ELECTRIC AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR

Abstract

ELECTRIC AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR The invention relates to an electric agricultural tractor (1) comprising a front axle (10) and a rear axle (20), a chassis (30) connected to said axles, at least one power auxiliary (40,42), means for electrically driving the axles and the power auxiliary, said means being powered by an electric power supply battery (60), said tractor comprising electric drive means comprising independent electric motorizations (2a, 2b, 2c) respectively of the front axle (10), the rear axle (20) and at least one power auxiliary (40,42); a chassis (30) comprising a hollow body (31), said chassis (30) extending in a longitudinal direction; an electric power supply battery (60) extending in the hollow body of said chassis, the hollow body (31) defining a mechanical enclosure of said battery. Figure for the summary: Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRIC AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an electric agricultural tractor. More particularly, the invention relates to a fully electric agricultural tractor whose energy needs are met by an electric power supply battery. Technological background

[0002] In an agricultural context where fieldwork has been greatly facilitated by the development of agricultural machinery, the use of thermal agricultural tractors, widely favored by farmers, will now have to face the challenge of the ecological transition.

[0003] More environmentally friendly approaches tend to move away from the use of fossil fuels as the sole source of fuel; indeed, more and more agricultural machinery is being found with hybrid technology combining fossil fuels and electric power.

[0004] Most of these machines use a chassis with a classic load-bearing structure incorporating the triad "internal combustion engine - transmission shaft - gearbox" which has proven itself for more than a century.

[0005] Some agricultural concepts have been developed around fully electric operation. The vehicle is then powered by a battery attached to the tractor or by an additional structure installed on it. The internal combustion engine is thus replaced by an electric motor and a battery, but these concepts retain the conventional transmission architecture, which does not allow for the integration of a sufficient battery capacity. Furthermore, the use of a traditional agricultural gearbox, designed for the operating speed of a diesel engine with numerous ranges and ratios, does not allow for the exploitation of the wide operating range of the electric motor compared to a diesel engine, the latter having a much narrower operating range.

[0006] The energy demand of a fully electric agricultural tractor remains a limiting factor and the batteries offered do not allow them to compete with internal combustion tractors.

[0007] Most of the proposed electrification systems include additional structures added to the conventional architecture of a tractor. These structures have the disadvantage of increasing the vehicle's weight, but they can also complicate the arrangement of the tractor's mechanical or hydraulic components.

[0008] Electrification of agricultural tractors does not allow for a significant break with the traditional frame of thermal tractors while allowing the arrangement of a battery offering the best compromise between operating autonomy and tractor size.

[0009] An electric agricultural machine must be able to accommodate a large-capacity, large-volume battery to achieve satisfactory operating range. However, adjustments in terms of weight and equipment are necessary to compensate for the installation of this large battery, as the conventional layout of the tractor's components does not allow for optimizing the space required for a large battery. Furthermore, the agricultural tractor must comply with specific and strict regulatory constraints that prevent the chassis from being extended at will, in addition to constraints related to maneuverability and vehicle height. Therefore, the large-volume battery configuration must not compromise the compactness of the agricultural vehicle.

[0010] Prior art document CN113752814 is known, describing a fully electric tractor with a battery mounted on the chassis and occupying the central space of the vehicle. However, this document describes a battery arranged and fixed on a support above the chassis, which has the disadvantage of increasing the vehicle's weight.

[0011] In addition, the previous solutions in most cases retain the transmission shafts between the gearbox, the power take-off (PTO), the front axle, the rear axle and the gearbox housings which are load-bearing and bulky elements of the central space of the tractor.

[0012] There is therefore a need to provide a fully electric agricultural tractor capable of overcoming the previous problems. Objectives of the invention

[0013] The invention aims to provide an electric agricultural tractor with an architecture optimized for the integration of a high-capacity battery.

[0014] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, an electric agricultural tractor that can compete with a thermal agricultural tractor.

[0015] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, an electric agricultural tractor with a structure allowing simplified mounting of a long-range electric battery.

[0016] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, a compact electric agricultural tractor, breaking free from the classic architecture of thermal tractors while being able to withstand the mechanical constraints inherent in its use.

[0017] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, an electric agricultural tractor offering a better compromise between size and battery autonomy.

[0018] The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, an electric agricultural tractor with improved energy efficiency. Description of the invention

[0019] Throughout the following description of the invention, the terms "tractor" and "agricultural tractor" shall be interpreted equivalently and all refer, unless explicitly stated otherwise, to an agricultural work machine intended primarily for transport and traction, as well as for soil work.

[0020] One object of the present invention is to address the drawbacks of the prior art; to this end, the invention relates to an electric agricultural tractor comprising a front axle and a rear axle, a chassis mechanically connected to said axles, at least one power auxiliary, means for electrically driving the axles and the power auxiliary, said means being powered by an electric supply battery.

[0021] The tractor according to the invention also has the following technical characteristics:

[0022] - said electrical drive means include motors independent electric systems respectively from the front axle, the rear axle and at least one power auxiliary;

[0023] - said chassis comprises a hollow body defining a space having walls transverse, at least one of which is perforated, said frame extending in a longitudinal direction;

[0024] - said power supply battery extending within the hollow body of said chassis and fills the space defined by the hollow body, the hollow body further defining a mechanical envelope of said battery so that the mechanical stresses applied to the tractor are partly supported by the battery of the electric tractor.

[0025] The inventors have thus developed an electric agricultural tractor that frees itself from the bulk inherent in the presence of the elements of the classic frame of a tractor in order to free up a central space available for the arrangement of a large volume electric battery.

[0026] Known electric tractors do not offer a structural battery capable of absorbing the stresses exerted on the tractor. The tractor according to the invention allows the integration of a structural battery that is an integral part of the chassis and offers a better compromise between the tractor's size and its operating range.

[0027] For the purposes of this invention, an electric agricultural tractor is defined as an agricultural tractor powered by one or more electric drive means comprising electric motors. These means are powered by at least one electric power supply battery.

[0028] The electric drive means comprise both the tractor's powertrain and the motors associated with the various tractor attachments. The tractor according to the invention thus comprises a decoupled electric motor.

[0029] For the purposes of this invention, decoupling of electric motors means the presence of several electric motors that can be used to drive the axles and / or the various equipment and tools of the tractor. According to the invention, the motorization is thus multiple and can be separated within the vehicle.

[0030] For the purposes of the invention, it should be defined that the terms "hollow body" and "main hollow body" should be interpreted in the same way and define the main part of the chassis.

[0031] According to the invention, the front and rear axles of the tractor comprise independent and respective electric motors. The motors of said axles are thus located as close as possible to the wheels. Each axle can therefore comprise a motor assigned to each of the wheels.

[0032] In a preferred configuration, the tractor may have four drive wheels powered by four separate electric motors. Thus, the motor torque is transmitted to each wheel, eliminating the need for a mechanical differential to distribute torque between the wheels of the same axle.

[0033] The tractor according to the invention also includes an independent and separate electric motor for a power auxiliary. The term "power auxiliary" can be defined as mechanical or hydraulic systems capable of transmitting torque from a motor to various components or implements equipping the tractor. According to the invention, an independent and separate motor is a motor assigned to a specific function of a motorizable component of the tractor.

[0034] Thus, independent motorization of at least one power auxiliary means a motorization assigned to at least one power auxiliary, said motorization being capable of transmitting the torque of the motor to one or more power auxiliaries.

[0035] In this respect, power auxiliaries may include in particular power take-offs known under the English name "Power Take-Off" (PTO), hydraulic pumps or hydraulic units used for internal tractor functions such as steering, braking, lubrication, but also units used for external functions such as lifting loads and tools, and power transmission to tools.

[0036] Advantageously, and according to the invention, decoupling the motors eliminates the transmission kinematics, and the electric motors limit torque losses, thus increasing energy efficiency while freeing up space for the installation of a large battery.

[0037] The tractor also includes a longitudinally extending chassis, said chassis being mechanically connected to the front and rear axles. For the purposes of this invention, the terms "front" and "rear" are understood to be terms of location opposite each other with respect to the direction of the chassis.

[0038] According to the invention, the chassis comprises a main hollow body extending longitudinally along all or part of its length. This hollow body also has walls, at least one of which is perforated, these walls delimiting an internal space within the chassis capable of housing a battery for powering the tractor. The tractor chassis according to the invention may also comprise other structures mechanically connected to the hollow body of said chassis; these structures may, in particular, serve as additional reinforcement or extensions for connecting the axles to the chassis.

[0039] For the purposes of the invention, the term "perforated wall" should be defined as opposed to a solid wall.

[0040] Advantageously, the use of at least one perforated wall makes it possible to reduce the weight of the chassis while allowing the passage of the vehicle's wiring.

[0041] Preferably, the hollow body comprises at least two walls, said walls being arranged transversely opposite each other with respect to the longitudinal direction of the chassis.

[0042] For the purposes of this invention, the internal space of the chassis is understood to be a space enclosed and delimited by all the structural elements of the chassis forming the hollow body. The structural elements of the chassis are elements comprising materials with high inertia, capable of constituting the structure of the hollow body, such as angle brackets, longitudinal members, profiled posts, or cross members. The materials are those known to those skilled in the art and may, for example, be chosen from metals, alloys, carbon, or mixtures thereof.

[0043] The assembly and connection of the various structural elements of the chassis can be carried out according to techniques known to those skilled in the art, in particular by mechanical welding or any other suitable means of fixing or connection.

[0044] The tractor according to the invention also includes an electric power supply battery. By electric power supply battery is meant a lithium-ion type accumulator battery or a battery comprising any other cell chemistry having a mass and volume energy density sufficient to achieve the energy objectives of the tractor, between 200 kWh and 1000 kWh.

[0045] According to the invention, the battery is arranged and fixed within the hollow body of the chassis so as to extend along the direction of said hollow body and to occupy all or part of the internal space defined by the latter. The power supply battery thus The arrangement allows the internal space defined by the walls of the hollow chassis to be filled. By filling the internal space, we mean an occupation of the internal space or volume of the hollow chassis by the battery greater than or equal to 80% of said internal space, in which at least a portion of the battery is in direct or indirect contact with the hollow chassis.

[0046] Advantageously, the hollow body forms a mechanical enclosure for the battery so that the mechanical stresses applied to the electric tractor are partly supported by the battery, said battery thus becoming an integral part of the chassis and contributing to strengthening the chassis structure and supporting the forces transmitted by the axles or by the use of the tools equipping the tractor.

[0047] For the purposes of this invention, the mechanical constraints applied to the tractor correspond to all the forces exerted on the tractor and in particular by the combination of the chassis and the structural battery when said tractor is at rest or in operation, in particular during movement or during the execution of a task.

[0048] By mechanical envelope, we mean in the sense of the invention an external structure formed by structural elements of high inertia, said structure forming a hollow body.

[0049] The electric agricultural tractor according to the invention therefore has the particularity of having a design allowing the installation of a large structural battery, this design allows, with the decoupling of the electric drive means, the optimization of the space available for the arrangement of said structural battery in the chassis to benefit from a larger volume electrical supply battery offering greater autonomy.

[0050] In addition, the electric agricultural tractor according to the invention has a novel arrangement where the power supply battery helps to reinforce the chassis.

[0051] Advantageously and according to the invention, the hollow body further comprises a lower wall defining a base and an upper wall defining a ceiling, said base and ceiling extending parallel to each other and being respectively formed by longitudinal angles connected by cross members.

[0052] The base and the ceiling can be considered as walls and are each formed by a pair of longitudinal angles connected transversely by cross members, each pair of angles in the hollow body being spaced apart and arranged parallel to each other. Preferably, the hollow body comprises at least four longitudinal angles, with a ceiling and a base comprising two angles each.

[0053] Thus, and according to this advantageous variant, the angle bracket wings make it possible to secure the battery and preserve the integrity of the battery modules at the edges of the battery pack.

[0054] Advantageously and according to the invention, the hollow body is parallelepiped in shape and said longitudinal angles have ends integral with the transverse walls.

[0055] Thus and according to this advantageous variant, the hollow body of the chassis forms a mechanical envelope of the battery offering a distribution of the mechanical stresses supported by the battery in all directions.

[0056] Advantageously and according to the invention, the chassis further comprises side platforms attached to the base.

[0057] The side trays thus represent another part of the chassis with reference to the hollow body. According to this embodiment, the chassis thus comprises the hollow body and the side trays.

[0058] Thus and according to this advantageous variant, the tractor according to the invention makes it possible to exploit the maximum available central space of the vehicle for the arrangement of a large volume and higher capacity battery.

[0059] Advantageously and according to the invention, the base of the hollow body

[0060] and the side platforms further comprise a floor having profiled crossbeams on which said battery is mounted.

[0061] Preferably, the floor may comprise insulating materials. The insulating materials that may be used may be chosen from materials with high thermal resistance, waterproof materials, and / or any other material known to those skilled in the art. The insulating materials may be arranged on all the walls and structures surrounding the battery in order to maintain it at an ideal operating temperature and to provide greater autonomy.

[0062] Thus and according to this advantageous variant, this arrangement makes it possible to transfer the rigidity of the structure to the battery and to better transmit the stresses applied to the tractor.

[0063] Advantageously, and according to the invention, the power supply battery extends further onto the side shelves, said battery being a single unit. According to this embodiment, the battery can extend over all or part of the respective surfaces of the side shelves. When the battery is arranged in this way, a lateral overhang can also be provided in the battery structure so that the latter can adopt the shape of the base angles. It can also be provided that a portion of the base angle can be adapted to the shape of the battery so as not to obstruct it. Furthermore, each of the side blocks can extend over all or part of the surface of a side shelf.

[0064] Thus and according to this advantageous variant, the intrinsic weight of the battery is better distributed over the central space of the tractor and makes it possible to balance it.

[0065] Advantageously and according to the invention, the battery further extends onto the side plates, said battery being formed by a plurality of blocks, including at least one central block extending into the hollow body and two lateral blocks arranged on the side plates.

[0066] Preferably, the battery is formed of three blocks, including a central block extending into the hollow body and two lateral blocks arranged on the lateral platforms of said chassis, said lateral blocks being connected to the central block.

[0067] Thus and according to this advantageous variant, the modular integration of the battery blocks makes it possible to simplify the mounting of the latter in the chassis while offering a larger volume battery.

[0068] Advantageously and according to the invention, each side platform comprises vertical posts arranged laterally against the hollow body of the frame, said posts comprising respectively two ends, with a first end, called the lower end, connected to an angle bracket of the base of the frame, and a second end, called the upper end, connected to an angle bracket of the ceiling of the frame.

[0069] Preferably, the vertical posts are profiled and have a height at least equivalent to the height of the hollow body.

[0070] Thus and according to this advantageous variant, the electric agricultural tractor of the invention benefits from a structural battery whose integrity is preserved by the arrangement of the different structural elements.

[0071] Advantageously and according to the invention, the vertical posts further comprise a strut supported on at least a portion of the surface of a lateral platform.

[0072] Thus and according to this advantageous variant, the tractor chassis makes it possible to better support the arrangement of a large volume electric battery having a considerable weight.

[0073] Advantageously and according to the invention the frame comprises removable mechanical links connecting the upper end of a vertical post with an angle bracket of the ceiling of said frame.

[0074] Thus and according to this advantageous variant, the chassis structure can be mounted in two parts to facilitate the arrangement of the structural battery.

[0075] Advantageously and according to the invention, the tractor includes steering axles.

[0076] Thus, according to this advantageous variant, the tractor benefits from a constant chassis width along the hollow body. Furthermore, such a steering system minimizes the steering angle of the wheels, thereby optimizing the available space on the side platforms. The steering axles also reduce steering effort when turning the tractor.

[0077] The electric agricultural tractor according to the invention may also include sheet metal These end plates can cover the chassis to improve its rigidity. They can also contribute to battery insulation by incorporating insulating elements.

[0078] According to the invention, it is also possible to provide a range extender for said battery. Indeed, during work requiring high energy consumption, the tractor is ballasted on the front linkage to increase traction efficiency. The range extender can thus be arranged in place of the ballast to further increase the vehicle's range. The range extender can therefore include a battery module.

[0079] Furthermore, with the range extender, the invention makes it possible, while remaining within the average wheelbase, turning radius and height of known vehicles, to reach and exceed an on-board energy stored in the battery corresponding to the criterion C>5P, with C corresponding to the on-board energy expressed in kWh, P corresponding to the nominal motor power expressed in kW.

[0080] According to the invention, the agricultural tractor may also include a charging system enabling it to operate in regenerative mode.

[0081] The set of characteristics of the electric agricultural tractor according to the invention makes it possible to propose a tractor comprising a central space optimized for the arrangement of a large capacity electric battery capable of meeting the functional energy needs of an agricultural tractor during a working day.

[0082] With integrated electrification and a structural battery forming an integral part of the chassis, the fully electric agricultural tractor of the invention breaks free from the classic framework of known tractors, notably by eliminating a load-bearing gearbox normally located under the cab and reducing the space and weight dedicated to conventional mechanical transmission elements.

[0083] The invention also relates to an electric agricultural tractor characterized in combination by all or part of the features mentioned above or below. List of figures

[0084] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example only, and which refers to the accompanying figures in which: • [Fig.1] is a schematic view representing the lower part of the chassis comprising the hollow body and side trays according to one embodiment of the invention. • [Fig.2] is a schematic view representing a battery arrangement electrical power supply in the tractor according to an embodiment of the invention. • [Fig.3] corresponds to a schematic view representing a cross-section of the mechanical casing of the battery according to an embodiment of the invention. • [Fig.4] is a simplified schematic view of the tractor according to a mode of implementation of the invention.

[0085] Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[0086] In the figures, the scales and proportions are not strictly respected for the purposes of illustration and clarity.

[0087] Identical, similar or analogous elements are designated by the same references in all figures.

[0088] In all the detailed description that follows with reference to the figures, unless otherwise indicated, each element of the electric agricultural tractor is described as it is arranged in said tractor.

[0089] The tractor 1 comprises a front axle 10, a rear axle 20, a chassis 30 mechanically connected to axles 10 and 20, a power auxiliary 40, 42, and means for electrically driving axles 10 and 20 and at least one power auxiliary 40, 42, said means being powered by an electrical supply battery 60. More specifically, the tractor 1 comprises electrically driven means corresponding to independent electric motors 2a, 2b, and 2c. The electric motors 2a, 2b, and 2c can be respectively assigned to the front axle 10, the rear axle 20, and a power auxiliary 40, 42.

[0090] The tractor according to the invention comprises a chassis 30 extending along a longitudinal direction. Said chassis 30 includes a hollow body 31 having perforated walls 32a and 32b arranged transversely opposite each other with respect to the longitudinal direction of the chassis, said direction being analogous to that of the hollow body 31. The hollow body 31 and the walls 32a and 32b define an internal space 33 intended to house an electrical power supply battery 60. In addition, the chassis 30 may include other structural elements attached to and connected to the hollow body 31, such as side plates 34a and 34b, or extensions for connecting the axles 10 and 20 of the tractor 1.

[0091] The power supply battery 60 is a structural battery housed within the hollow body 31 and which occupies and fills the entire space 33 defined by it. Furthermore, the hollow body 31 comprises a lower wall defining a base 31a and an upper wall defining a ceiling 31b. The base 31a and the ceiling 31b are arranged parallel to each other and opposite each other, each of the walls forming said base 31a and said ceiling 31b being respectively situated on two parallel planes extending longitudinally in the direction of the hollow body 31. Said hollow body 31 thus comprises a base 31a, a ceiling 31b, and transverse walls 32a and 32b which, arranged together, define an internal space 33 intended to house a 60V power supply battery.

[0092] This particular arrangement of the battery 60 thus allows said battery to absorb at least part of the mechanical stresses coming from the axles 10 and 20 and transmitted to the battery by the chassis 30. In other words, the battery is structural and forms part of the chassis. The battery not only has a larger volume and a greater capacity thanks to the space freed up, but also contributes to the structural rigidity of the chassis 30 of the tractor 1 of the invention.

[0093] Figure 1 illustrates a lower portion of the chassis 30 of the tractor 1 according to an embodiment of the invention in which the hollow body is parallelepiped in shape. In this figure, the base 31a of the hollow body 31 is formed by a pair of lower longitudinal angle brackets 35a. The base 31a may also include cross members 36a connecting the angle brackets 35a transversely. Each end of the longitudinal angle brackets 35a is respectively connected to a lower portion of the transverse walls 32a and 32b, said walls 32a and 32b being arranged transversely and orthogonally to the lower longitudinal angle brackets 35a. In this figure, the chassis 30 also includes side plates 34a and 34b extending transversely with respect to the direction of the hollow body 31.The side plates 34a and 34b are arranged laterally to the base 31a and respectively integral with a lower longitudinal angle 35 forming the base 31a of the hollow body 31. .

[0094] In this embodiment, each of the platforms 34a and 34b comprises vertical posts 37 connected laterally to the angle brackets 35a of the hollow body 31. Furthermore, each of the vertical posts 37 is profiled and supported against the hollow body 31 by means of struts 39, said struts being connected on one side to a portion of a post 37 and, on the other side, to a portion of the surface of a lateral platform 34a or 34b. Each post 37 comprises a lower end 37a and an upper end 37b. The posts 37 further include openings 38 arranged on their upper end 37b, said openings 38 are placed inside the profile of each of the posts 37, thus being able to receive removable connecting means for connecting a ceiling 31b of the hollow body 31 as shown in [Fig.2]

[0095] Fig. 2 illustrates the arrangement of a power supply battery 60 of the tractor 1 according to one embodiment.

[0096] In the embodiment shown, the battery 60 is a monobloc battery filling the internal space 33 of the parallelepiped-shaped hollow body 31. The hollow body 31 includes a ceiling 31b formed by upper longitudinal angles 35b. Said ceiling 31b is arranged opposite the base 31a of the hollow body 31. In order to further increase the rigidity of the structure, the angles 35b are connected transversely by crossbeams 36. In this figure, the battery 60 also extends over a portion of the respective surface of the side platforms 34a and 34b. Furthermore, when the battery 60 does not extend over the entire surface of a side platform 34, a lateral space can be provided for the arrangement of related elements or additional accessories of the tractor 1. The monobloc battery 60 as shown in [Fig. 2] includes spans 61 allowing it to span a portion of the longitudinal angles 35a of the base 31a. In the embodiment shown in this figure, the volume of the battery 60 has a height substantially equal to the height of the hollow body 31 and the posts 37 of the side platforms 34a and 34b. The posts 37 respectively comprise a lower part 37a connected to an angle 35a and an upper end 37b connected to an angle 35b.

[0097] In this figure, the hollow body 31 and the side platforms 34a and 34b comprise a floor 70. The floor 70 includes profiled crossbeams 71 on which the battery 60 is fixed. The base 31a is thus entirely covered by the floor 70, and the lower surface of the battery 60 rests on the profiled crossbeams 71 of the floor 70. In other words, the floor 70 and the profiled crossbeams 71 extend under the entire surface occupied by the power supply battery 60, except at the spans 61.

[0098] Figure 3 schematically illustrates the structural arrangement of the hollow body 31 of the frame 30 according to one embodiment. This figure represents a cross-section of the hollow body 31 without the walls 32a and 32b.

[0099] In this figure, the battery 60 substantially fills the entire internal space 33 of the hollow body 31 and is embedded in each of the angle brackets 35a and 35b of the base 31a and the ceiling 31b. In this embodiment, cross members 36a and 36b respectively connect the pairs of angle brackets 35a and 35b. The posts 37 connect the angle brackets 35a and 35b laterally. For the sake of simplicity, the side plates 34a and 34b and the struts 39 have not been shown.

[0100] Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the tractor 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the chassis 30 comprises the hollow body 31, the side platforms 34a and 34b, and also an extension 30b to which the front axle 10 is mechanically connected. The extension 30b is connected to the hollow body 31 via the transverse wall 32b and extends longitudinally in the direction of said hollow body 31. In addition, an extension similar to the extension 30b can also be used to mechanically connect the rear axle 20 via the transverse wall 32a of the tractor 1, but has not been shown for clarity. The axles 10 and 20 of the tractor 1 are also steerable axles.

[0101] In this figure, the tractor 1 includes electrical drive means materialized by the electric motors 2a, 2b and 2c respectively driving and independently the front axle 20, the rear axle 10 and the power auxiliaries 40,42. In the embodiment shown, the motor 2c is connected to a hydraulic pump 40 and a power take-off (PTO) 42 via a gearbox 41 comprising an input connected to the motor 2c and two outputs transmitting the torque of the motor 2c to the pump 40 and the PTO 42, respectively. The power auxiliaries represented by the pump 40 and the PTO 42 are thus powered by the same electric motor 2c, although the invention could also provide for independent motorization of the respective power auxiliaries 40 and 42. According to this embodiment, the front axle 10 is driven by the motor 2a arranged centrally on said axle 10, and the rear axle 20 is driven by the motor 2b adjacent to the motor 2c, said motors 2b and 2c being arranged centrally on the rear axle 20.

Claims

Claims

1. Electric agricultural tractor (1) comprising a front axle (10) and a rear axle (20), a chassis (30) mechanically connected to said axles (10, 20), at least one power auxiliary (40, 42), means for electrically driving the axles (10, 20) and at least one power auxiliary (40, 42), said means being powered by an electrical power supply battery (60), said tractor (1) being characterized in that: • said electric drive means comprise independent electric motors (2a, 2b, 2c) respectively of the front axle (10), of the rear axle (20) and of at least one power auxiliary (40, 42); • said frame (30) comprises a hollow body (31) defining a space (33) having transverse walls (32a, 32b) including at least one perforated wall, said frame (30) extending in a longitudinal direction;• said electrical power supply battery (60) extends into the hollow body (31) of said chassis (30) and fills the space (33) defined by the hollow body (31), the hollow body (31) defining a mechanical envelope of said battery (60) so that the mechanical stresses applied to the tractor (1) are partly supported by the battery (60).;

2. Tractor according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow body (31) further comprises a lower wall defining a base (31a) and an upper wall defining a ceiling (31b), said base (31a) and ceiling (31b) extending parallel opposite each other and being respectively formed by longitudinal angles (35a, 35b) connected by crosspieces (36).

3. Tractor according to claim 2, characterized in that the hollow body (31) is of parallelepiped shape and in that said longitudinal angles (35a, 35b) have ends integral with the transverse walls (32a, 32b).

4. Tractor according to claim 3, characterized in that the chassis (30) further comprises side plates (34a, 34b) integral with said base (31a).

5. Tractor according to claim 4, characterized in that said base (31a) of the hollow body (31) and said side plates (34a, 34b) further comprise a floor (70) having profiled crosspieces (71) on which said battery (60) is mounted.

6. Tractor according to one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the power battery (60) further extends over the side plates (34a, 34b), said battery being in one piece.

7. Tractor according to one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the battery (60) further extends over the side plates (34a, 34b), said battery (60) being formed from a plurality of blocks, including a central block extending into the hollow body (31) and two side blocks arranged on the side plates (34a, 34b).

8. Tractor according to one of claims 6 or 7 characterized in that each side plate (34a, 34b) comprises vertical posts (37) arranged laterally against the hollow body (31) of the chassis (30), said posts (37) respectively comprising two ends (37a, 37b), with a first end, called the lower end (37a), connected to an angle iron (35a) of the base (31a), and a second end, called the upper end (37b), connected to an angle iron (35b) of the ceiling (31b).

9. Tractor according to claim 8, characterized in that the vertical posts (37) further comprise a strut (39) bearing on at least a portion of the surface of a side plate (34a, 34b).

10. Tractor according to claim 9 characterized in that the chassis comprises removable mechanical connections connecting the upper end (37b) of a post (37) with an angle iron (35b) of the ceiling (31b).

11. Tractor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axles (10, 20) are steered axles.

Images