F15B13/0401

ROAD TRAVEL SYSTEM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE
20230020196 · 2023-01-19 · ·

An agricultural vehicle having a chassis, wheels, a power unit, and a header. The header has a center section, at least one wing section extending laterally from the center section, and a wing section support. The center section is movable relative to the chassis, the wing section is movable relative to the center section, and the wing support is movable relative to the wing section. The combine has a control system that is configured to determine that the combine is configured to drive at a road-driving speed, and in response to such determination: operate a center section actuator to move the center section to a raised center section position, operate a wing section actuator to move the wing section to a raised wing section position, and operate a wing support actuator to move the wing support to a raised wing support position.

PIVOT JOINT
20230364780 · 2023-11-16 ·

A pivot joint for a robot, including a double-acting pneumatic pivot actuator, which has a first working chamber with a first working port and a second working chamber with a second working port, and further including a valve arrangement having a first valve group for a selective connection of the first working port to one of a pressurization port and an exhaust port, and having a second valve group for a selective connection of the second working port to one of the pressurization port and the exhaust port. The valve arrangement includes a safety valve which is connected to the first working port and to the second working port and which is configured for blocking a connection between the first working port and the second working port in a blocking position and for releasing the connection between the first working port and the second working port in a release position.

Drop-in lube-on-demand valve and kit

A drop-in lube boost valve assembly replaces an OE lube boost valve assembly in a vehicle transmission hydraulic circuit. The OE valve assembly has a valve body with inlet, balancing and outlet ports. The drop-in valve assembly includes a sleeve having inlet and outlet ports, and a bore extending between and fluidically connecting the ports. The drop-in valve ports are spaced from each other. The sleeve includes valve and spring chambers. A valve has a valve face, a sealing portion and a spring stem and is positioned in the sleeve with the sealing portion positioned in the sleeve bore. A spring is positioned on the spring stem. The valve reciprocates in the sleeve between an open state in which the sealing portion does not overlie the sleeve outlet port and a closed state in which the sealing portion overlies and closes off the outlet port.

SAFETY VALVE ARRANGEMENT AND ACTUATOR SYSTEM
20230383770 · 2023-11-30 ·

A safety valve arrangement includes a fluid distributor to which a first supply valve, a first pilot valve and a first safety valve are assigned. The first supply valve selectively releases or blocks a first supply channel extending in the fluid distributor between a first supply port and a first working port. The first pilot valve selectively releases or blocks a first pilot channel extending in the fluid distributor between a first pilot air inlet and a first pilot air outlet, and the first safety valve selectively releases or blocks a first safety channel which extends between the first working port and a first safety outlet. A first separation channel, which is permanently open to the environment, is located between the first supply channel and the first pilot channel to ensure a fluid separation between the first supply channel and the first pilot channel.

Bidirectional Valve System for Bidirectional Servocontrolled Motion
20230383771 · 2023-11-30 ·

The system is an improved valve/actuator architecture using a 4-way blocked-port architecture and area asymmetry providing numerous advantages over the conventional practice. The system uses fewer control circuits and provides for reduced component parts—it reduces hose, tubing and fitting requirements (lower cost, improved packaging, less installation labor and less leakage due to fewer connections). It also eliminates the need for a spring for static load support and other suspension control components (such as a sway bar). The system simplifies the mechanical design thereby reducing cost, aids in packaging, eliminates hysteresis losses of the spring and reduces moving mass thereby lowering response time. The system further allows regeneration of hydraulic power thereby increasing overall efficiency. The system further eliminates one half of throttling loss in a servo-valve.

Windrower variable rate header floatation system
11547049 · 2023-01-10 · ·

An agricultural machine includes a float cylinder interconnecting a header linkage system and a frame of the machine. A first rod side accumulator and a second rod side accumulator are both in fluid communication with a rod side fluid port of the float cylinder. A first accumulator control valve is positioned to control the first rod side accumulator, and is selectively controllable between an open position allowing fluid communication between the first rod side accumulator and the rod side fluid port of the float cylinder, and closed position blocking fluid communication between the first rod side accumulator and the rod side fluid port of the float cylinder. The system provides a slower first float response with the first accumulator control valve open, and a faster second float response with the first accumulator control valve closed.

Limit management for automatic ground-following actuation on a multi-segment harvesting head

An agricultural harvester includes a controller configured to receive at least one wing angle signal indicative of an angle at least one wing with respect to a center section of a header. The controller is also configured to receive a wing height position signal indicative of a distance between the at least one wing and a soil surface, determine whether the angle of the at least one wing exceeds an angle limit threshold based at least in part on the wing angle signal, and output a tilt signal to a tilt actuator in response to determining the angle of the wing exceeds the angle limit threshold. The tilt signal is indicative of instructions to maintain the distance between the at least one wing and the soil surface within a target distance threshold.

SUSPENSION COMPLIANCE TO REDUCE FRAME LOADING

A harvesting system includes a header pivotally attached to a combine. The header includes a center section to which a left wing and right wing are pivotally attached. A suspension system of the harvesting system includes first and second engageable states that enable dynamic wing behavior and reduce structural load. The first state corresponds to a harvesting configuration of the header in which the wings are allowed to pivot to allow the header to follow changes in terrain. The second state corresponds to a configuration in which the header is elevated relative to the ground. In the second state, the ability of the wings to pivot is minimized as compared to the first state, which allows the header to be maintained in a substantially flat configuration while minimizing the amount of dynamic load imparted by the header on the combine during non-harvesting transport of the header.

Suspension compliance to reduce frame loading

A harvesting system includes a header pivotally attached to a combine. The header includes a center section to which a left wing and right wing are pivotally attached. A suspension system of the harvesting system includes first and second engageable states that enable dynamic wing behavior and reduce structural load. The first state corresponds to a harvesting configuration of the header in which the wings are allowed to pivot to allow the header to follow changes in terrain. The second state corresponds to a configuration in which the header is elevated relative to the ground. In the second state, the ability of the wings to pivot is minimized as compared to the first state, which allows the header to be maintained in a substantially flat configuration while minimizing the amount of dynamic load imparted by the header on the combine during non-harvesting transport of the header.

Hydraulic valve with pressure limiter function

A hydraulic system includes first and second valve assemblies connected to a common pump. The first valve assembly includes a main valve housed inside a manifold. A pressure compensator valve maintains a constant pressure drop across a variable orifice of the main valve. A pressure limiter valve is in communication with the main valve and the pressure compensator valve, and allows an actuator connected to the first valve assembly to operate independently of the second valve assembly so that fluid flow to a work port of the first valve assembly is not interrupted by operation of the second valve assembly.