demand device during operation of the agricultural implement. The priority valve is fluidly coupled between the delivery control valve and the first fluid demand device.

Agricultural implements and hydraulic circuits therefor incorporating one or more priority valves

A hydraulic circuit with electronic latching through valve assemblies to allow full control of ground engaging tools including raising, lowering, and providing regulated active down force pressure via a work vehicle valves with manual input while allowing a continuous pressure source to be used in parallel. Pressure transducers and electrically controlled valves along with an electric control circuit allow automatic switching between manual control and automatic control of the ground engaging tools.

Electronic latching circuit

A folding implement frame having seven sections in a use position and nine sections when folded. The frame design allows a frame having a width of greater than 27 meters to be folded into a transport position having a width of less than eight meters and a height of less than six meters. The hydraulic system transfers weight to the center frame section during folding and unfolding to enhance stability. The hydraulic system uses accumulators to minimize the amount of oil reduction in the tractor reservoir resulting from extension of the hydraulic cylinders of the implement. Implement raise and lower cycle times are minimized by a helper cylinder to lift the frame main section when the entire implement weight is on the main section and allowing a smaller cylinder to lift the frame main section in the use position for shorter cycle times to raise and lower the implement.

Implement with reduced hydraulic oil exchange

Implement frame with main section helper lift cylinders

Folding implement frame with weight transfer

A load sense connection is provided between the implement rockshaft cylinders and the load-sensed power source. However, to avoid tractor starting difficulty, a valve structure is provided in the power beyond fluid line to keep the fluid line closed when starting the tractor. This valve structure provides a hydraulic latching function that allows the load-sensed power source to be activated and deactivated depending on the SCV function. The load-sensed power source is activated when the rockshaft cylinder(s) is fully extended and remains activated or latched when the SCV is returned to neutral. The load-sensed power source is deactivated or unlatched when the rockshaft cylinder is retracted.

Active implement down force system with automatic latching of tractor power beyond pressure

A hydraulic latching circuit is provided that allows a load-sense power source to be activated and deactivated depending on the SCV function. The load sense power source is activated when the wing cylinders are fully extended to maintain proper down force on the wings. It remains activated or latched when the SCV is returned to neutral. It is deactivated or unlatched when the wing cylinders are retracted. Two circuits have been devised to accomplish this latching function. Both of these latching circuits can be used with the sequencing circuit.

Growing community of inventors

Davenport, IA, United States of America

Aaron L Barfels