Control system for a multiple row crop harvesting machine

Claim 2

A power drive and control system for a harvesting machine having a plurality of harvesting mechanisms for the harvesting of rows of crops comprising, in combination, a plurality of hydraulic motors operably connected to said separate harvesting mechanisms whereby each motor will mechanically drive at least one such separate mechanism independently of the other such mechanisms, each of said hydraulic motors having an output torque directly proportional to the pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied thereto, a source of hydraulic fluid under a predetermined constant pressure, hydraulic fluid supply and return lines interconnecting said constant pressure fluid source and said motors to provide a closed hydraulic system whereby all of said motors and the harvesting mechanisms associated therewith are driven under predetermined constant torque by fluid under said predetermined constant pressure from said source, and a plurality of pressure responsive bypass valves positioned in the hydraulic supply line upstream of each of said motors between said pressure source and each of said motors and adapted to bypass fluid around the motor downstream of the bypass valve when the pressure in the said supply line to that motor exceeds said predetermined constant pressure whereby, when any one of said harvesting mechanisms encounters a load exceeding such predetermined torque of its associated motor, the bypass valve upstream of that motor will open in response to increased pressure in its fluid supply line to effectively stop only such motor and its associated harvesting mechanisms.

Claim 3

A harvesting machine for the simultaneous harvesting of a plurality of parallel rows of crops comprising, in combination, a wheeled chassis with power means for driving and means for guiding said wheeled chassis along said parallel crop rows, a plurality of separate harvesting mechanisms secured to said chassis and positionable in close proximity to the ground for contact with said rows of crops, said harvesting mechanisms spaced apart a distance equal to the crop row spacing whereby each of said crop rows may be harvested by a separate harvesting mechanism, a plurality of hydraulic fluid motors mechanically connected to said harvesting mechanisms whereby each hydraulic motor drives at least one such separate harvesting mechanism, each of said hydraulic motors having an output torque directly proportional to the pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied thereto, a source of hydraulic fluid under a predetermined constant pressure, hydraulic fluid supply and return lines inter-connecting said constant pressure source and said plurality of hydraulic motors to provide a closed hydraulic system Whereby all of said motors and the harvesting mechanisms connected therewith are driven at a predetermined constant torque by hydraulic fluid under said predetermined constant pressure from said source, and a pressure responsive bypass valve positioned in the hydraulic supply line upstream of each of said motors between said constant pressure source and each of said hydraulic motors and adapted to bypass fluid around the motor downstream of the bypass valve when the pressure in the supply line to that motor exceeds said predetermined constant pressure whereby, when any one of said harvesting mechanisms encounters a load exceeding said predetermined torque of its associated motor, said bypass valve upstream of that motor will open in response to increased hydraulic fluid pressure in its fluid supply line to effectively stop only such motor and its associated harvesting mechanisms.

Claim 4

A harvesting machine for the simultaneous harvesting of a plurality of parallel rows of crops comprising, in combination, a wheeled chassis with power means for driving and means for guiding said wheeled chassis along said parallel crop rows, a plurality of separate harvesting mechanisms secured to said chassis and positionable in close proximity to the ground for contact with said rows of crops, said harvesting mechanisms spaced apart a distance equal to the crop row spacing whereby each of said crop rows may be harvested by a separate harvesting mechanism, a plurality of hydraulic fluid motors mechanically connected to said harvesting mechanisms whereby each hydraulic motor drives at least one such separate harvesting mechanism, each of said hydraulic motors having an output torque directly proportional to the pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied thereto, a source of hydraulic fluid under a predetermined constant pressure, hydraulic fluid supply and return lines inter-connecting said constant pressure source and said plurality of hydraulic motors to provide a closed hydraulic system Whereby all of said motors and the harvesting mechanisms connected therewith are driven at a predetermined constant torque by hydraulic fluid under said predetermined constant pressure from said source, and a pressure responsive bypass valve positioned in the hydraulic supply line upstream of each of said motors between said constant pressure source and each of said hydraulic motors and adapted to bypass fluid around the motor downstream of the bypass valve when the pressure in the supply line to that motor exceeds said predetermined constant pressure whereby, when any one of said harvesting mechanisms encounters a load exceeding said predetermined torque of its associated motor, said bypass valve upstream of that motor will open in response to increased hydraulic fluid pressure in its fluid supply line to effectively stop only such motor and its associated harvesting mechanisms.

Claim 5

In a power control system for a harvesting machine having a plurality of harvesting mechanisms driven by a hydraulic motor having an output torque directly proportional to the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied thereto, the improvement comprising a pressure responsive bypass and control valve positioned in the hydraulic supply line for said motor, said valve having a closed position at which hydraulic fluid passes through said valve to said motor and an open position at which hydraulic fluid is bypassed around said motor to effectively stop said motor and the harvesting mechanisms driven thereby, said valve being spring biased towards said closed position and having a pressure face exposed to hydraulic fluid pressure in said supply line whereby said valve will open against said spring bias when said pressure exceeds a first predetermined value, and a manual valve control means having a first condition at which said valve will open at said predetermined pressure and a second condition which causes said valve to open regardless of said supply line pressure, and means for automatically moving said manual control valve from its said first to its said second condition when said supply line pressure reaches a second predetermined value less than said first predetermined value.

Claim 6

In a power control system for a harvesting machine having a plurality of harvesting mechanisms driven by a hydraulic motor having an output torque directly proportional to the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied thereto, the improvement comprising a pressure responsive bypass and control valve positioned in the hydraulic supply line for said motor, said valve having a closed position at which hydraulic fluid passes through said valve to said motor and an open position at which hydraulic fluid is bypassed around said motor to effectively stop said motor and the harvesting mechanisms driven thereby, said valve being spring biased towards said closed position and having a pressure face exposed to hydraulic fluid pressure in said supply line whereby said valve will open against said spring bias when said pressure exceeds a first predetermined value, and a manual valve control means having a first condition at which said valve will open at said predetermined pressure and a second condition which causes said valve to open regardless of said supply line pressure, and means for automatically moving said manual control valve from its said first to its said second condition when said supply line pressure reaches a second predetermined value less than said first predetermined value.

Claim 7

The power control system of claim 3 wherein said manual valve control means and said means for automatically moving said valve comprises a fluid cylinder, a piston movable within said cylinder, a fluid passage through said cylinder and piston when said piston is in its open position, means on said piston for blocking said fluid passage when said piston is moved from said open position, means for applying fluid pressure from said supply lines to said piston, means for holding said piston in said open position, means for overcoming said holding means and effective to move said piston from its said open position when said fluid pressure exceeds a second predetermined level lower than said first predetermined pressure valve, and means actuated by movement of said piston away from its said open position effective to open said bypass valve.

Claim 10

In a power control system for a machine having a plurality of fluid driven mechanisms driven by a hydraulic motor with the output torque of said mechanisms being directly proportional to the hydraulic pressure supplied thereto, the improvement comprising a pressure responsive control valve in the fluid supply line to said motor, said valve having a closed position at which fluid passes directly to said motor and an open position at which said fluid is bypassed around said motor to stop said motor and the mechanisms driven thereby, said valve having a face exposed to said supply line fluid such that said valve will open when said supply fluid pressure reaches a first predetermined value, and a manual control means for said valve having a first condition which allows said valve to open at said first predetermined pressure and a second condition which will open said valve regardless of said line pressure and a fluid pressure responsive actuator effective to move said manual control means from its said first to its said second condition when said supply line pressure reaches a second predetermined value less than said first predetermined value.

Claim 11

In a power control system for a machine having a plurality of fluid driven mechanisms driven by a hydraulic motor with the output torque of said mechanisms being directly proportional to the hydraulic pressure supplied thereto, the improvement comprising a pressure responsive control valve in the fluid supply line to said motor, said valve having a closed position at which fluid passes directly to said motor and an open position at which said fluid is bypassed around said motor to stop said motor and the mechanisms driven thereby, said valve having a face exposed to said supply line fluid such that said valve will open when said supply fluid pressure reaches a first predetermined value, and a manual control means for said valve having a first condition which allows said valve to open at said first predetermined pressure and a second condition which will open said valve regardless of said line pressure and a fluid pressure responsive actuator effective to move said manual control means from its said first to its said second condition when said supply line pressure reaches a second predetermined value less than said first predetermined value.