Axle pipe assembly, drive axle and harvester

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of drive axles, and discloses an axle tube assembly, a drive axle and a harvester, and the axle tube assembly comprises at least two mounting brackets and an axle tube structure, the installation support comprises a gearbox support used for installing a gearbox, a rack connecting plate used for being connected with an upper vehicle of the harvester and a connecting flange used for installing a hub reduction gear. The at least two mounting brackets are welded with the axle tube structure through straight welding seams, the axle tube structure comprises a plurality of mounting plates, and a rectangular weight reduction space is defined by the plurality of mounting plates. Welding is carried out through the straight weld joints, the welding difficulty is reduced, the plate discharging efficiency, the welding efficiency and the welding quality can be improved, breakage caused by stress concentration can be avoided, the strength and stability of the bridge pipe structure are improved, and meanwhile the use of bridge pipe structure materials can be reduced while light weight is achieved through the rectangular weight reduction space. According to the overall scheme, on the premise that reliability is guaranteed, manufacturing economy and using efficiency are both considered, and the requirements of modern vehicle instruments for light weight and high durability are better met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of drive axle technology, specifically relating to a bridge tube assembly, a drive axle, and a harvester. Background Technology

[0002] Current wheeled agricultural harvester drive axles employ an external transmission assembly design, with the core component, the axle tube assembly, constructed from single or multiple sections of circular tubes welded together. To ensure structural strength, reinforcing plates are commonly used at axle tube joint, and the functional supports are connected to the arc-shaped axle tube surface via irregular welds. However, this staggered welding structure of multiple circular tube sections results in excessive height differences between axle tubes, necessitating the use of stacked plates and reinforcing plates to maintain support strength. Furthermore, the abrupt changes in cross-section at the joints of multiple axle tubes create dense, irregular welds, increasing welding complexity and causing stress concentration, thus weakening the overall structural strength. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of at least one of the above-mentioned defects or deficiencies in the prior art, this application provides a bridge tube assembly, a drive axle, and a harvester. The bridge tube assembly adopts a straight weld seam design, which improves welding efficiency and significantly optimizes the overall stress distribution level through a smooth transition drop design.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a bridge tube assembly, comprising:

[0005] At least two mounting brackets, including a gearbox bracket for mounting the gearbox, a frame connecting plate for connecting the upper part of the harvester, and a connecting flange for mounting the wheel-side reducer;

[0006] The bridge tube structure includes at least two mounting brackets welded to the bridge tube structure via straight weld seams. The bridge tube structure includes multiple mounting plates that form a rectangular weight-reduction space.

[0007] In some embodiments, the plurality of mounting plates include:

[0008] Upper wing panel;

[0009] The lower wing plate, the upper wing plate and the lower wing plate are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart along the Z direction;

[0010] The side plate is supported in a Z-direction between the upper wing plate and the lower wing plate. The upper wing plate, the lower wing plate and the side plate form at least two weight-reducing spaces. The upper wing plate, the lower wing plate and the side plate are all welded to the mounting bracket by straight welds.

[0011] In some embodiments, the upper wing, the lower wing, and the side plate are all integral curved plates.

[0012] In some embodiments, the side plate is welded between the upper wing plate and the lower wing plate by a straight weld seam.

[0013] In some embodiments, the upper wing, the lower wing, and the side plate are integrally formed.

[0014] In some embodiments, the upper wing and the lower wing extend along the Y direction, and the number of side plates is at least two, with at least two side plates spaced apart between the upper wing and the lower wing along the X direction.

[0015] In some embodiments, the bridge tube structure includes a central square tube and end square tubes welded to both ends of the central square tube, and both the central square tube and the end square tubes include a plurality of mounting plates.

[0016] In some embodiments, the gearbox bracket includes a first connecting bracket and at least two second connecting brackets, one end of each of the at least two second connecting brackets extending into the weight reduction space and connected to the mounting plate, and the other end of each of the at least two second connecting brackets being connected to the first connecting bracket, the first connecting bracket being used to connect the gearbox.

[0017] A second aspect of this application provides a drive axle, including a gearbox, a wheel-side reducer, and the axle tube assembly described in any one of the above.

[0018] A third aspect of this application provides a harvester that includes the bridge tube assembly described in any one of the above claims, or includes the drive axle described above.

[0019] Through the above technical solution, the bridge tube assembly provided by this utility model significantly improves overall performance through structural optimization and process improvement. The bridge tube assembly is connected to the gearbox, wheel-side reducer, and upper part of the harvester via at least two mounting brackets. Simultaneously, multiple mounting brackets and the bridge tube structure are welded together via straight welds. Compared to the arc weld process used for round tube welding, straight welds are simpler, reducing welding difficulty and avoiding the welding difficulties caused by complex welds. This improves the efficiency of sheet metal cutting, welding efficiency, and welding quality, avoids stress concentration leading to fracture, and enhances the strength and stability of the bridge tube structure. Furthermore, the rectangular weight reduction space, compared to traditional round tubes, achieves a significant weight reduction for the same cross-sectional modulus, reducing both weight and the amount of material used in the bridge tube structure. The overall solution, while ensuring reliability, balances manufacturing economy and operational efficiency, better meeting the demands of modern vehicles and machinery for lightweighting and high durability.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the embodiments of this application will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the embodiments of this application and form part of the specification. They are used together with the following detailed description to explain the embodiments of this application, but do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without any inventive effort. In the drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the bridge tube assembly in this utility model;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a side sectional view of the bridge tube assembly in this utility model;

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0025] 1 Mounting bracket 11 Gearbox bracket

[0026] 111 First connecting frame 112 Second connecting frame

[0027] 12 Frame connecting plate 13 Connecting flange

[0028] 2. Bridge tube structure 21. Mounting plate

[0029] 21a Upper wingplate 21b Lower wingplate

[0030] 21c Side panel 22 Weight reduction space Detailed Implementation

[0031] The specific embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit this application.

[0032] The present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and exemplary embodiments.

[0033] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this application provides a bridge tube assembly, including at least two mounting brackets 1 and a bridge tube structure 2. The at least two mounting brackets 1 include a gearbox bracket 11 for mounting a gearbox, a frame connecting plate 12 for connecting the upper part of the harvester, and a connecting flange 13 for mounting a wheel-side reducer. The at least two mounting brackets 1 are welded to the bridge tube structure 2 by straight weld seams. The bridge tube structure 2 includes multiple mounting plates 21, which form a rectangular weight-reduction space 22.

[0034] The bridge tube assembly is connected to the gearbox, wheel-side reducer, and upper part of the harvester via at least two mounting brackets 1. Simultaneously, multiple mounting brackets 1 and the bridge tube structure 2 are welded together via straight welds. Compared to the arc weld process used for round tube welding, straight welds are simpler, reducing welding difficulty and avoiding the challenges caused by complex welds. This improves material cutting efficiency, welding efficiency, and welding quality, prevents stress concentration leading to fracture, and enhances the strength and stability of the bridge tube structure 2. Furthermore, the rectangular weight-reduction space 22, compared to traditional round tubes, achieves a significant weight reduction for the same cross-sectional modulus, reducing both weight and the amount of material used in the bridge tube structure. The overall solution balances manufacturing economy and operational efficiency while ensuring reliability, better meeting the demands of modern vehicles and machinery for lightweighting and high durability.

[0035] In some embodiments, the plurality of mounting plates 21 include an upper wing plate 21a, a lower wing plate 21b, and a side plate 21c. The upper wing plate 21a and the lower wing plate 21b are arranged parallel to each other along the Z-direction. The side plate 21c is supported in the Z-direction between the upper wing plate 21a and the lower wing plate 21b. The upper wing plate 21a, the lower wing plate 21b, and the side plate 21c form at least two weight-reduction spaces 22. The upper wing plate 21a, the lower wing plate 21b, and the side plate 21c are all welded to the mounting bracket 1 by straight welds. The upper wing plate 21a and the lower wing plate 21b have the same structure. When only one side plate 21c is connected between the upper wing plate 21a and the lower wing plate 21b, the cross-section of the bridge tube structure 2 is "I" shaped. The two sides of the side plate 21c form two weight-reduction spaces 22 with the upper and lower wing plates, respectively. The weight-reduction spaces 22 can reduce the material used in the bridge tube structure 2, thereby achieving the lightweighting of the bridge tube structure 2.

[0036] In some embodiments, the upper flange 21a, lower flange 21b, and side plate 21c are all integrally bent plates. The bridge tube structure 2 has a bend that divides it in the Y-axis into connecting sections at both ends and a load-bearing section in the middle. The connecting sections at both ends and the load-bearing section in the middle have a height difference in the Z-axis. Since the upper and lower flanges of the bridge tube structure 2 are both integrally bent plates, the bends and height differences in the bridge tube structure 2 are smooth, significantly improving the stress level compared to welded circular tube structures. Furthermore, the height difference can be adjusted according to actual needs, effectively avoiding the difficulty in adjustment due to center distance limitations in welded circular tube structures.

[0037] In some embodiments, the side plate 21c is welded to the upper flange 21a and the lower flange 21b via a straight weld. The bridge tube structure 2 of this utility model is constructed by welding plates together. Compared with the traditional round pipe welding method, the weld seam of the round pipe welding structure is complex and difficult to weld with robots. The plate material can be cut into specific shapes according to design requirements, reducing waste of scrap materials. It is especially suitable for bridge tubes with irregular or complex cross-sections. Different parts can use plates of different thicknesses to avoid overall thickening and save material costs. By reasonably designing the weld seam position and plate thickness distribution, the self-weight can be reduced while ensuring strength, thereby reducing the overall load of the bridge. Modern welding technology (such as automated welding robots) can ensure weld consistency and reduce human error.

[0038] In some embodiments, the upper flange 21a, lower flange 21b, and side plate 21c are integrally formed. The bridge tube structure 2 can be integrally cast using a mold, which can significantly improve the overall structural integrity, reduce stress concentration caused by welds or splices, and has advantages such as high production efficiency, stable dimensional accuracy, high material utilization, and easy realization of complex shapes, thus meeting the requirements of high strength and lightweight. Alternatively, it can be formed by heating and bending a square tube, which can reduce the number of welds through integral forming and avoid the abrupt changes in cross-section and dense welding problems caused by traditional multi-segment splicing, thereby significantly reducing the risk of stress concentration. The integral continuous structure not only improves bending and torsional stiffness but also simplifies the manufacturing process, eliminating complex welding procedures and additional reinforcing parts, achieving lightweight while ensuring strength. In addition, the material uniformity and geometric consistency are higher, which helps to improve fatigue life and enhance the load-bearing stability against vibration and impact.

[0039] It should be noted that the upper wing plate 21a and the lower wing plate 21b extend along the Y direction (i.e., the length direction of the upper wing plate 21a and the lower wing plate 21b), and there are at least two side plates 21c. At least two side plates 21c are supported between the upper wing plate 21a and the lower wing plate 21b at intervals along the X direction (i.e., the width direction of the upper wing plate 21a and the lower wing plate 21b), and the Z direction is the vertical direction (i.e., the height direction of the side plates 21c).

[0040] In one embodiment, there is one side plate 21c, which is located midway between the upper wing plate 21a and the lower wing plate 21b along the X direction. Figure 1As shown, in another embodiment, two side plates 21c are spaced apart along the X direction between the upper wing plate 21a and the lower wing plate 21b. In other embodiments, when at least two side plates 21c are connected between the upper wing plate 21a and the lower wing plate 21b, the spacing between the multiple side plates 21c and the position of the side plates 21c can be adjusted according to the actual situation. The multiple side plates 21c and the two sides of the side plates 21c respectively form multiple weight-reduction spaces 22 between the upper and lower wing plates. The weight-reduction spaces 22 can reduce the use of material in the bridge tube structure 2, realizing the lightweighting of the bridge tube structure 2. At the same time, the multiple side plates 21c also increase the connection strength between the upper and lower wing plates and the strength of the bridge tube structure 2.

[0041] In some embodiments, the bridge tube structure 2 includes a central square tube and end square tubes welded to both ends of the central square tube, and both the central square tube and the end square tubes include multiple mounting plates 21. The split structure designed by combining the central square tube and the end square tubes welded to both ends strengthens the main load-bearing capacity of the central section, while the end square tubes are adapted to the installation requirements of different connecting components. The interior of the central square tube and the end square tubes is composed of multiple mounting plates 21 forming a closed box-shaped section, which not only forms a lightweight cavity, but also improves the overall bending and torsional stiffness through the synergistic effect between the plates; and allows for segmented manufacturing and precise welding, which reduces the number of irregular welds and ensures the quality of high-strength straight welds at key connection positions.

[0042] In some embodiments, the gearbox bracket 11 includes a first connecting bracket 111 and at least two second connecting brackets 112. One end of each of the at least two second connecting brackets 112 extends into the weight reduction space 22 and is connected to the mounting plate 21. The other end of each of the at least two second connecting brackets 112 is connected to the first connecting bracket 111, which is used to connect the gearbox. The second connecting brackets 112 are connected to the upper and lower wing plates and the side plate 21c, such that one end of each second connecting bracket 112 extends into the weight reduction space 22, and the other end of each second connecting bracket 112 is connected to the first connecting bracket 111. A reinforcing plate is also provided between the second connecting brackets 112 and the first connecting bracket 111 to increase the connection strength between them.

[0043] A second aspect of this application provides a drive axle, including a gearbox, a wheel-side reducer, and an axle tube assembly of any one of the above. The gearbox is connected to a first connecting frame 111; a frame connecting plate 12 is disposed at the connecting part of the axle tube structure 2 and has an upward-facing connecting surface for connecting to an external frame; the frame connecting plates 12 are connected to the axle tube structure 2 via triangular plates, and the two adjacent sides of the triangular plates are respectively connected to the side plate 21c and the frame connecting plate 12, forming a triangular reinforcing structure between the frame connecting plate 12 and the side plate 21c, increasing the connection strength; a connecting flange 13 is connected to both ends of the axle tube structure 2 and has connecting surfaces facing both sides of the axle tube structure 2 for connecting the wheel-side reducer.

[0044] A third aspect of this application provides a harvester that includes the bridge tube assembly of any of the above-described embodiments, or includes the drive axle described above. The bridge tube assembly or drive axle is connected to the upper part of the harvester via a frame connecting plate 12.

[0045] Through the above technical solutions, the bridge tube assembly provided by this utility model significantly improves overall performance through structural optimization and process improvement. The bridge tube structure 2 replaces the traditional multi-segment circular tube splicing structure, enhancing both bending and torsional stiffness. Furthermore, the integrated molding design reduces the number of welds, lowers the risk of stress concentration, and simplifies the welding process. The mounting bracket 1 connects to the bridge tube via a straight weld, improving assembly efficiency and positioning accuracy while eliminating redundant stacked reinforcement components, achieving a balance between lightweight and high strength. Simultaneously, the weight-reducing space 22 formed inside the bridge tube can integrate functional channels and mounting positions, enhancing structural practicality and maintenance convenience. The overall solution, while ensuring reliability, balances manufacturing economy and operational efficiency, better meeting the demands of modern vehicles and machinery for lightweight and high durability.

[0046] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0047] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between components; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0048] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0049] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A bridge pipe assembly, characterized by, include: At least two mounting brackets (1) include a gearbox bracket (11) for mounting the gearbox, a frame connecting plate (12) for connecting the upper part of the harvester, and a connecting flange (13) for mounting the wheel-side reducer; The bridge tube structure (2) is welded to at least two of the mounting brackets (1) by a straight weld seam. The bridge tube structure (2) includes multiple mounting plates (21) that form a rectangular weight-reduction space (22).

2. The bridge pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein, The plurality of mounting plates (21) include: Upper wing plate (21a); The lower wing plate (21b) and the upper wing plate (21a) and the lower wing plate (21b) are arranged parallel to each other along the Z direction; The side plate (21c) is supported in the Z direction between the upper wing plate (21a) and the lower wing plate (21b). The upper wing plate (21a), the lower wing plate (21b) and the side plate (21c) form at least two weight-reducing spaces (22). The upper wing plate (21a), the lower wing plate (21b) and the side plate (21c) are all welded to the mounting bracket (1) by straight weld seams.

3. The bridge tube assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The upper wing plate (21a), the lower wing plate (21b), and the side plate (21c) are all integral curved plates.

4. The bridge pipe assembly of claim 3, wherein, The side plate (21c) is welded between the upper wing plate (21a) and the lower wing plate (21b) by a straight weld.

5. The bridge pipe assembly of claim 3, wherein, The upper wing plate (21a), the lower wing plate (21b), and the side plate (21c) are integrally formed.

6. The bridge pipe assembly of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein, The upper wing plate (21a) and the lower wing plate (21b) extend along the Y direction, and there are at least two side plates (21c), which are spaced apart and supported between the upper wing plate (21a) and the lower wing plate (21b) along the X direction.

7. The bridge pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein, The bridge tube structure (2) includes a middle square tube and end square tubes welded to both ends of the middle square tube, and both the middle square tube and the end square tubes include multiple mounting plates (21).

8. The bridge pipe assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The gearbox bracket (11) includes a first connecting bracket (111) and at least two second connecting brackets (112). One end of each of the at least two second connecting brackets (112) extends into the weight reduction space (22) and is connected to the mounting plate (21). The other end of each of the at least two second connecting brackets (112) is connected to the first connecting bracket (111). The first connecting bracket (111) is used to connect the gearbox.

9. A drive axle characterized by It includes a gearbox, a wheel-side reducer, and a bridge assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A harvester characterized by It includes the bridge assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, or the drive axle as described in claim 9.

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