Ferguson System Principal
and Theory of Operation
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An implement cutting through the soil at a certain depth say
eight inches requires a certain force or draft to pull it. Obviously that
draft will increase if the implement runs deeper than eight inches, and decrease
if it runs shallower. Why not use that draft fact to control the depth of
work automatically? The draft forces are sensed through the points of attachment
and the hydraulic pump automatically reacts to changes in draft loading. So
if our implement cutting at eight inches is forced deeper into the soil. By
the front end of the tractor rising upwards over a small hill, the immediate
increase in draft would give a lift signal to the hydraulic pump and the implement
would be raised to such a point as the draft forces were equal to previous.
ie eight inches. Conversely if the front end of the tractor drops in a hole,
the implement depth raises to say six inches the draft force would reduce
and this would then send a drop signal to the hydraulic controls thus the
implement would dig deeper and the draft forces would balance again at the
eight inches. This principle is known as Draft control and was patented by
Harry Ferguson June 1926. The Ferguson design team worked on this principal
for quite some time using springs and levers and other mechanical ideas and
eventually Hydraulics was seen as the solution to this problem.
The Ferguson System of Implement Linkage and Hydraulic on
the TE Tractors utilizes the above basic principle in the application and
control of power to farm implements. The Ferguson System utilizes three points
of attachment, instead of one, to transmit the pulling force of the tractor
to the drawn implement. The implement is attached to the tractor by means
of two bottom links which PULL the implement, and a top link which PUSHES
FORWARD AND DOWNWARD ON THE TRACTOR ABOVE THE REAR AXLE. Thus the weight of
the implement and resistance of the soil to the implement plus the effect
of other forces adds traction-producing weight as needed. The forward thrust
through the top link also keeps front end of the tractor down even up steep
hills.
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The compression force exerted through a spring in the top
link also acts on the built-in hydraulic system to govern soil depth of the
implement automatically(draft control). Manual changes in depth are made by
the Finger Tip Control Lever within easy reach of the driver's seat.
The Ferguson system also has one very important safety feature
which no other Tractor not using the Ferguson system of control had at the
time. This is a safety relief control. If while plowing the implement was
to strike a solid object, ie large rock or tree root the hydraulic pressure
is released, the weight transfer to the rear wheels is immediately reduced
to such an extent that the weight of the tractor is actually supported by
the implement. Thus leaving the back wheels to harmlessly spin. This prevents
damage to implement and tractor and reducing the risk of rear roll over that
a lot of tractors at the time suffered from so badly.
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