IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0424371
(2006-06-15)
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등록번호 |
US-7426827
(2008-09-23)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Thompson,Dennis G.
- Chahley,Dennis W.
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
13 |
초록
▼
A system for reducing oscillating movement of a boom assembly about a fore-and-aft aligned axis defined by a pivotal connection of a suspension arrangement independent of a carrier frame is provided. The system includes an accumulator, a cylinder actuator mechanically interconnected between the car
A system for reducing oscillating movement of a boom assembly about a fore-and-aft aligned axis defined by a pivotal connection of a suspension arrangement independent of a carrier frame is provided. The system includes an accumulator, a cylinder actuator mechanically interconnected between the carrier frame and the boom assembly, and a metered orifice connected in fluid communication to restrict a fluid flow between the accumulator and the cylinder actuator. In response to rotation of the boom assembly in a first direction relative to the carrier frame, the system creates a force resisting the rotation of the boom assembly in the first direction. Thereby, the system deadens oscillating pivotal movement of the boom assembly relative to the carrier frame and exerts a biasing force to assist in returning and/or maintaining the boom assembly at a generally horizontal alignment.
대표청구항
▼
We claim: 1. A system connectable to a fluid drive source for providing pressurized fluid flow and configured to restrain oscillating movement associated with operation of a suspension arrangement for a boom assembly of an agricultural sprayer, the boom assembly pivotally supported by the suspensio
We claim: 1. A system connectable to a fluid drive source for providing pressurized fluid flow and configured to restrain oscillating movement associated with operation of a suspension arrangement for a boom assembly of an agricultural sprayer, the boom assembly pivotally supported by the suspension arrangement about a fore-and-aft axis independently of a carrier frame in support of the boom assembly from a wheeled frame assembly of the sprayer for travel in a forward direction, the sprayer including a fluid drive system configured to move the boom assembly between an extended position for operation in a field and a folded, non-operative position relative to the wheeled frame assembly, the system comprising: an accumulator; a cylinder actuator mechanically interconnected between the carrier frame and the boom assembly, the cylinder actuator in isolated fluid communication with the accumulator; a metered orifice connected in fluid communication to restrict a fluid flow between the accumulator and the cylinder actuator; and an actuator discharge valve configured to release a fluid supply from the accumulator in response to a loss of pressurized fluid flow from the fluid drive source; wherein the system automatically creates a force resisting rotation of the boom assembly about the suspension arrangement relative to the carrier frame. 2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pressure reducing valve configured to maintain a predetermined fluid pressure at the actuator cylinder. 3. The system as recited in claim 2, further comprising a controller configured to send a signal to the pressure reducing valve, wherein the pressure reducing valve adjusts a pressure of the fluid flow to the actuator cylinder in response to the signal from the controller. 4. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a check valve in fluid communication with the cylinder actuator and the accumulator. 5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the cylinder actuator includes a first cylinder actuator and a second cylinder actuator both in parallel fluid connection with their respective pressure regulating valves, the first cylinder actuator and the second cylinder actuator each mechanically connected at the boom assembly at a lateral offset distance from the fore-and-aft axis. 6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein rotation of the boom assembly about the fore-and-aft axis in a first direction from horizontal causes a fluid flow in a first flow direction from the cylinder actuator through the metered orifice and into the accumulator, and wherein rotation of the boom assembly in a second direction, opposite the first direction, from horizontal causes a fluid flow in a second flow direction from the accumulator into the actuator cylinder, wherein the fluid flow in the first flow direction through the metered orifice creates the force resisting the rotation of the boom assembly in the first direction, and wherein the fluid flow in the second flow direction through the metered orifice creates the force resisting the rotation of the boom assembly in the second direction. 7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metered orifice is selectively adjustable in resistance to fluid flow therethrough via a remote controller so as to adjust the force reducing oscillating movement of the boom assembly about the fore-and-aft axis of the suspension arrangement. 8. An agricultural sprayer, comprising: a boom assembly that includes a central frame structure in pivotal support of a first boom and a second boom, the first and second booms each pivotal about a vertical axis between an extended, operative position and a folded, inoperative position relative to the central frame structure; a lift linkage in combination with a carrier frame configured to move the boom assembly between a lowered, operative position and a raised, inoperative position; and a suspension arrangement in pivotal support of the boom assembly about a fore-and-aft axis independent of the carrier frame; and a system connectable to a fluid drive source for providing pressurized fluid flow and configured to restrain oscillating movement associated with operation of the suspension arrangement, the system including: an accumulator, a selectively metered orifice connected in fluid communication to restrict a fluid flow between the accumulator and the fluid drive system of the sprayer, a cylinder actuator mechanically interconnecting the carrier frame and the boom assembly and in fluid communication with the metered orifice; and an actuator discharge valve configured to release a fluid supply from the accumulator in response to a loss of pressurized fluid flow from the fluid drive source; wherein the system resists movement of the boom assembly about the suspension arrangement with respect to the carrier frame without interrupting operation of the suspension arrangement. 9. The agricultural sprayer as recited in claim 8, wherein the cylinder actuator is connected at the central frame structure of the boom assembly. 10. The agricultural sprayer as recited in claim 8, wherein the cylinder actuator includes a first rod member and wherein the agricultural sprayer includes a second cylinder actuator having a second rod member connected in a spaced relation to the first rod member at the boom assembly. 11. The agricultural sprayer as recited in claim 8, wherein the selected metered orifice is controlled by a controller located remotely from the metered orifice. 12. The agricultural sprayer as recited in claim 8, wherein rotation of the boom assembly about the fore-and-aft axis in a first direction from horizontal causes fluid flow from the cylinder actuator through the metered orifice and into the accumulator, and wherein rotation of the boom assembly in an opposite direction from horizontal causes fluid flow from the accumulator into the actuator cylinder. 13. The agricultural sprayer as recited in claim 8, wherein the system includes a first hydraulic circuit and a second hydraulic circuit both in parallel fluid communication with a fluid drive source, the first hydraulic circuit including the actuator cylinder in fluid communication with a first accumulator and a first meter orifice, and the second hydraulic circuit including a second cylinder actuator in fluid communication with a second accumulator and a second metered orifice, the first and second cylinder actuators located at an offset distance in a opposing lateral directions from the fore-and-aft axis of defined by the suspension arrangement. 14. A method of damping rotation of a boom assembly about a suspension arrangement of an agricultural sprayer, the method comprising the steps of: providing a carrier frame in support of the boom assembly from a wheeled frame assembly of the sprayer, the boom assembly configured to pivot about a fore-and-aft axis defined by the suspension arrangement independently of the carrier frame; rotating the boom assembly about the fore-and-aft axis in a first direction from horizontal; creating a force resistant to the rotating step in the first direction by causing a fluid flow in a first flow direction from a cylinder actuator through a metered orifice and into the accumulator simultaneously with the rotating step in the first direction; rotating the boom assembly in an second direction from horizontal, opposite the first direction, about the fore-and-aft axis define by the suspension arrangement; creating a force resistant to the rotating step in the second direction by causing a fluid flow in a second flow direction from the accumulator through the metered orifice and into the cylinder actuator simultaneously with the rotating step in the first direction; connecting a pressure reducing valve in fluid communication to control a fluid pressure between the cylinder actuator and a metered orifice; and configurating an accumulator discharge valve to release a fluid supply at the accumulator upon loss of pressure at the pressure regulating valve. 15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the step of: selectively adjusting a fluid pressure at the cylinder actuator with a pressure reducing valve in fluid communication between the cylinder actuator and a fluid drive source. 16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the metered orifice is a needle valve, and the method further comprises the step of: adjusting the force resistant to the rotating step in both the first and second directions by selectively adjusting a size of an orifice of the needle valve. 17. An agricultural sprayer, comprising: a boom assembly that includes a central frame structure in pivotal support of a first boom and a second boom, the first and second booms each pivotal about a vertical axis between an extended, operative position and a folded, inoperative position relative to the central frame structure; a lift linkage in combination with a carrier frame configured to move the boom assembly between a lowered, operative position and a raised, inoperative position; and a suspension arrangement in pivotal support of the boom assembly about a fore-and-aft axis independent of the carrier frame; and a system configured to restrain oscillating movement associated with operation of the suspension arrangement, the system including: an accumulator, a selectively metered orifice connected in fluid communication to restrict a fluid flow between the accumulator and the fluid drive system of the sprayer, a cylinder actuator mechanically interconnected between the carrier frame and the boom assembly and in fluid communication with the needle valve, a pressure reducing valve connected in fluid communication to control a fluid pressure between the cylinder actuator and the metered orifice, and an accumulator discharge valve configured to release a fluid supply at the accumulator upon loss of pressure at the pressure regulating valve; wherein the system resists movement of the boom assembly about the suspension arrangement with respect to the carrier frame without interrupting operation of the suspension arrangement. 18. The agricultural sprayer as recited in claim 17, the system further comprising a controller located remote of the pressure reducing valve and configured to send a signal to the pressure reducing valve representative of a selected change in fluid pressure between the cylinder actuator and the metered orifice.
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