US 11,696,523 B2
System and method for hydraulically leveling a multi-wing agricultural implement
Timothy R. Blunier, Danvers, IL (US); and Jared Paul Schaffer, Normal, IL (US)
Assigned to CNH Industrial America LLC, New Holland, PA (US)
Filed by CNH Industrial America LLC, New Holland, PA (US)
Filed on Jan. 14, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/247,241.
Prior Publication US 2020/0221628 A1, Jul. 16, 2020
Int. Cl. A01B 63/14 (2006.01); A01B 73/04 (2006.01)
CPC A01B 63/14 (2013.01) [A01B 73/046 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for hydraulically leveling a multi-wing agricultural implement, the system comprising:
a central frame section;
an inner-wing section pivotally coupled to the central frame section;
an outer-wing section pivotally coupled to the inner-wing section;
an actuator coupled between the inner-wing section and the outer-wing section, the actuator configured to actuate the outer-wing section between a transport position and a fully-opened position;
a valve assembly configured to provide hydraulic fluid at a supply pressure to a supply line;
a leveling valve fluidly coupled between the supply line and the actuator, the leveling valve having an opened position and a closed position, the leveling valve, when in the opened position, allowing the hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the actuator; and
a folding valve fluidly coupled in parallel with the leveling valve between the supply line and the actuator, the folding valve, when in an opened position, allowing the hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the actuator such that the outer-wing section is actuated relative to the inner-wing section towards the transport position,
wherein, when the folding valve is in a closed position and the hydraulic fluid begins being supplied through the supply line:
the hydraulic fluid is prevented from being supplied to the actuator through the folding valve, and
the leveling valve is movable to the opened position to allow the hydraulic fluid to be directed through the leveling valve at a selected leveling pressure less than the supply pressure to the actuator to maintain the outer-wing section at a desired orientation relative to the inner-wing section.