System for equalizing pressure on smoothing tools of a harrow
By providing a hydraulic system for configuring an angle of rotation for smoothing tools of a harrow that is predetermined for a tilling session, hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic system may be maintained (and not adjusted) to allow the hydraulic system to actuate during the tilling session by tilling forces encountered by the smoothing tools. As a result, the angle of the smoothing took may change during the tilling session, thereby allowing excessive plant residue encountered by the smoothing tools to be passed over to minimize plugging or bunching.
1. An agricultural tillage implement, comprising:
a main implement frame supporting a set of ground-engaging tillage tools for tilling soil during a tilling session for seedbed preparation; and
a soil finish system supported by the main implement frame for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools, the soil finish system including:
a harrow supported in a trailing position with respect to the main implement frame, the harrow including:
a harrow arm;
a strut pivotably connected to the harrow arm and having multiple bars pivotably connected thereto, the strut including an upper wall having a passage therethrough and defining a downwardly directed channel, wherein the multiple bars are arranged generally transversely with respect to a travel direction of the agricultural tillage implement;
a slide bar having an upper portion extending through the passage in the upper wall of the strut and a lower portion slidably received in the channel; and
a first set of smoothing tools connected to the multiple bars and being configured for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools;
a tow line operatively connecting the strut to the main implement frame, the tow line limiting movement of the harrow as the agricultural tillage implement travels during the tilling session;
a linear actuator having a first end fixed to the upper wall and a second end interconnected to the upper portion of the slide bar; and
a hydraulic system configured to provide a hydraulic pressure to the linear actuator connected to the slide bar, wherein linear movement of the linear actuator causes the lower portion of the slide bar to slide within the channel of the strut and pivot the multiple bars relative to the strut thereby altering an angle of the first set of smoothing tools relative to the strut to one of an infinite range of angles that is predetermined for the tilling session,
wherein the hydraulic system maintains the hydraulic pressure while a tilling force is operable to change the angle of the first set of smoothing tools during the tilling session.
2. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 , wherein hydraulic system further comprising a pressure relief valve configured for maintaining the hydraulic pressure.
3. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 2 , wherein the pressure relief valve is a pilot operated relief valve that is adjustable by an operator.
4. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 2 , wherein the linear actuator is in communication with the pressure relief valve.
5. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 4 , wherein the linear actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.
6. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 4 , wherein the slide bar is operable to define the angle of the first set of smoothing tools by stopping a rotation of the multiple bars.
7. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 , wherein the multiple bars of the harrow frame including a front bar arranged toward a front end of the harrow, a back bar arranged toward a back end of the harrow, and an intermediate bar arranged between the front and back bars of the harrow.
8. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 7 , wherein the harrow is a spring tine harrow with each of the front, rear and intermediate bars of the harrow supporting spring tines that define the first set of smoothing tools.
9. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 8 , further comprising at least one of an HMI (human machine interface) and a control knob for actuating the hydraulic system.
10. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 9 , wherein the at least one of an HMI and a control knob is mounted on the agricultural tillage implement.
11. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 9 , wherein the at least one of an HMI and a control knob is mounted within a cab of a tractor configured to tow the agricultural tillage implement.
12. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 , wherein an increase in the tilling force is operable to increase the angle and a decrease in the tilling force is operable to decrease the angle while the hydraulic system maintains the hydraulic pressure.
13. An agricultural tillage implement, comprising:
a main implement frame supporting a set of ground-engaging tillage tools for tilling soil during a tilling session for seedbed preparation; and
a soil finish system supported by the main implement frame for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools, the soil finish system including:
a harrow supported in a trailing position with respect to the main implement frame, the harrow including:
a harrow arm;
a strut pivotably connected to the harrow arm and having multiple bars pivotably connected thereto, the strut including an upper wall having a passage therethrough and defining a downwardly directed channel, wherein the multiple bars are arranged generally transversely with respect to a travel direction of the agricultural tillage implement, wherein the multiple bars include a front bar arranged toward a front end of the harrow, a back bar arranged toward a back end of the harrow, and an intermediate bar arranged between the front and back bars of the harrow;
a slide bar having an upper portion extending through the passage in the upper wall of the strut and a lower portion slidably received in the channel; and
a first set of smoothing tools operatively connected to and supported by the front, back, and intermediate bars of the strut for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools;
a tow line operatively connecting the strut to the main implement frame, the tow line limiting movement of the harrow as the agricultural tillage implement travels during the tilling session;
a hydraulic system configured to provide a hydraulic pressure to the linear actuator connected to the slide bar, wherein linear movement of the linear actuator causes the lower portion of the slide bar to slide within the channel of the strut and pivot the multiple bars relative to the strut thereby altering an angle of the first set of smoothing tools relative to the strut to one of an infinite range of angels that is predetermined for the tilling session, and wherein the hydraulic system maintains the hydraulic pressure while a tilling force is operable to change the angle of the first set of smoothing tools during the tilling session; and
a finishing tool supported in a trailing position with respect to the harrow with the finishing tool including a second set of smoothing tools for smoothing the soil tilled by the ground-engaging tillage tools.
14. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 13 , further comprising a pressure relief valve configured for maintaining the hydraulic pressure.
15. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 14 , wherein the pressure relief valve is a pilot operated relief valve that is adjustable by an operator.
16. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 15 , wherein the linear actuator is in communication with the pressure relief valve.
17. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 16 , wherein the linear actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.
18. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 16 , wherein the slide bar is operable to define the angle of the first set of smoothing tools by stopping a rotation of the multiple bars.
19. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 13 , wherein an increase in the tilling force is operable to increase the angle and a decrease in the tilling force is operable to decrease the angle while the hydraulic system maintains the hydraulic pressure.