MACHINE HAVING HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED IMPLEMENT SYSTEM WITH COMBINED RIDE CONTROL AND DOWNFORCE CONTROL SYSTEM

• Main Authors: PETERSON JEREMY T, LOMAX DAVID J, KUEHN JEFFREY L, KNUSSMAN MICHAEL L
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.06.2014
• Subjects: BLASTING; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DREDGING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVO-MOTORS; FOUNDATIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; SOIL SHIFTING; SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; WEAPONS

A machine is disclosed. The machine can include a frame and ground engaging propulsion elements coupled with the frame. A hydraulically actuated implement system can be coupled with the frame, and can include a linkage configured to couple with an implement, a hydraulic actuator coupled with the linkage and the frame, and a ride control and downforce control circuit configured to implement a ride control mode and a downforce control mode. The ride control mode can be configured to maintain a pressure of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic actuator at a ride control pressure, and the downforce control mode can be configured to maintain the pressure of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic actuator at a downforce control pressure to oppose the weight of the linkage and the implement such that the implement engages a substrate with a predetermined down force pressure which is proportionate to the downforce control pressure.