Trailed agricultural implement pump with hydraulic flow rate control

A trailed agricultural implement is disclosed. The trailed agricultural implement includes a hydraulically-driven pump for moving a fluid at an actual fluid rate. An electro-hydraulic valve is configured to regulate an implement hydraulic pressure to the hydraulically-driven pump. The hydraulically-driven pump regulates the actual fluid rate. The electro-hydraulic valve is configured to receive a vehicle hydraulic pressure. The electro-hydraulic valve communicates with a vehicle load sense system. The load sense system senses the implement hydraulic pressure and communicates with a vehicle hydraulic pump. The vehicle hydraulic pump adjusts the vehicle hydraulic pressure to correspond to the implement hydraulic pressure.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to trailed agricultural implements, and more particularly to a pump with hydraulic flow rate control for trailed agricultural implements.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In order to spray a fluid (e.g., fertilizer, pesticide, fungicide, insecticide) onto agricultural crops, agricultural sprayers commonly include a PTO-driven diaphragm pump. A fluid regulation valve is commonly used to control fluid flow.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment, a trailed agricultural sprayer is disclosed. The trailed agricultural sprayer includes a hydraulically-driven pump for moving a fluid at an actual fluid rate. The hydraulically-driven pump regulates the actual fluid rate. An electro-hydraulic valve is configured to regulate an implement hydraulic pressure to the hydraulically-driven pump. The electro-hydraulic valve is configured to receive a vehicle hydraulic pressure. The electro-hydraulic valve communicates with a vehicle load sense system. The load sense system senses the implement hydraulic pressure and communicates with a vehicle hydraulic pump. The vehicle hydraulic pump adjusts the vehicle hydraulic pressure to correspond to the implement hydraulic pressure. Additional details for the load sense system are defined in ISO 17567, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In another embodiment, a trailed agricultural implement is disclosed. The trailed agricultural implement includes a hydraulically-driven pump for moving a fluid at an actual fluid rate. The hydraulically-driven pump regulates the actual fluid rate. An electro-hydraulic valve is configured to regulate an implement hydraulic pressure to the hydraulically-driven pump. The electro-hydraulic valve is configured to receive a vehicle hydraulic pressure. The electro-hydraulic valve communicates with a vehicle load sense system. The load sense system senses the implement hydraulic pressure and communicates with a vehicle hydraulic pump. The vehicle hydraulic pump adjusts the vehicle hydraulic pressure to correspond to the implement hydraulic pressure.

In yet another embodiment, a method for operating a hydraulically-driven pump to move a fluid on trailed agricultural implement is disclosed. The method includes receiving a desired fluid rate. The method includes determining an actual fluid rate. The method includes receiving a vehicle hydraulic pressure. The method includes regulating the vehicle hydraulic pressure to an implement hydraulic pressure provided to the hydraulically-driven pump to adjust the actual fluid rate to correspond to the desired fluid rate. The method includes communicating the implement hydraulic pressure to a vehicle load sense system. The vehicle load sense system communicates with a vehicle hydraulic pump. The vehicle hydraulic pump adjusts the vehicle hydraulic pressure to correspond to the implement hydraulic pressure.

Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Further embodiments of the invention may include any combination of features from one or more dependent claims, and such features may be incorporated, collectively or separately, into any independent claim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a trailed agricultural implement10. The illustrated trailed agricultural implement10is a trailed agricultural sprayer15. Other types of trailed agricultural implements10are contemplated by this disclosure. The trailed agricultural sprayer15is pulled by a vehicle20.

With continued reference toFIG. 1, the trailed agricultural sprayer15includes a frame25. A plurality of wheel assemblies30are coupleable to the frame25to support the frame25above a surface35. A coupling mechanism40is coupleable to the frame25for coupling the trailed agricultural sprayer15to the vehicle20.

Exemplarily, the trailed agricultural sprayer15includes a fluid dispensing apparatus45. The fluid dispensing apparatus45is in communication with a hydraulically-driven pump50. The fluid dispensing apparatus45is configured to receive a fluid from the hydraulically-driven pump50and dispense the fluid.

The hydraulically-driven pump50moves the fluid at an actual fluid rate. The illustrated hydraulically-driven pump50is a centrifugal pump55that may be self-priming. Other types of pumps with hydraulic flow rate control are contemplated by this disclosure.

With reference toFIG. 2, the hydraulically-driven pump50includes a pump pressure input60. The pump pressure input60receives a hydraulic fluid65from an electro-hydraulic valve70. The hydraulically-driven pump50includes a pump return output75. The pump return output75returns hydraulic fluid65to a vehicle return input80of the vehicle20. The hydraulically-driven pump50may include a pump case drain85. The pump case drain85returns hydraulic fluid65to a vehicle drain input90of the vehicle20at little to no pressure.

A controller95is configured to determine the actual fluid rate. The controller95communicates with the electro-hydraulic valve70to adjust the actual fluid rate to correspond to a desired flow rate. The controller95may communicate through a wired connection100or a wireless connection.

The electro-hydraulic valve70is configured to receive a vehicle hydraulic pressure. The electro-hydraulic valve70includes a valve pressure input105that receives the vehicle hydraulic pressure from a vehicle pressure output110of the vehicle20. The electro-hydraulic valve70communicates with a vehicle load sense system115via a valve sense output120. The electro-hydraulic valve70provides hydraulic fluid65to the hydraulically-driven pump50via a valve motor output125. Exemplarily, the electro-hydraulic valve70may include a diagnostic receptacle130. The diagnostic receptacle130provides a test port for service work.

The vehicle load sense system115includes a vehicle sense input135. The vehicle load sense system115senses en implement hydraulic pressure and communicates with a vehicle hydraulic pump. The vehicle hydraulic pump adjusts the vehicle hydraulic pressure to correspond to the implement hydraulic pressure. This reduces the possibility that the vehicle will overheat.

In operation, the coupling mechanism45of the agricultural implement10is coupled to the vehicle20. The agricultural implement10is pulled by the vehicle20over the surface35. The controller95receives the desired fluid rate and determines the actual fluid rate. The controller95communicates with the electro-hydraulic valve70to correspond the actual fluid rate with the desired fluid rate. The electro-hydraulic valve70receives the vehicle hydraulic pressure. The electro-hydraulic valve70regulates the vehicle hydraulic pressure to the implement hydraulic pressure that is provided to the hydraulically-driven pump50. This adjusts the actual fluid rate to correspond to the desired fluid rate, in the illustrated embodiment, the actual fluid rate may change from a minimum flow rate to a maximum flow rate in less than or equal to three seconds The electro-hydraulic valve70communicates the implement hydraulic pressure to the vehicle load sense system115. The vehicle load sense system115communicates with the vehicle hydraulic pump that adjusts the vehicle hydraulic pressure to correspond to the implement hydraulic pressure. This prevents the vehicle hydraulic pump from pumping more hydraulic fluid than what is needed. This also helps to reduce overheating of the vehicle and to conserve energy.

Various features are set forth in the following claims.