Patent ID: 7766105
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: A01C,B60K,F16D

Abstract:
1. An agricultural implement system comprising: a propelling vehicle with an engine and an automatic transmission; a soft start clutch drivingly connected to a rotary machinery drive input of an agricultural implement; a transmission PTO attached to said automatic transmission and drivingly connected to the soft start clutch such that no torque converter is connected between the soft start clutch and the engine; and a control circuit configured to completely engage the soft start clutch, via pressurized fluid, over a time period of at least 0.5 seconds, wherein the control circuit further comprises a valve disposed in series fluid communication with a flow restrictor configured to limit a flow rate of pressurized fluid supplied to the soft start clutch, and wherein the flow restrictor and valve are disposed between a pressurized fluid supply and the soft start clutch.