AGRICULTURAL WORK MACHINE

Description

[0001] The present application relates to an agricultural working machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The agricultural work machine, which may in particular be a tractor, comprises a front axle and a rear axle, each equipped with at least two wheels. The wheels may be conventional round wheels, with each axle typically interacting with two wheels. It is also conceivable for one or both of the axles to interact with the wheels of a chain drive, with each axle being able to interact with four wheels, for example, two wheels per side of the axle, with the mutually associated wheels belonging to one side interacting with a drive chain.

[0003] The work machine further comprises an internal combustion engine, by means of which an output power can be provided for operating the work machine. The internal combustion engine can in particular be formed by a diesel engine. The work machine further comprises at least one hybrid module, by means of which an output power can also be provided for operating the work machine. The internal combustion engine and the hybrid module work together, so that - for example, to drive the rear wheels - propulsion of the work machine can be achieved using combined output power from the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module. The same applies to other consumers of the work machine, such as a power take-off shaft, by means of which external work machines can be driven.Furthermore, power consumption from the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module for internal consumers such as generators, pumps, compressors, and the like is conceivable. The hybrid module can be formed, in particular, by an electric motor or a hydraulic motor. A design as an electric machine or hydraulic machine is also conceivable, which, in addition to a motor function, can also be used conversely as a generator.

[0004] The work machine further comprises a transmission device that is operatively connected to both the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module. The transmission device is configured to receive both the output power of the internal combustion engine and the output power of the hybrid module and to combine the output powers. The combined output power is then transmitted to the rear axle via the transmission device, so that the rear wheels of the work machine arranged on the rear axle can be driven.

[0005] The internal combustion engine of the work machine is arranged in a front region thereof, with preferably at least 50% of the internal combustion engine's own weight being transferred into the ground via the front wheels. Advantageously, the internal combustion engine is arranged beneath a hood located in the front region, with the internal combustion engine typically positioned directly above the front axle. Thus, it is common for at least 90%, preferably 100%, of the internal combustion engine's own weight to be transferred into the ground via the front wheels.

[0006] Work machines of the type described above are already known in the prior art. Reference is made, for example, to German Offenlegungsschrift DE 10 2018 218 078 A1. This describes a work machine equipped with both an internal combustion engine and a hybrid module designed as an electric motor. The internal combustion engine and the electric motor can be used together to drive a drive axle and the wheels of the work machine associated with the drive axle, thus propelling the work machine. For this purpose, the work machine has a transmission device by means of which the output power of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor can be summed and jointly delivered to the drive axle.

[0007] Another work machine with a hybrid module is known from EP 3 098 106 A1. A hybrid module for a non-generic passenger car is also known from DE 10 2011 102 265 A1.

[0008] In known work machines of the type described above, it has proven disadvantageous that the drivetrain, by means of which the respective drive power is transferred to the drive axle, must be designed for the sum of the output powers of the internal combustion engine and the respective hybrid module. This entails additional technical effort, whereby the drivetrain design must be based on a maximum system power, which in practice is only actually required in individual cases. The drivetrain design is therefore inefficient in the current state of the art.

[0009] The present application is therefore based on the object of providing a work machine whose drive train is designed more efficiently than the prior art.

[0010] The underlying object is achieved according to the invention by means of an agricultural working machine having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the associated subclaims.

[0011] The work machine according to the invention is characterized in that the hybrid module is arranged in a rear region of the work machine, wherein the output powers of the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module can be supplied separately to the transmission device via separate drive train sections. In particular, the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module can each be connected to the transmission device via their own output shafts or separate output shaft sections of a common main output shaft, wherein the transmission device has at least two inputs for corresponding output shafts or output shaft sections.

[0012] Preferably, the hybrid module is arranged near the rear axle of the work machine.

[0013] According to the invention, a center of gravity of the hybrid module is arranged within an imaginary cylinder space spanned by rear wheels designed as round wheels.

[0014] Preferably, at least 50% of the hybrid module's own weight is transferred into the ground via the rear wheels. Further preferably, at least 90%, preferably 100%, of the hybrid module's own weight is transferred into the ground via the rear wheels.

[0015] The work machine according to the invention has many advantages. In particular, it spatially equalizes the provision of maximum output power from the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module. Thus, only the internal combustion engine is arranged in the front region of the work machine, which is particularly advantageous from the point of view of mass distribution - especially with regard to any implements that can be attached to the work machine at a rear end. Thus, the internal combustion engine typically has a high mass, which counterbalances any trailer loads. The hybrid module, in contrast, is arranged on the rear axle and can therefore be located in spatial proximity to the rear axle itself, to which a significant portion of the output power of both the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module should be directed.Due to the arrangement of the hybrid module in the area of ​​the rear axle, advantageously directly on the rear axle or integrated into it, the drive train section extending from the front internal combustion engine to the rear axle can be dimensioned for a lower output power than in the prior art, namely only that of the internal combustion engine. The output power of the hybrid module is not applied to the drive train in the front area - as in the prior art - but only in the rear area of ​​the working machine. The distance over which the total output power, formed from the sum of the output powers of the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module, must be transmitted to the rear axle via the drive train is accordingly comparatively short.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment of the work machine according to the invention, the transmission device is spatially arranged between the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module. In such a configuration, the output power of the internal combustion engine is thus supplied to the transmission device "from the front," and the output power of the hybrid module is supplied "from the rear." Arranging the transmission device between the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module is particularly simple given the available installation space on the work machine.

[0017] As already indicated above, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the work machine according to the invention is one in which the hybrid module is integrated into the rear axle. Preferably, at least 90%, preferably 100%, of the weight of the hybrid module is transferred into the ground via the rear axle and thus the rear wheels of the work machine. Integrating the hybrid module into the rear axle has the particular advantage that the distance between the hybrid module and the rear axle is minimal, and furthermore, the distance between the hybrid module and additional consumers arranged at the rear end of the work machine is very short, so that at least part of the output power of the hybrid module only needs to be transferred over a short distance to the respective consumers.

[0018] Furthermore, a design of the work machine can be advantageous in which a flywheel damper, which interacts with an output shaft or an output shaft section of the internal combustion engine, is arranged in front of the transmission device in the direction of power flow, i.e., upstream of the transmission device. As already explained above, the output power of the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module is dissipated via separate output shafts or separate output shaft sections, with the output power being supplied separately, in particular, to the transmission device. To dampen load peaks, the internal combustion engine is assigned a flywheel damper—as is customary in the prior art—which interacts with the output shaft of the internal combustion engine.The advantage of locating the flywheel damper upstream of the transmission assembly is that the flywheel damper only needs to be dimensioned for the output power of the internal combustion engine, not for the total output power of the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module combined. This is particularly advantageous for dimensioning the flywheel damper, allowing the overall design of the working machine to be more efficient.

[0019] Since the output powers of the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module can be combined via the transmission, it is necessary that a drivetrain section located downstream of the transmission, by means of which the combined output power is transmitted from the transmission to the rear axle, is designed for the sum of the output powers of the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module. To maximize the efficiency advantage in the design of the work machine, it is accordingly advantageous if the transmission is spatially assigned to the rear axle, so that the spatial distance between the transmission and the rear axle—and thus the length of the fully loaded drivetrain section, by means of which the combined output powers must be transmitted—is as short as possible.Advantageously, the transmission device is assigned to the rear axle in such a way that at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, more preferably at least 85% of the transmission device's own weight is transferred into the ground via the rear wheels of the working machine.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the work machine according to the invention, output shafts and / or output shaft sections of the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module are arranged coaxially or at right angles to one another. Advantageously, the output shafts can be connected to one another in a torque-transmitting manner, for example by means of a clutch, and in this way form a common main output shaft. This embodiment has the particular advantage that an output power provided by the internal combustion engine can be passed on to the rear consumers of the work machine, with the main output shaft particularly preferably extending into the rear region of the work machine. In the preferred embodiment, the output shaft of the internal combustion engine is coupled to the output shaft of the hybrid module, with the aforementioned consumers being equally connected to the main output shaft.Depending on the setting, the loads can be operated either with the sole output power of the internal combustion engine, the sole output power of the hybrid module, or a combined output power of the internal combustion engine and the hybrid module. The main output shaft can interact with at least one load, preferably a plurality of loads, in the rear region of the work machine. Such loads can be, for example, a generator, in particular a high-voltage generator, a hydraulic pump, and / or a power take-off shaft.

[0021] Advantageously, the work machine has at least one generator located in its rear area, which can be designed, in particular, as a high-voltage generator. Such a generator is particularly well suited to supplying electrical power to a socket located in the rear area, with line costs and line losses being low due to the short distances between the generator and the socket. The same advantage applies to the supply of high-voltage attachments connected to the rear of the work machine. These can be supplied with electrical power particularly efficiently by means of the generator located in the rear area.

[0022] Finally, a configuration of the work machine according to the invention can be particularly advantageous in which a drive shaft of the internal combustion engine interacts with at least one consumer in the front region of the work machine. Here, too, it is conceivable for the output shaft to interact with a plurality of consumers. This can, for example, be a front-mounted power take-off shaft, by means of which external implements can be coupled to the work machine and thus supplied with output power. Furthermore, it is conceivable for at least one pump and / or at least one generator to be connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine in the front region of the work machine. Examples of implementation

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures. It shows: Fig. 1: A side view of a working machine according to the invention and Fig. 2: A schematic representation of a drive train of the working machine according to the invention according to Figure 1 .

[0024] An example of implementation that is shown in the Figures 1 and 2 shown, a working machine according to the invention comprises 1, which here is formed by a tractor. The working machine 1 includes a front axle 2 and a rear axle 3, where on the front axle 2 two front wheels designed as round wheels 7 and on a rear axle 3 two rear wheels designed as round wheels 8 are arranged. In a front area 9 the working machine 1 the working machine 1 a hood 20 below which an internal combustion engine 4 located in Figure 1is illustrated by a dashed line. The internal combustion engine 4 is formed here by a diesel engine. The internal combustion engine 4 is such the front axle 2 assigned that the dead weight of the internal combustion engine 4 completely over the front axle 2 and the front wheels 7 into an underground 30 is derived.

[0025] The working machine 2 In addition to the internal combustion engine 4 also a hybrid module 5, which is formed here by an electric motor. The hybrid module 5 According to the invention, the rear axle 3 assigned, with the center of gravity of the hybrid module 5 in an imaginary, from the rear wheels 8 In the example shown, the hybrid module is 5 into the rear axle 3integrated, so that 100% of the weight of the hybrid module 5 over the rear wheels 8 underground 30 The hybrid module 5 is therefore a rear area 10 the working machine 2 assigned.

[0026] The internal combustion engine 4 acts with an output shaft assigned to it 12 together, by means of which an output power of the working machine 4 to downstream consumers. In the example shown, the output shaft extends 12 starting from the internal combustion engine 4 both towards a front end of the working machine 2 as well as towards a rear end. In this way, the combustion engine can 4 both front-side consumers 18 as well as rear consumers 15be supplied with the appropriate power. At the front end, the working machine 1 for example a power take-off shaft 19 which is connected by means of a coupling 25 with the output shaft 12 can be coupled if required. Furthermore, the output shaft is 12 in active connection with other consumers 18, which here, for example, are formed by a compressor, a fan and a generator. On the output shaft 12 the internal combustion engine 4 is also a brake 21 arranged, by means of which a braking torque is applied to the output shaft 12 Furthermore, the drive shaft 12 with a flywheel damper 11 This is, viewed in the direction of power flow, on this side of a transmission device 6 arranged, which is connected to the output shaft 12 The output shaft 12is the transmission device 6 from the front area 9 the working machine 1 from, whereby the transmission device 6 has a corresponding input.

[0027] The hybrid module 5 also acts with an output shaft 13 together, which extends both towards the front area 9 as well as a rear end of the working machine 1 The transmission device 6 In the example shown, it is directly connected to the rear axle 3 connected, with the output shaft 13 of the hybrid module 5 only a short distance from the hybrid module 5 to the transmission device 6 The output shaft 12 the internal combustion engine 4 however, runs from the front area 9 from to the rear area 10assigned transmission device 6 through. The transmission device 6 is such that the rear axle 3 assigned that at least 75% of their own weight is distributed over the rear axle 3 and therefore the rear wheels 8 underground 30 is derived. Starting from the output shafts 12, 13 Output power of the internal combustion engine 4 and the hybrid module 5 by means of a branch 22 branched off and in this way the transmission device 6 This acts in the area of ​​the rear axle 3 with a differential gear 29 together, by means of which the output power is transferred to the two rear wheels 8 Furthermore, the transmission device 6 another junction 31 downstream, by means of which part of the output power is transferred via a clutch 27 the front axle2 The front axle 2 is equipped with a differential gear 28 equipped, so that here too the power is distributed to the two front wheels 7 can be made.

[0028] Since the internal combustion engine 4 and the hybrid module 5 separately from each other by means of assigned output shafts 12, 13 their respective output powers of the transmission device 6 the output shafts must 12, 13 not for a sum of the output power of the internal combustion engine 4 and the hybrid module 5 This particularly applies to the flywheel damper 11, which only uses the output power of the combustion engine 4 is applied.

[0029] In the rear area 10 the working machine 1 are other consumers 15arranged, which by means of the internal combustion engine 4 and the hybrid module 5 The consumers are supplied by two hydraulic pumps 16 and a PTO shaft 17 To connect these consumers 15 to the internal combustion engine 4 and the hybrid module 5 the output shaft extends 13 of the hybrid module 12 starting from the hybrid module 5 to a rear end of the working machine 1. There the output shaft acts 13 with a pump distributor gearbox 24 together, by means of which a drive shaft 13 output power to the two hydraulic pumps 16 Beyond the pump distribution gear 24 is also a clutch 26 arranged, by means of which the output shaft 13 indirectly with the PTO 17In the example shown, a reduction gear 23 interposed.

[0030] In a particularly advantageous manner, the output shafts 12, 13 the internal combustion engine 4 and the hybrid module 5 arranged coaxially or at right angles to each other and connected to each other. In this way, the output shafts 12, 13 Output shaft sections of a main output shaft 14, by means of which the output power of the working machine 4 and the hybrid module 5 can be combined with each other. In this way, it is possible to increase the output power of the combustion engine 4 starting from the front area 9 the working machine 1 to the rear area 10 and the consumers there 15 the working machine 1 so that consumers 15at least partly by means of the output power of the internal combustion engine 4 In principle, it is conceivable that the front area 9 to the rear area 10 main output shaft 14 at least temporarily exclusively the output power of the combustion engine 4 and consumers 15 accordingly exclusively from the internal combustion engine 4 It is also conceivable that consumers 15 at least temporarily exclusively by means of the hybrid module, 5 be driven. List of reference symbols

[0031] 1Working machine 2Front axle 3Rear axle 4Internal combustion engine 5Hybrid module 6Transmission device 7Front wheel 8Rear wheel 9Front section 10Rear section 11Flywheel damper 12Output shaft 13Output shaft 14Main output shaft 15Consumer 16Hydraulic pump 17Power take-off shaft 18Consumer 19Power take-off shaft 20Engine hood 21Brake 22Branch 23Reduction gear 24Pump transfer case 25Clutch 26Clutch 27Clutch 28Differential gear 29Differential gear 30Ground 31Branch

Claims

1. An agricultural working machine (1), in particular in the form of a tractor, comprising: - a front axle (2) and a rear axle (3); - an internal combustion engine (4); - at least one hybrid module (5), as well as - a transmission device (6), wherein the internal combustion engine (4) and the hybrid module (5) are respectively in operational connection with the transmission device (6), wherein both a power output from the internal combustion engine (4) as well as a power output from the hybrid module (5) can be taken up and the combined power outputs can be transmitted to the rear axle (3) by means of the transmission device (6) so that rear wheels (8) of the working machine (1) disposed on the rear axle (3) can be driven, wherein the internal combustion engine (4) is disposed in a front region (9) of the agricultural working machine (1), characterized in that the hybrid module (5) is disposed in a rear region (10) of the working machine (1), wherein the power outputs from the internal combustion engine (4) and from the hybrid module (5) can be supplied separately to the transmission device (6), wherein the hybrid module (5) is spatially disposed between the rear wheels (8), wherein a centre of gravity of the hybrid module (5) is located in an imaginary cylindrical space spanning the rear wheels (8) which are constructed as round wheels.

2. The working machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hybrid module (5) is positioned close to the rear axle (3).

3. The working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hybrid module (5) is integrated into the rear axle (3).

4. The working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission device (6) is spatially disposed between the internal combustion engine (4) and the hybrid module (5).

5. The working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hybrid module (5) comprises an electric motor and / or a hydrostatic motor and / or an electric machine and / or a hydrostatic machine.

6. The working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a flywheel damper (11), which cooperates with a take-off shaft (12) of the internal combustion engine (4), is disposed - viewed from the internal combustion engine (4) - in front of the transmission device (6).

7. The working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission device (6) is spatially associated with the rear axle (3), preferably spatially disposed between the rear wheels (8).

8. The working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that take-off shafts (12, 13) of the internal combustion engine (4) and of the hybrid module (5) are disposed coaxially or at a right angle to each other, wherein preferably, the take-off shafts (12, 13) are connected to each other in a manner such as to transmit torque and together form a main take-off shaft (14).

9. The working machine (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the main take-off shaft (14) passes from the internal combustion engine (4) through into the rear region (10) of the working machine (1).

10. The working machine (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that in the rear region (10), the main take-off shaft (14) cooperates with at least one consumer (15), preferably with a plurality of consumers (15), in particular at least one hydraulic pump (16) and / or at least one power take-off shaft (17).

11. The working machine (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the hybrid module (5) - viewed from the internal combustion engine (4) - is connected to the main take-off shaft (14) on this side of at least one consumer (15) so that if necessary, the consumer (15) can be supplied with a combined output from the internal combustion engine (4) and from the hybrid module (5).

12. The working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a take-off shaft (12) of the internal combustion engine (4) cooperates with at least one consumer (18) in the front region (9) of the working machine (1), preferably with a plurality of consumers (18), in particular with at least one power take-off shaft (19).

13. The working machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one electrical generator, preferably a high voltage generator, which is disposed in the rear region (10) of the working machine (1), preferably close to the rear axle (3), more preferably spatially between the rear wheels (8).