Windrow mergers employ one or more design features as described herein in connection with a suspension assembly that allows the pickup head to rise or fall relative to a frame of the merger. One feature maintains a substantially constant force or pressure between a pickup head of the merger and the terrain regardless of a height of the head. Another feature maintains a substantially constant hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic actuator that connects the pickup head to a frame assembly of the merger. Still another feature employs a hydraulic pump driven by a power takeoff (PTO) of the tractor to charge and discharge a hydraulic actuator arranged to raise and lower the pickup head of the merger between an upper limit and a lower limit.

Windrow mergers employ one or more design features as described herein in connection with a suspension assembly that allows the pickup head to rise or fall relative to a frame of the merger. One feature maintains a substantially constant force or pressure between a pickup head of the merger and the terrain regardless of a height of the head. Another feature maintains a substantially constant hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic actuator that connects the pickup head to a frame assembly of the merger. Still another feature employs a hydraulic pump driven by a power takeoff (PTO) of the tractor to charge and discharge a hydraulic actuator arranged to raise and lower the pickup head of the merger between an upper limit and a lower limit.

Systems and methods for determining a pre-charge gas pressure in a gas-charged hydraulic accumulator are disclosed. For example, systems and methods for determining pre-charged gas pressure of a gas-charged hydraulic accumulator included as part of a vehicle are disclosed. Further, the present disclosure provides for determining a pre-charge gas pressure of a gas-charged hydraulic accumulator using a position sensor. The accumulator may form part of a hydraulic system used to move one part of the vehicle relative to another.

A controller (45) is provided with an elapse time measuring section (47A) that measures an elapse time (tx) elapsed since an initial use of an accumulator (29) based upon a reset signal from a reset switch (44), a number-of-operations measuring section (47B) that measures a number of operations of the accumulator (29), that is, a number (N) of boom lowering operations after a reset, based upon a detection signal from an accumulator side pressure sensor (39), a gas permeation amount estimating section (47C) that estimates an estimation gas permeation amount (Qloss) of the accumulator (29), a sealed gas pressure estimating section (47D) that finds an estimation sealed gas pressure (Pgs) of a gas chamber (29B) of the accumulator (29), and an accumulator degradation determining section (47E) that determines a degradation condition of the accumulator (29) and outputs the determination result.

Some of the present systems include a hydraulic power storage system having an accumulator configured to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid to a hydraulically actuated device to actuate the hydraulically actuated device and a drain in fluid communication with the accumulator and including a valve that is actuatable to drain hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic power storage system such that an internal pressure of the accumulator is reduced and a flow restrictor configured to reduce a flow rate of hydraulic fluid through the valve, a hydraulic pump configured to pressurize the accumulator, a pressure sensor configured to capture data indicative of the internal pressure of the accumulator, and a processor configured to actuate the hydraulic pump to increase the internal pressure of the accumulator if the internal pressure of the accumulator, as indicated in data captured by the pressure sensor, falls below a threshold pressure.

A pressure accumulator includes an accumulator housing having first and second ports for receiving first and second pressure mediums, respectively, a movable separating element subdividing an interior of the accumulator housing into at least first and second working spaces, the first working space accommodating the first pressure medium and the second working space accommodating the second pressure medium, wherein the first port is in fluid communication with the first working space and the second port in fluid communication with the second working space. At least one sensor is operatively coupled to the first working space for measuring at least one characteristic of the first working space, and a gas generator is operative to generate a gas from ambient air, the gas generator including an outlet for outputting the generated gas, the outlet in fluid communication with the first port. A controller is operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the gas generator, the controller configured to calculate an amount of gas in the first working space based on the at least one characteristic and upon the calculated amount of gas in the first working space being below a first threshold level, generate a command to introduce gas from the gas generator into the first working space.

This disclosure includes systems and methods for actuating hydraulically-actuated devices.

A barrier system for a dual mechanical seal, the system comprising means for controlling barrier fluid pressure relative to product pressure. The pressure control means comprises means for monitoring the volume of barrier fluid in the system and for supplying additional fluid to the system to maintain the volume within a desired range. The system further comprises means for maintaining the barrier fluid pressure at a pre-determined pressure above product pressure.

In accordance with an example embodiment, a hydraulic system may include a pump, reservoir, accumulator, hydraulic cylinder, ride control valve assembly, and controller. The ride control valve assembly may include a charging valve, discharging valve, and a head ride control valve. The controller may open the head ride control valve when a ride control feature has been activated, or open the charging valve if the ride control feature has not been activated and a hydraulic fluid warmup is to be performed.

A product application system for an agricultural applicator includes a boom assembly including a plurality of boom sections, with each boom section being pivotably coupled to at least one adjacent boom section. The system also includes a common rail product circuit spanning across a length of the boom assembly, a product pump configured to supply an agricultural product through the common rail product circuit, and a plurality of nozzle assemblies provided in association with each of the boom sections. Each nozzle assembly across the plurality of boom sections is individually coupled to the common rail product circuit. In addition, the system includes at least one pressure accumulator provided in fluid communication with the common rail product circuit, with the pressure accumulator(s) being configured to adjust a circuit pressure of the agricultural product within the common rail product circuit in response to pressure deviations from a predetermined pressure range.