US 12,419,204 B1
System and method for controlling the operation of an agricultural implement
Ryan P. Jenkins, Oak Brook, IL (US); Andrea Vacca, West Lafayette, IN (US); and Jacob Lengacher, Lafayette, IN (US)
Assigned to CNH Industrial America LLC, New Holland, PA (US)
Filed by CNH Industrial America LLC, New Holland, PA (US)
Filed on May 24, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/673,629.
Int. Cl. A01B 63/111 (2006.01); F15B 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC A01B 63/111 (2013.01) [F15B 1/024 (2013.01); F15B 2211/20561 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An agricultural implement, comprising:
a frame;
a tool supported on the frame, the tool moveable between a first position at which the tool engages soil within a field and a second position at which the tool is positioned above the soil;
a driven actuator including a driven rod coupled to the tool such that the driven actuator is configured to move the tool between the first position and the second position;
a regeneration actuator including a regeneration rod coupled to the tool such that the regeneration rod moves when the driven rod moves;
an accumulator fluidly coupled to the regeneration cylinder such that, when the driven rod moves the tool toward the first position, the regeneration actuator supplies hydraulic fluid to the accumulator and, when the driven rod moves the tool toward the second position, the accumulator supplies the hydraulic fluid to the regeneration cylinder;
a pump configured to supply a pressurized flow of the hydraulic fluid to the driven actuator;
a first valve configured to control the pressurized flow of the hydraulic fluid to the driven cylinder;
a second valve configured to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid between the regeneration actuator and the accumulator; and
a computing system configured to:
control an operation of the first valve such that the driven actuator moves the tool toward the first position; and
control an operation of the second valve such that, when the tool moves toward the first position, the second valve opens to allow the hydraulic fluid from the regeneration actuator to flow to the accumulator.
 
4. A system for controlling an operation of an agricultural implement, the system comprising:
a tool moveable between a first position at which the tool engages soil within a field and a second position at which the tool is positioned above the soil;
a driven actuator including a driven rod coupled to the tool such that the driven actuator is configured to move the tool between the first position and the second position;
a regeneration actuator including a regeneration rod coupled to the tool such that the regeneration rod moves when the driven rod moves;
an accumulator fluidly coupled to the regeneration cylinder such that, when the driven rod moves the tool toward the first position, the regeneration actuator supplies hydraulic fluid to the accumulator and, when the driven rod moves the tool toward the second position, the accumulator supplies the hydraulic fluid to the regeneration cylinder;
a pump configured to supply a pressurized flow of the hydraulic fluid to the driven actuator;
a first valve configured to control the pressurized flow of the hydraulic fluid to the driven cylinder;
a second valve configured to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid between the regeneration actuator and the accumulator; and
a computing system configured to control an operation of the first valve and an operation of the second valve, wherein, when the tool is at the first position or the second position, the computing system is configured to control the operation of the second valve such that the second valve halts the flow of the hydraulic fluid between the regeneration actuator and the accumulator.
 
10. A method for controlling an operation of an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement including a tool moveable between a first position at which the tool engages soil within a field and a second position at which the tool is positioned above the soil, the agricultural implement further including a driven actuator configured to move the tool between the first position and the second position, the method comprising:
controlling, with a computing system, an operation of a first valve configured to control a pressurized flow of hydraulic fluid to the driven actuator such that the driven actuator moves the tool toward the first position;
controlling, with the computing system, an operation of a second valve configured to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid between a regeneration actuator and an accumulator such that, when the tool moves toward the first position, the second valve opens to allow the hydraulic fluid from the regeneration actuator to flow to the accumulator;
controlling, with the computing system, the operation of the first valve such that the driven actuator moves the tool toward the second position; and
controlling, with the computing system, the operation of the second valve such that, when the tool moves toward the second position, the second valve opens to allow hydraulic fluid from the accumulator to flow to the regeneration actuator.