Patent Application
20150167276
The invention relates generally to agricultural implements, and more particularly to a power beyond valve assembly for an agricultural implement.
A wide range of agricultural implements are known, are presently in use, and are particularly designed for towing behind a work vehicle, such as a tractor. In one family of such implements, which includes tillers, planters, and so forth, a wide swath of ground is tilled, planted, or otherwise worked via one or more passes of the implement. The implements may be hydraulically connected to the work vehicle, thereby enabling the work vehicle to drive various components of the implement, such as a hydraulic motor. Hydraulic fluid flow to the components of the implement may be provided by a power beyond system.
Certain implements may include seed drives, fan drives, and so forth that may be driven by hydraulic fluid. The work vehicle may supply the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic systems of the implement via the power beyond system to facilitate operation of varying hydraulic functions of the implement. Operators typically set the power beyond system to output the maximum expected hydraulic pressure and fluid flow rate to the hydraulic system of the implement, thereby oversupplying hydraulic fluid when the hydraulic system is operating at a reduced load. Unfortunately, an oversupply of hydraulic fluid and pressure to the hydraulic system may generate excess heat in the work vehicle. Additionally, an oversupply of hydraulic fluid may reduce power available to operate other elements of the implement or the work vehicle.
A power beyond valve assembly for an agricultural implement, in some embodiments, includes a pressure compensation spool that receives hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic supply and selectively provides the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic system of the agricultural implement. The position of the pressure compensation spool is adjustable between an open position configured to facilitate flow of the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic system and a closed position configured to block flow of the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic system. Additionally, a first fluid connection provides the hydraulic fluid from an inlet of the hydraulic system to a first end of the pressure compensation spool to urge the pressure compensation spool toward the closed position. Further, a second fluid connection provides the hydraulic fluid from an outlet of the hydraulic system to a second end of the pressure compensation spool to urge the pressure compensation spool toward the open position. Furthermore, a pressure relief valve is fluidly coupled to the outlet of the hydraulic system, and the pressure relief valve is adjustable to vary hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic system and within the second fluid connection.
In another embodiment, a power beyond valve assembly for an agricultural implement includes a valve block. The valve block includes a housing and a pressure compensation spool disposed within the housing and moveable between an open position and a closed position. Additionally, the pressure compensation spool receives hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic supply, to provide the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic system of the agricultural implement while the pressure compensation spool is in the open position, and to block the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic system while the pressure compensation spool is in the closed position. Further, a first fluid connection extending through the housing provides the hydraulic fluid from an inlet of the hydraulic system to a first end of the pressure compensation spool to urge the pressure compensation spool toward the closed position. Furthermore, a second fluid connection extending through the housing provides the hydraulic fluid from an outlet of the hydraulic system to a second end of the pressure compensation spool to urge the pressure compensation spool toward the open position. Moreover, a pressure relief valve disposed within the housing is fluidly coupled to the outlet of the hydraulic system, and the pressure relief value is adjustable to vary hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic system and within the second fluid connection.
In yet another embodiment, a power beyond valve assembly for an agricultural implement includes a pressure relief valve fluidly coupled to an outlet of a hydraulic system. The pressure relief valve is adjustable to vary hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic system and at the outlet. Additionally, the power beyond valve assembly includes a pressure compensation spool fluidly coupled to an inlet of the hydraulic system. Further, the pressure compensation spool blocks flow of hydraulic fluid to the inlet while the hydraulic pressure at the inlet exceeds the hydraulic pressure at the outlet by a threshold value. Furthermore, the pressure compensation spool facilitates flow of the hydraulic fluid to the inlet.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
Embodiments of the power beyond valve assembly described herein may facilitate control of a hydraulic fluid flow between a hydraulic pump in a work vehicle and a hydraulic motor within an agricultural implement. In certain embodiments, the hydraulic pump of the work vehicle directs hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor of the implement to drive a hydraulically powered function of the agricultural implement (e.g., a seed drive, a fan drive, a vacuum system, etc.). The hydraulic motor may rotate at a desired speed based on a flow rate and/or a pressure of hydraulic fluid through the motor. In certain embodiments, a pressure compensation spool of the power beyond valve assembly receives the hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic supply and selectively distributes the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic system of the agricultural implement, which includes the hydraulic motor. Subsequently, the hydraulic motor of the hydraulic system receives the hydraulic fluid, utilizes the energy of the fluid to drive the motor to rotate, and returns the hydraulic fluid to the work vehicle. A pressure within a line that receives the hydraulic fluid from the motor may be controlled via a relief valve. As such, the relief valve enables a user to regulate the pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic motor using a pressure compensation spool. When the relief valve relieves pressure at an output of the hydraulic motor, a pressure differential between an input of the hydraulic motor and the output of the hydraulic motor urges the pressure compensation spool to move from an open position to a closed position. While the pressure compensation spool is in the closed position, the hydraulic fluid from the power beyond system stops flowing until the pressure compensation spool moves back to an open position. Control of the hydraulic flow rate and hydraulic pressure increases efficiency of the agricultural implement and the respective hydraulic components by decreasing energy losses (e.g., in the form of heat generation, vibration, etc.) from an oversupply of hydraulic fluid flow. Accordingly, the power beyond valve assembly may reduce the wear on the work vehicle, the agricultural implement, and the respective hydraulic components, and/or increase fuel efficiency of the work vehicle.
Turning now to the drawings,
The agricultural implement 10 (e.g., planter) is towed behind the work vehicle 12 across the ground 22, as shown in
The agricultural implement 10 may have a variety of systems driven by the working fluid (e.g., hydraulic fluid) supplied by the work vehicle 12. For example, motors of the agricultural implement may be driven by the working fluid to facilitate delivery of the agricultural product and/or may establish a vacuum pressure within the tanks 28 or supply lines. In some embodiments, the frame assembly 32 of the agricultural implement 10 may be adjustable to fold into a transport configuration (e.g., via rotation of wings about joints 34) as shown by arrows 36 and/or to pivot and align the frame assembly 32 with a direction of travel 38.
In the illustrated embodiment, the work vehicle 12 provides the hydraulic fluid flow to the agricultural implement 10 via a power beyond valve assembly 40. The power beyond valve assembly 40 may be used to control functions on the agricultural implement 10, including seed drives, fan drives, and so forth. As illustrated, the hydraulic fluid flows from the work vehicle 12 to the agricultural implement 10 via fluid lines 24 coupled to the power beyond valve assembly 40. The power beyond valve assembly 40 facilitates hydraulic coupling of the agricultural implement 10 to the work vehicle 12. The hydraulic fluid flows through the power beyond valve assembly 40 to the hydraulic system 46 of the agricultural implement 10. The power beyond valve assembly 40 may provide a mechanism that allows the agricultural implement 10 to limit the hydraulic fluid flow and pressure received from the power beyond system of the work vehicle 12. As such, limiting the hydraulic flow and pressure entering the agricultural implement 10 may provide an increase in power in the agricultural implement 10, and it may reduce energy lost through heat generation caused by the inefficiencies of receiving hydraulic fluid flow and pressure beyond an ideal hydraulic fluid flow and pressure for the agricultural implement 10.
Subsequently, the hydraulic system 46 distributes hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic motor 48 of the agricultural implement 10 via a fluid line 24 at a flow rate sufficient to drive the hydraulic motor 48. The hydraulic motor 48 may power at least one function of the agricultural implement 10, such as a seed drive, a fan drive, a vacuum system, and so forth. After the hydraulic fluid drives the hydraulic motor 48, the hydraulic fluid returns to the hydraulic system 46 via a fluid line 24. From the hydraulic system 46, the hydraulic fluid may return to the hydraulic fluid supply 44 of the work vehicle 12 through the fluid lines 24 by way of the power beyond valve assembly 40. While the power beyond valve assembly 40 is described herein as being between the work vehicle 12 and the agricultural implement 10, it may be noted that the power beyond valve assembly 40 may be part of the agricultural implement 10, the work vehicle 12, or it may be positioned at any other suitable location between the work vehicle 12 and the agricultural implement 10.
In the illustrated embodiment, the hydraulic pump 42 provides the hydraulic fluid flow to the power beyond valve assembly 40 via the fluid line 24. A hydraulic line 49 of the power beyond valve assembly 40 receives the hydraulic fluid from the line 24 and directs the hydraulic fluid toward a pressure compensation spool 50. The pressure compensation spool 50 may be linearly moveable between an open position and a closed position. In another embodiment, the pressure compensation spool 50 may be rotationally moveable between the open and closed positions. The open position enables hydraulic fluid to flow to the hydraulic system 46. On the other hand, while the pressure compensation spool 50 is in the closed position, the hydraulic fluid flow into the hydraulic system 46 is blocked, thereby enabling excess pressure within the hydraulic system to be discharged through an outlet.
Once the hydraulic fluid passes through the pressure compensation spool 50, the hydraulic fluid flows through a hydraulic line 53 to an inlet of the hydraulic system 46. A pilot line 54 extends from the hydraulic line 53 to a first end of the pressure compensation spool 50. Pressure in the pilot line 54, after passing through a flow restrictor 56, urges the pressure compensation spool 50 to move toward the closed position. As will be discussed in greater detail below, if a force associated with the pressure in the pilot line 54 exceeds the combined force of a spring 52 and a force associated with a pressure in a pilot line 60 extending between the hydraulic system 46 outlet and a spring chamber of the pressure compensation spool 50, the pressure compensation spool 50 is driven to the closed position, thereby blocking flow to the hydraulic system 46 inlet. The spring 52 provides a force that urges the pressure compensation spool 50 into the open position. Accordingly, the pressure compensation spool 50 may remain in the open position while the force associated with the pressure in the hydraulic line 53 remains below the force contributed by the spring 52 and the force associated with the pressure in the pilot line 60, thereby enabling flow of the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic system inlet.
Further, check valves 58 and 59 are configured to limit the hydraulic fluid flow to one direction. A first check valve 58 blocks fluid flow from flowing from the hydraulic system 46 inlet to the pressure compensation spool 50, while facilitating flow from the pressure compensation spool 50 to the hydraulic system 46 inlet. The second check valve 59 blocks fluid flow from flowing from the spring chamber of the pressure compensation spool 50 to the hydraulic system 46 outlet, while facilitating flow from the hydraulic system 46 outlet to the spring chamber. The check valves 58 and 59 may include any suitable check valve configuration to facilitate one-way flow of the hydraulic fluid. As such, the check valves 58 and 59 may be standard ball check valves, spring-loaded ball check valves, diaphragm check valves, and so forth.
The hydraulic fluid flows through the hydraulic system 46 to the hydraulic motor 48, thereby driving the hydraulic motor 48 in rotation. The hydraulic fluid then returns to the hydraulic system 46, and the hydraulic fluid is expelled from the hydraulic system 46 via the outlet. From the outlet of the hydraulic system 46, the hydraulic fluid flows toward a relief valve 62 via pilot lines 60 and 63. As illustrated, the pilot line 63 is in hydraulic communication with the pilot line 60. As such, a pressure within the pilot line 63 may be equal to the pressure within the pilot line 60. Additionally, the relief valve 62 is configured to vary the hydraulic fluid pressure within the hydraulic system 46 by controlling pressure within the pilot lines 60 and 63. For example, if the relief valve 62 is in a completely open position, the relief valve may reduce the pressure in the pilot lines 60 and 63 by enabling a substantial portion of the hydraulic fluid to return to the hydraulic fluid supply. On the other hand, as the relief valve 62 is adjusted toward a closed position, the pressure in the pilot lines 60 and 63 increases, thereby increasing pressure within the hydraulic system. The pressure in the pilot lines 60 and 63 urges the pressure compensation spool 50 toward the open position. As such, increasing the pressure of the pilot lines 60 and 63 by adjusting the relief valve 62 toward the closed position increases the pressure of the pilot line 54 and the hydraulic line 53 going into the inlet of the hydraulic system 46. An increase in the pressure of the pilot line 54 urges the pressure compensation spool 50 into the closed position. When the pressure compensation spool 50 is in the closed position, flow of the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic system is blocked. While the flow of hydraulic fluid is blocked, built up pressure in the hydraulic fluid line 53 is dissipated until the force exerted on the pressure compensation spool 50 by the pressure in the pilot line 54 falls below the force exerted on the pressure compensation spool 50 in the opposite direction by the spring 52 and the force associated with the pressure of pilot lines 60 and 63. Once the pressure of the pilot line 54 reaches this point, the pressure compensation spool 50 is again urged into the open position.
Furthermore, the relief valve 62, in at least the illustrated embodiment, is controlled manually by an adjustable pressure spring 64. A force exerted on the relief valve 62 by the adjustable pressure spring 64 may be controlled by an operator of the work vehicle 12 based on a desired hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic system 46 of the agricultural implement 10. By adjusting the adjustable pressure spring 64, the relief valve 62 may open at a higher or lower pressure, thereby controlling the pressure within the pilot lines 60, 63, and 54. Once the hydraulic fluid passes through the relief valve 62, a fluid line 24 carries the hydraulic fluid back to the hydraulic fluid supply 44 for subsequent use as a hydraulic fluid source for the hydraulic pump 42.
Accordingly, the pressure relief valve 62 may control hydraulic fluid pressure within the hydraulic motor 48, thereby controlling a rotation speed of the hydraulic motor 48. As the pressure relief valve 62 opens, the pressure of the hydraulic fluid leaving the hydraulic system 46 may be reduced. As such, the pressure in pilot lines 60 and 63 may be reduced. When the pressure in pilot lines 60 and 63 is reduced, less force is exerted on a spring side of the pressure compensation spool 50. At some point, the pressure in pilot line 54 may reach a value where its associated force exerted on the pressure compensation spool is greater than the force exerted on the spring side of the pressure compensation spool 50. When this happens, the pressure compensation spool 50 will be urged into the closed position until the pressure in the pilot line 54 is dissipated. By controlling the pressure in pilot lines 60 and 63, the pressure relief valve 62 also causes the pressure compensation spool 50 to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid entering the power beyond valve assembly 40. Further, when a pressure differential between the hydraulic line 53 and the pilot lines 60 and 63 is created, the hydraulic motor 48 may run more efficiently due to a limited amount of pressure built up in an output of the hydraulic motor 48. The high to low pressure differential of the inlet and the outlet of the hydraulic system 46 allows the hydraulic motor 48 to rotate. For example, the operator of the work vehicle 12 may control the rotations per minute (RPM) of the hydraulic motor 48 of the agricultural implement 10 by adjusting the adjustable pressure spring 64 of the relief valve 62. By way of example, an operator may adjust the adjustable pressure spring 64 to reduce the pressure within the pilot lines 60 and 63. When the pressure of lines 60 and 63 is reduced, more power may be available to drive the hydraulic motor 48. Therefore, the hydraulic motor 48 may operate at a higher RPM. Conversely, when the pressure of lines 60 and 63 is increased by adjusting the adjustable pressure spring 64, less power may be available to drive the hydraulic motor 48, and the hydraulic motor 48 may operate at a lower RPM.
As such, the operator of the work vehicle 12 may manually control the pressure of the adjustable pressure spring 64. For example, an operator may deactivate hydraulic flow to the implement, and manually adjust the adjustable pressure spring 64 at the power beyond valve assembly 40. However,
In the illustrated embodiment, the controller 72 includes a processor 76 and a memory 78. The processor 76 may perform instructions stored in the memory 78. The instructions may include programs that instruct the solenoid 70 to control the relief valve 62. Additionally, the instructions may be carried out based on an input from a user interface 80. As illustrated, the user interface 80 is electrically coupled to the controller 72 via a wire 74. Further, the user interface 80 includes a control panel 82, which enables an operator of the work vehicle 12 to input commands to the controller 72. The user interface 80 includes a display 84 to display information to the user. Such information that may be displayed to the user could include the hydraulic flow and pressure through the system, the RPM of the hydraulic motor 48, and any other value that may be of use to the user in determining how to control the relief valve 62.
Further, the input from the user interface 80 may instruct the controller to adjust the position of the relief valve 62. The input may be provided by the user of the work vehicle 12 based on RPM specifications of the hydraulic motor 48 of the agricultural implement 10. If the user determines that the RPM of the hydraulic motor 48 is either above or below a desired rate, then the operator may indicate to the controller 72 via the user interface to adjust the relief valve 62 to increase or decrease the RPM of the hydraulic motor 48. Furthermore, the solenoid 70 may enable the user of the work vehicle 12 to control the relief valve 62 from the cabin 16 of the work vehicle 12. For example, instead of the user of the work vehicle 12 manually adjusting the relief valve 62 at the location of the power beyond valve assembly 40, the user may adjust the relief valve 62 from the user interface 80, which may be positioned at any suitable location. As such, using the solenoid 70 to control the relief valve 62 may provide greater efficiency in operating the agricultural implement 10, as compared to manually adjusting an adjustable pressure spring 64 on the relief valve 62. Further, while the illustrated embodiment shows the solenoid 70 controlling the relief valve 62, it may be noted that any type of actuator capable of controlling the relief valve 62 may be used.
Turning now to
Moreover, a notch 94 is illustrated in the pressure compensation spool 50. The notch 94 allows the flow of the hydraulic fluid to gradually increase or decrease as the pressure compensation spool 50 moves between the open position and the closed position. Further, when the pressure compensation spool 50 is in the closed position, a seal between a contact point 96 on the pressure compensation spool 50 and a contact point 98 on the valve block of the power beyond valve assembly 40 blocks the flow of hydraulic fluid toward hydraulic line 53.
Further, in both
While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.
