INTEGRATED BATTERY SYSTEM IN AN ELECTRIC AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR

Abstract

BATTERY SYSTEM INTEGRATED INTO AN ELECTRIC AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR The invention relates to a battery system configured to be integrated into an electric agricultural tractor, comprising at least one battery (20) of accumulators configured to supply electrical energy to at least two energy-consuming devices (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e), characterized in that it comprises a central energy storage and distribution unit (32) comprising each battery (20) of accumulators and an electrical distribution circuit (34) configured to allow the transmission of electrical energy from each battery (20) to each consuming device, said unit (32) comprising at least one first connector (36a, 36b) arranged on an external face referred to as the front face and intended for supplying electrical power to a consuming device arranged at the front of the tractor,and at least one second connector (36c) arranged on an external face, referred to as the rear face, intended for supplying power to a consumer device arranged at the rear of the tractor. Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 2,

Description

Title of the invention: BATTERY SYSTEM INTEGRATED IN AN ELECTRIC AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an integrated battery system for a vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a battery system intended to be integrated into a vehicle of the electric agricultural tractor type. Technological background

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

[0003] More environmentally friendly approaches tend to move away from the use of fossil fuels as the sole source of fuel; we are seeing more and more agricultural machinery with hybrid technology combining fossil fuels and electrical power.

[0004] Most of these machines use a chassis with a classic load-bearing structure incorporating the "thermal engine - transmission shaft - gearbox" triad 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 at least one battery attached to the tractor or on an additional structure installed on the latter. The thermal engine is thus replaced by one or more electric traction chains and a battery.

[0006] The integration of the battery into the chassis of the electric agricultural tractor generates several problems linked in particular to its large dimensions and to the mechanical, electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility issues. In particular, the electric agricultural tractor must maintain a compact size while requiring the integration of high-power electrical systems with dangerous voltages which require the integration of various components such as converters, connectors, wiring, safety devices, while remaining compliant with the electrical, mechanical and electromagnetic compatibility protection standards preventing any danger regarding the handling of the batteries and the normal use of the electric agricultural tractor by an operator and his environment.

[0007] The compactness of the battery system is thus compromised by the presence of these various components and these safety constraints. In particular, the need to Distributing electrical energy to various consumers of the tractor (electric powertrains driving the transmission, power take-offs, hydraulic pumps, DC / DC converter, heat pump, etc.) requires the presence of numerous cables and secure interconnection boxes that must be integrated into the chassis of the electric agricultural tractor.

[0008] The inventors therefore sought to provide a solution to overcome these drawbacks. Objectives of the invention

[0009] The invention aims to provide a battery system for an agricultural electric tractor.

[0010] The invention aims in particular to provide, in at least one embodiment, a battery system allowing compact integration into the chassis.

[0011] The invention aims in particular to provide, in at least one embodiment, a battery system making it possible to easily supply electrical energy to electrical consumers arranged at different positions in the electric agricultural tractor.

[0012] The invention aims in particular to provide, in at least one embodiment, a battery system simplifying the provision of mechanical, electrical and electromagnetic protection while remaining at the same level of safety. Statement of the invention

[0013] To this end, the invention relates to a battery system configured to be integrated into an electric agricultural tractor, comprising at least one accumulator battery configured to store electrical energy and supply said electrical energy to at least two electrical energy consuming devices of the electric agricultural tractor,

[0014] characterized in that it comprises a central energy storage and distribution box configured to be arranged in a central position in a chassis of the electric agricultural tractor, comprising each storage battery and an electrical distribution circuit configured to allow the transmission of electrical energy from each storage battery to each electrical energy consuming device via a dedicated connection connector arranged on the box,

[0015] said housing comprising at least one first connection connector arranged on an outer face called the front face and intended for the electrical supply of an energy consuming device arranged at the front of the tractor, and at least one second connection connector arranged on an outer face called the rear face opposite the front face and intended for the electrical supply of an energy consuming device arranged at the rear of the tractor.

[0016] A battery system according to the invention therefore makes it possible to integrate at least one storage battery, in particular a plurality of storage batteries, in the same central housing as the electrical distribution circuit. This central housing also makes it possible to provide a set of connection connectors for directly powering the energy-consuming devices according to their position in the electric agricultural tractor, by limiting the lengths of external wiring which have a significant bulk, in particular due to the electrical insulation and the shielding blocking electromagnetic interference. The external wiring is also more exposed to mechanical stress and the risk of damage than a network internal to the housing.

[0017] The central box thus makes it possible to reduce the size of the battery and distribution system by eliminating the need to use several separate boxes for each battery and for the distribution circuit, and makes it possible to simplify the mechanical, electrical and electromagnetic protection of each battery, and of the distribution circuit by grouping all the elements in the same box. The integration of all the elements in the central box eliminates the need to add connectors between each battery and the distribution circuit and thus reduces the overall size of the system. The electrical distribution circuit notably includes an internal electrical network and distribution and safety components.

[0018] Throughout the disclosure of the invention, the terms "tractor" and "agricultural tractor" must be interpreted in an equivalent manner and all relate, unless explicitly stated otherwise, to an agricultural work machine intended primarily for transport, handling and traction, as well as for working the soil.

[0019] Advantageously and according to the invention, the system further comprises at least one connection connector arranged on one of the lateral external faces, intended for the connection of power supply cables of an energy consuming device arranged on the lateral portions of the electric agricultural tractor.

[0020] According to this aspect of the invention, the side connection connector allows the direct power supply of energy consuming devices arranged in a lateral position on the tractor, minimizing the external wiring to the central box.

[0021] Advantageously and according to the invention, the system comprises a central compartment receiving a first accumulator battery and the distribution circuit, and at least one lateral compartment comprising at least one additional accumulator battery.

[0022] According to this aspect of the invention, the compartments each allow the storage of a storage battery, which in particular allows storage batteries to be arranged in lateral positions on the electric agricultural tractor. The electrical distribution allowing the series or parallel arrangement between the compartments is carried out entirely in the central housing, without external wiring.

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[0030]

[0031] Advantageously and according to the invention, two side compartments arranged respectively to the right and left of the central compartment in the direction of travel of the electric agricultural tractor, each side compartment comprising at least one accumulator battery. Advantageously and according to the invention, the system comprises at least two accumulator batteries connected in series. Advantageously and according to the invention, the system comprises at least two accumulator batteries connected in parallel. According to these aspects of the invention, the series or parallel arrangement of the storage batteries makes it possible to obtain the target voltage and capacity for the operation of the electrical network of the electric agricultural tractor. Advantageously and according to the invention, the electrical distribution circuit comprises at least one bus bar for the transmission of electrical energy. According to this aspect of the invention, the bus bar does not systematically require, unlike external wiring, external insulation and no electromagnetic protection, which simplifies the installation of the electrical distribution circuit compared to prior art solutions. The bus bars can be rigid or flexible. The bus bar is also known as a busbar in English. Advantageously and according to the invention, at least one bus bar is configured to connect a connection connector to the electrical distribution circuit. Advantageously and according to the invention, the electrical distribution circuit comprises at least one of the elements from the following list: - electrical protection equipment including fuses and / or circuit breakers, - contactors configured to allow the connection or disconnection of each battery from the electrical distribution circuit, from other batteries and / or from an electrical charging device, - a pre-charging circuit configured to balance the voltages of each battery and an electric charging device when the electric tractor is connected to said electric charging device, - voltage measuring sensors, - intensity sensors, - an electrical insulation controller, - connection elements configured to allow connection or disconnection connection of at least one element of the battery system for maintenance or repair operations. The invention also relates to an electric agricultural tractor comprising at least one accumulator battery configured to store electrical energy, and at least one at least two electrical energy consuming devices of the electric agricultural tractor configured to receive electrical energy from said at least one accumulator battery, characterized in that it further comprises a battery system according to the invention, said battery system integrating said at least one accumulator battery.

[0032] The invention also relates to a battery system and an electric agricultural tractor characterized in combination by all or part of the features mentioned above or below. List of figures

[0033] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description given solely for non-limiting purposes and which refers to the appended figures in which: • [Fig.l] is a schematic view representing an electric agricultural tractor chassis according to one embodiment of the invention, • [Fig.2] is a schematic view representing a battery system according to a embodiment of the invention, and energy consuming devices powered by the battery system, • [Fig.3] is a schematic view representing a battery system according to a embodiment of the invention as installed in the electrical network of an electric agricultural tractor.

[0034] Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[0035] In the figures, the scales and proportions are not strictly respected, for the purposes of illustration and clarity.

[0036] Identical, similar or analogous elements are designated by the same references in all the figures.

[0037] [Fig. 1] schematically represents a chassis 10 of an electric agricultural tractor according to an embodiment of the invention. The chassis 10 comprising in particular a front portion 12a comprising in particular a front axle 14a and a rear portion 12b comprising in particular a rear axle 14b and a power take-off 16.

[0038] The chassis also comprises a central portion 12c accommodating at least one storage battery, here three storage batteries, a primary and central battery 20a, a right lateral battery 20b and a left lateral battery 20c. The storage batteries are supported by a mechanical support 22.

[0039] The central position of the storage batteries on the chassis 10 makes the use of a conventional distribution circuit complex, in particular because the storage batteries occupy a large part of the available width and height, which makes it difficult to route the cables from the front to the rear of the tractor, but a battery system according to the invention is particularly suitable for this configuration.

[0040] Figures 2 and 3 schematically represent a battery system 30 according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0041] [Fig. 2] represents in particular a battery system 30 according to an embodiment of the invention and energy consuming devices supplied with electrical energy by the battery system 30.

[0042] The battery system 30 is configured to be integrated into the electric agricultural tractor, and comprises at least one accumulator battery 20 configured to store electrical energy and supply said electrical energy to the electrical energy consuming devices 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e of the electric agricultural tractor.

[0043] The battery system 30 comprises a central energy storage and distribution housing 32 configured to be arranged in a central position in the chassis of the electric agricultural tractor, in the central portion 12c of the tractor, comprising each storage battery 20 and an electrical distribution circuit 34 configured to allow the transmission of electrical energy from each storage battery 20 to each device 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e consuming electrical energy via a dedicated connection connector arranged on the housing.

[0044] The central housing 32 comprises two connection connectors 36a, 36b arranged on an outer face called the front face and intended for the electrical supply of the energy-consuming devices 40a, 40b arranged in the front portion 21a of the tractor, for example motors arranged on the front wheels, a heat pump compressor, a heating device, a front power take-off, etc. The central housing 32 also comprises a connection connector 36c arranged on an outer face called the rear face opposite the front face and intended for the electrical supply of an energy-consuming device 40c arranged in the rear portion 12b of the tractor, for example a rear power take-off, a motor arranged on the rear wheels, a hydraulic pump system, etc.The central housing 32 may also comprise a connection connector 36d arranged on an external face called the right lateral face and intended for the electrical supply of an energy-consuming device 40d arranged to the right of the tractor, and a connection connector 36e arranged on an external face called the left lateral face opposite the right lateral face and intended for the electrical supply of an energy-consuming device 40e arranged to the left of the tractor.

[0045] The electrical distribution circuit in the housing allows the electrical connection between each battery and the connection connectors, and is described in more detail with reference to [Fig.3].

[0046] [Fig. 3] shows in particular a battery system 30 according to an embodiment of the invention as installed in the electrical network of an electric agricultural tractor. The battery assembly 20 comprises the central battery 20a and the batteries 20b, 20c side, arranged here in series. The side batteries can be easily disconnected or reconnected from the battery system according to the needs of use of the electric agricultural tractor, for example the right side battery 20b includes a connection / disconnection assembly 48 for this purpose. The central battery 20a and the electrical distribution circuit 34 are arranged in a central compartment 52 and the side batteries each in a side compartment.

[0047] The electrical distribution circuit 34 comprises an internal electrical network, for example formed at least in part by bus bars, connecting the various components together. The distribution circuit 34 also comprises control and safety components such as contactors 42, fuses 44, current measuring sensors 46 (for example of the shunt or Hall effect type), a precharging circuit 50 (contactor + resistor assembly) making it possible to balance the voltage of the internal electrical network of the tractor with that of the battery before their connection to the external electrical network when recharging the tractor.

[0048] The central box here comprises a set 36 of five connectors arranged on its front face respectively allowing electrical connection with the following energy consuming devices: - a 60a front-wheel drive group, including a variator and an electric traction motor, - a 60b front power take-off group, including a variator and an electric motor, - a 60c heat pump group, comprising a variator and an electric compressor motor, generally integrated within the same unit, - a 60d heating device of the thermistor type, for example of the PTC type (Positive Temperature Coefficient, in English PTC, Positive Temperature Coefficient).

[0049] A connector also allows connection to the 60th range extender device, which may be a removable accumulator battery attached to the standard front linkage of the tractor and allowing available energy to be added.

[0050] The central box also includes a set 36' of two connectors arranged on its rear face respectively allowing electrical connection with the following energy consuming devices: - a 60f rear-wheel drive group, including a variator and an electric traction motor, - a 60g rear power take-off and hydraulic unit, including a variator and an electric motor.

[0051] The central box also includes a set 36'' of two connectors arranged on its side face respectively allowing electrical connection with a 60h DC / DC converter, and a 60i group of electric charging connectors. The 60i group of electric charging connectors includes in particular a connector, for example of the CCS2 type, and a bidirectional on-board charger (BOBC for Bidirectional On-Board Charger in English).

Claims

Claims

1. Battery system configured to be integrated into an electric agricultural tractor, comprising at least one accumulator battery (20, 20a, 20b, 20c) configured to store electrical energy and supply said electrical energy to at least two electrical energy consuming devices (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e) of the electric agricultural tractor, characterized in that it comprises a central energy storage and distribution housing (32) configured to be arranged in a central position in a chassis (10) of the electric agricultural tractor, comprising each accumulator battery (20, 20a, 20b, 20c) and an electrical distribution circuit (34) configured to allow the transmission of electrical energy from each accumulator battery (20, 20a, 20b, 20c) to each electrical energy consuming device via a connector (36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36, 36', 36”) of dedicated connection arranged on the housing (32),said housing (32) comprising at least one first connection connector (36a, 36b, 36) arranged on an outer face called the front face and intended for the electrical supply of an energy consuming device arranged at the front of the tractor, and at least one second connection connector (36c, 36') arranged on an outer face called the rear face opposite the front face and intended for the electrical supply of an energy consuming device arranged at the rear of the tractor.,

2. Battery system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least one connection connector (36d, 36e, 36”) arranged on one of the lateral outer faces, intended for the connection of power supply cables of an energy consuming device arranged on the lateral portions of the electric agricultural tractor.

3. Battery system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a central compartment (52) receiving a first battery (20a) of accumulators and the distribution circuit (34), and at least one lateral compartment comprising at least one additional battery (20b, 20c) of accumulators.

4. Battery system according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises two lateral compartments arranged respectively to the right and to the left of the central compartment (52) in the direction of travel of the electric agricultural tractor, each lateral compartment comprising at least minus one battery of accumulators.

5. Battery system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises at least two accumulator batteries (20a, 20b, 20c) connected in series.

6. Battery system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises at least two accumulator batteries (20a, 20b, 20c) connected in parallel.

7. Battery system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electrical distribution circuit (34) comprises at least one bus bar for the transmission of electrical energy.

8. Battery system according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one bus bar is configured to connect a connector (36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36, 36', 36”) for connection to the electrical distribution circuit (34).

9. Battery system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the electrical distribution circuit (34) comprises at least one of the elements of the following list: - electrical protection equipment comprising fuses (44) and / or circuit breakers, - contactors (42) configured to allow the connection or disconnection of each battery from the electrical distribution circuit (34), from the other batteries and / or from an electrical charging device, - a pre-charging circuit (50) configured to balance the voltages of each battery and of an electrical charging device when the electric tractor is connected to said electrical charging device, - voltage measurement sensors, - current sensors (46), - an electrical insulation controller,- connection elements configured to allow the connection or disconnection of at least one element of the battery system for maintenance or repair operations.,

10. Electric agricultural tractor comprising at least one accumulator battery configured to store electrical energy, and at least one at least two electrical energy consuming devices of the electric agricultural tractor configured to receive electrical energy from said at least one accumulator battery, characterized in that it further comprises a battery system (30) according to one of claims 1 to 9, said battery system integrating said at least one accumulator battery.

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