Patent ID: 7434392
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: A01B

Abstract:
1. A hydraulic system for an off-road vehicle to which is attached an implement having one or more hydraulic actuators, the hydraulic system comprising: a tank for hydraulic fluid; a pump supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure; a fluid connector having a first port and a second port for connection to the one or more hydraulic actuators on the implement; a first valve assembly coupled to the first port, the tank, and the pump, the first valve assembly having a first state which connects the first port to the pump and a second state which connects the first port to the tank; a second valve assembly coupled to the second port, the tank, and the pump, the second valve assembly having a third state which connects the second port to the pump and a fourth state which connects the second port to the tank; a user input arrangement which produces a first control signal and a second control signal that designate operation of the one or more hydraulic actuators; and a controller connected to the first valve assembly, the second valve assembly, and the user input arrangement, and having a first mode of operation when one hydraulic actuator is connected to both the first and second ports in which the controller responds to the first control signal by operating both the first valve assembly and the second valve assembly, and having a second mode of operation when one hydraulic actuator is connected to the first port and another hydraulic actuator is connected to the second port in which the controller responds to the first control signal by activating the first valve assembly and responds to the second control signal by activating the second valve assembly.