Work vehicles

Abstract

This work vehicle comprises: a fuel cell module having a fuel cell stack; at least one fuel tank that accommodates fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell stack; a sensor that measures the remaining amount of fuel inside the fuel tank; a motor connecting to the fuel cell module; a power take-off shaft that is driven by the motor and to which an implement connects; a display device; and a processing device that estimates at least one among a distance, area, and time that travel associated with work is possible on the basis of the measured remaining amount of fuel, the type of implement connected to the power take-off shaft, and / or the type of work executed by the implement, the processing device causing the display device to display the estimation result.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a work vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In the field of automobiles whose main purpose is to move "people" or "objects", electric vehicles (EVs) that generate driving force (traction) for running by an electric motor (hereinafter referred to as "motor") instead of an internal combustion engine are becoming popular.

[0003] On the other hand, in order to realize a decarbonized society, it is also required to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by work vehicles such as tractors used in fields. Different from general automobiles, in work vehicles such as tractors, it is necessary to tow a working machine called an implement to perform agricultural work such as tilling. Therefore, in order to realize the electrification of work vehicles, there are problems to be solved different from the electrification of passenger cars.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle including a fuel cell, a battery, a drive device that converts the electric power generated by the fuel cell and the battery into power, and a display device that displays an indicator indicating the power output from the fuel cell and the battery. The display device displays, on the indicator, information indicating a threshold value used to determine which of the electric power from one of the fuel cell and the battery or the electric power from both the fuel cell and the battery is supplied to the drive device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] This disclosure provides technology for improving the convenience of work vehicles equipped with fuel cell modules. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A work vehicle according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a fuel cell module having a fuel cell stack; at least one fuel tank containing fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell stack; a sensor for measuring the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank; a motor connected to the fuel cell module; a power take-off shaft driven by the motor and to which an implement is connected; a display device; and a processing device that estimates at least one of the distance, area, and time to which travel is possible with the work, based on the measured remaining amount of fuel and the type of implement connected to the power take-off shaft and / or the type of work performed by the implement, and displays the estimation result on the display device.

[0008] The comprehensive or specific embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented by apparatus, systems, methods, integrated circuits, computer programs, or computer-readable non-temporary storage media, or any combination thereof. Computer-readable storage media may include volatile storage media or non-volatile storage media. Apparatus may consist of multiple devices. If apparatus consists of two or more devices, these two or more devices may be located in a single device or in two or more separate devices. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to embodiments of this disclosure, it is possible to improve the convenience of work vehicles equipped with fuel cell modules. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a schematic plan view showing an example of the basic configuration of a work vehicle according to this disclosure. [Figure 2]This figure shows a basic example configuration of a fuel cell power generation system installed in a work vehicle. [Figure 3] This is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of electrical connections and power transmission between components of a work vehicle according to this disclosure. [Figure 4] This block diagram schematically shows the electrical signal paths (thin solid lines) and coolant paths (dotted lines) between components in the work vehicle according to this disclosure. [Figure 5] This is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a work vehicle in an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] This is a schematic side view showing an example of the configuration of a work vehicle in an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] This is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the operating terminal. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of a table illustrating the relationship between the type of implement, the type of work, and fuel consumption. [Figure 9A] This diagram schematically shows an example of how the estimation results are displayed on a display device when the implement is driven. [Figure 9B] This diagram schematically shows an example of how the estimation results are displayed on a display device when the implement is not driven. [Figure 10] This diagram schematically illustrates another example of how estimation results are displayed in a display device. [Figure 11] This diagram schematically illustrates an example of a sign that includes information encouraging refueling. [Figure 12] This diagram schematically illustrates an example of a pop-up display that includes information on remaining driving time. [Figure 13] This diagram schematically illustrates an example of a display that includes map information. [Figure 14] This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing procedure of a processing unit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. However, detailed descriptions may be omitted if they are not necessary. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters and redundant descriptions regarding substantially the same configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid making the following description unnecessarily redundant and to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art. The inventors provide the accompanying drawings and the following description so that those skilled in the art can fully understand the present disclosure, and do not intend to limit the subject matter described in the claims by these. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0012] The following embodiments are examples, and the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. For example, the numerical values, shapes, materials, steps, the order of those steps, the layout of the display screen, etc. shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and various modifications are possible as long as there is no technical contradiction. Also, as long as there is no technical contradiction, it is possible to combine one aspect with another aspect

[0013] The "work vehicle" in the present disclosure means a vehicle used for performing work at a work site. The "work site" is any place where work is performed, such as a farm field, a mountain forest, or a construction site. The "farm field" is any place where agricultural work is performed, such as an orchard, a field, a paddy field, a grain farm, or a pasture. The work vehicle can be, for example, an agricultural machine such as a tractor, a rice transplanter, a combine, a ride-on mower, or a ride-on lawn mower, or a vehicle used for non-agricultural purposes such as a construction work vehicle or a snowplow. The work vehicle in the present disclosure can be equipped with an implement (also called a "work machine" or a "work device") corresponding to the work content on at least one of its front and rear parts. The act of the work vehicle traveling while performing work may be referred to as "work traveling".

[0014] The term "agricultural machinery" refers to machines used for agricultural purposes. Examples of agricultural machinery include tractors, harvesters, rice transplanters, riding cultivators, vegetable transplanters, mowers, seeders, fertilizer spreaders, and agricultural mobile robots. Agricultural machinery can function not only when a work vehicle like a tractor functions on its own, but also when implements attached to or towed by the work vehicle, along with the entire work vehicle, function as a single piece of agricultural machinery. Agricultural machinery performs agricultural tasks on the ground in a field, such as tilling, sowing, pest control, fertilizing, planting crops, or harvesting.

[0015] 1. <Basic configuration of the work vehicle> This disclosure describes the basic configuration and operation of the work vehicle. The work vehicle described below is equipped with a motor and a fuel cell power generation system (hereinafter referred to as the "FC power generation system") that generates the power necessary to drive the motor.

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of the basic configuration of the work vehicle 100 in this disclosure. In this disclosure, the direction of travel when the work vehicle 100 is traveling straight forward is referred to as the "forward direction," and the direction of travel when it is traveling straight backward is referred to as the "rear direction." In a plane parallel to the ground, the direction extending perpendicularly to the right relative to the "forward direction" is referred to as the "right direction," and the direction extending perpendicularly to the left is referred to as the "left direction." In Figure 1, the "forward direction," "rear direction," "right direction," and "left direction" are indicated by the arrows "forward," "rear," "right," and "left," respectively. The forward and rear directions may be collectively referred to as the "forward and rear directions."

[0017] In the illustrated example, the work vehicle 100 is, for example, a tractor, which is an example of agricultural machinery. The technology of this disclosure is not limited to work vehicles such as tractors, but can be applied to other types of work vehicles. The work vehicle 100 can travel in a field while carrying or towing an implement and performing agricultural work according to the type of implement. The work vehicle 100 can also travel in and out of a field (including roads) with the implement lifted or without the implement attached.

[0018] The work vehicle 100, like a conventional tractor, is equipped with a body (vehicle frame) 102 that rotatably supports the left and right front wheels 104F and the left and right rear wheels 104R. The body 102 includes a front frame 102A on which the front wheels 104F are mounted and a transmission case 102B on which the rear wheels 104R are mounted. The front frame 102A is fixed to the front of the transmission case 102B. The front wheels 104F and the rear wheels 104R may be collectively referred to as wheels 104. Strictly speaking, wheels 104 are wheels on which tires are mounted. In this disclosure, “wheel” generally means the entire “wheel and tire.” One or both of the front wheels 104F and the rear wheels 104R may be replaced with multiple wheels (crawlers) equipped with tracks instead of wheels with tires.

[0019] In the example shown in Figure 1, the work vehicle 100 is equipped with a fuel cell module (FC module) 10 and a motor 70, which are directly or indirectly supported by a front frame 102A. The FC module 10 has a fuel cell stack (FC stack) and functions as an on-board generator that generates electricity from fuel, as will be described later. Hereinafter, "FC module" or "FC stack" may be simply referred to as "fuel cell".

[0020] The motor 70 is electrically connected to the FC module 10. The motor 70 can convert the power generated in the FC module 10 into mechanical motion (power) to generate the driving force (traction) necessary for the work vehicle 100 to move. An example of the motor 70 is an AC synchronous motor. Since the FC stack of the FC module 10 generates DC current, if the motor 70 is an AC synchronous motor, a group of electrical circuits including an inverter device is provided between the FC stack and the motor 70 to convert the DC current to AC current. Some of these electrical circuits may be located inside the FC module 10. Other parts of the electrical circuits may be attached to the motor 70 as a drive circuit for the motor 70.

[0021] The motor 70 has a rotating output shaft 71. The torque of the output shaft 71 is transmitted to the rear wheels 104R via mechanical components such as a transmission (speed changer) and a rear-wheel differential gear, which are located inside the transmission case 102B. In other words, the power generated by the motor 70, which is the power source, is transmitted to the rear wheels 104R by a power transmission system (drivetrain) 74, which includes a transmission, located inside the transmission case 102B. For this reason, the "transmission case" may also be called the "transmission case". In four-wheel drive mode, a portion of the power from the motor 70 is also transmitted to the front wheels 104F. The power from the motor 70 can be used not only for driving the work vehicle 100 but also for driving implements. Specifically, a power take-off (PTO) shaft 76 is provided at the rear end of the transmission case 102B. The PTO shaft 76 is driven by the motor 70 and to which the implement is connected. The torque from the output shaft 71 of the motor 70 is transmitted to the PTO shaft 76. The implement, which is mounted on or towed by the work vehicle 100, receives power from the PTO shaft 76 and can perform various operations according to the task. The motor 70 and the power transmission system 74 may be collectively referred to as the electric powertrain.

[0022] Thus, the work vehicle 100 according to this disclosure is not equipped with an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine, but is equipped with an FC module 10 and a motor 70. Furthermore, the output shaft 71 of the motor 70 is mechanically coupled to a power transmission system 74, such as a transmission, in a transmission case 102B. The motor 70 can efficiently generate torque over a relatively wide rotational speed range compared to an internal combustion engine. However, by using the power transmission system 74, including the transmission, it becomes easy to adjust the torque and rotational speed from the motor 70 over an even wider range by performing multi-stage or continuously variable speed operation. Therefore, it becomes possible to efficiently perform not only the driving of the work vehicle 100 but also a variety of tasks using implements.

[0023] Furthermore, depending on the intended use or size of the work vehicle 100, some functions of the power transmission system 74 may be omitted. For example, some or all of the transmission responsible for the speed change function may be omitted. The number and mounting positions of the motors 70 are also not limited to the example shown in Figure 1.

[0024] The work vehicle 100 is equipped with at least one fuel tank 50 that contains fuel to be supplied to the FC module 10. In Figure 1, for simplicity, one fuel tank 50 is shown. In one embodiment, multiple fuel tanks 50 are housed in a tank case to constitute a fuel tank module. The fuel tanks 50 are supported by members fixed to the vehicle body 102, as will be described later. The FC module 10 and the fuel tanks 50 are connected by piping and valves, etc., to form an on-board FC power generation system. The configuration and operation of the FC power generation system will be described later.

[0025] In the embodiments described later, the work vehicle 100 includes a driver's seat supported by a vehicle body 102. The driver's seat may be enclosed by a cabin supported by the vehicle body 102. In the embodiments described later, the FC module 10 is located in front of the driver's seat, and the fuel tank 50 is located above the driver's seat. Such an FC module 10 and fuel tank 50 are housed in at least one "container." The "container" functions, for example, as a housing and serves to protect the FC module 10 and fuel tank 50 from sunlight and the elements. Such a containment can also control the spread of fuel gas into the atmosphere if fuel gas leaks from the FC module 10 or fuel tank 50, making it easier to detect the fuel gas.

[0026] The FC module 10 may be housed in a front housing, for example, called a "bonnet." The front housing is part of the "housing." The front housing is supported by the front of the vehicle body 102 (front frame 102A). The fuel tank 50 may be housed in a tank case, as described above. The tank case is supported directly or indirectly by the vehicle body 102.

[0027] 2. <FC Power Generation System> Next, referring to FIG. 2, a basic configuration example of the FC power generation system 180 mounted on the work vehicle 100 will be described.

[0028] The FC power generation system 180 shown in FIG. 2 functions as an on-vehicle power generation system in the work vehicle 100 of FIG. 1. The electric power generated by the FC power generation system 180 is used not only for the running of the work vehicle 100 but also for the operation of implements towed or attached by the work vehicle 100.

[0029] The FC power generation system 180 in the illustrated example includes an FC module 10 and at least one fuel tank 50 that stores fuel supplied to the FC module 10. The FC power generation system 180 also includes a radiator device 34 for cooling the FC module 10.

[0030] The FC module 10 mainly includes a fuel cell stack (FC stack) 11, an air compressor 12, a fuel circulation pump 24, a coolant pump 31, a boost circuit 40, and a control device 42. These components are housed in the housing of the FC module 10 and are connected to each other by electrical or fluid communication.

[0031] The FC stack 11 generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between "anode gas" which is fuel and "cathode gas" which is an oxidizing gas. The FC stack 11 in this example is a solid polymer fuel cell. The FC stack 11 has a stack structure in which a plurality of single cells (fuel cell units) are stacked. A single cell includes, for example, an electrolyte membrane formed from an ion exchange membrane, an anode electrode formed on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode electrode formed on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a pair of separators that sandwich the anode electrode and the cathode electrode from both sides. The voltage generated in a single cell is, for example, 1 volt or less. Therefore, in the FC stack 11, for example, 300 or more single cells are connected in series to generate a voltage of several hundred volts.

[0032] The anode electrode of the FC stack 11 is supplied with an anode gas. The anode gas is called the "fuel gas" or simply "fuel." In embodiments of this disclosure, the anode gas (fuel) is hydrogen gas. The cathode electrode is supplied with a cathode gas. The cathode gas is an oxidizing gas such as air. The anode electrode is called the fuel electrode, and the cathode electrode is called the air electrode.

[0033] At the anode, the electrochemical reaction shown in equation (1) below occurs. 2H2→4H + +4e - ...Equation (1)

[0034] At the cathode electrode, the electrochemical reaction shown in equation (2) below occurs. 4H + +4e - +O2→2H2O...Equation (2)

[0035] Overall, the reaction shown in equation (3) below occurs. 2H2+O2→2H2O...Equation (3)

[0036] The anode gas used in the above reaction is called the "anode-off gas," and the cathode gas used in the reaction is called the "cathode-off gas."

[0037] The air compressor 12 supplies air taken in from the outside as cathode gas to the cathode electrode of the FC stack 11. The cathode gas supply system, including the air compressor 12, has a cathode gas supply pipe 13, a cathode off gas pipe 14, and a bypass pipe 15. The cathode gas supply pipe 13 flows the cathode gas (air) supplied from the air compressor 12 to the cathode electrode of the FC stack 11. The cathode off gas pipe 14 flows the cathode off gas discharged from the FC stack 11 to the outside air. The bypass pipe 15 branches off from the cathode gas supply pipe 13 downstream of the air compressor 12, bypasses the FC stack 11, and connects to the cathode off gas pipe 14. The bypass pipe 15 is equipped with a control valve 16 that adjusts the flow rate of cathode gas flowing through the bypass pipe 15. The cathode gas supply pipe 13 is equipped with a shut-off valve 17 that selectively blocks the inflow of cathode gas into the FC stack 11. The cathode-off gas pipe 14 is equipped with a pressure regulating valve 18 for adjusting the back pressure of the cathode gas.

[0038] The cathode gas supply system of the FC module 10 is equipped with a rotation speed detection sensor S1 for detecting the rotation speed of the air compressor 12 and a gas flow rate detection sensor S2 for detecting the flow rate of cathode gas flowing through the cathode gas supply pipe 13. The control valve 16, shut-off valve 17, and pressure regulating valve 18 are, for example, solenoid valves.

[0039] The fuel circulation pump 24 supplies fuel gas (anode gas) sent from the fuel tank 50 to the anode electrode of the FC stack 11. The anode gas supply system, including the fuel circulation pump 24, has an anode gas supply pipe 21, an anode off-gas pipe 22, and a circulation passage 23. The anode gas supply pipe 21 flows the anode gas supplied from the fuel tank 50 to the anode electrode of the FC stack 11. In the embodiment of this disclosure, the fuel tank 50 is a hydrogen tank for storing high-pressure hydrogen gas.

[0040] The anode-off gas pipe 22 carries the anode-off gas discharged from the FC stack 11. The anode-off gas is guided through the anode-off gas pipe 22 to the gas-liquid separator 25 where moisture is removed. The anode-off gas from which moisture has been removed is returned to the anode gas supply pipe 21 through the circulation channel 23 by the fuel circulation pump 24. The anode-off gas circulating in the circulation channel 23 can be discharged through the anode-off gas pipe 22 by opening the exhaust valve 26. Moisture stored in the gas-liquid separator 25 can be discharged through the anode-off gas pipe 22 by opening the exhaust valve 26. The exhaust valve 26 is, for example, a solenoid valve. In the example shown in the figure, the anode-off gas pipe 22 is connected to the cathode-off gas pipe 14. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of anode gas by circulating the anode-off gas, including unreacted anode gas that did not contribute to the electrochemical reaction, and supplying it back to the FC stack 11.

[0041] Temperature control is crucial for enhancing the performance of the FC stack 11. Since heat is generated when electricity is produced through the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen gases to create water, cooling is necessary. Figure 2 shows a coolant circulation system including a coolant pump 31 for the FC stack 11, but as will be described later, cooling circulation systems for other electrical components may also be provided. The air compressor 12, fuel circulation pump 24, and coolant pump 31 in the FC module 10 are each operated by their own built-in motors. These motors are also electrical components.

[0042] The coolant circulation system shown in Figure 2, including the coolant pump 31, comprises a coolant supply pipe 32, a coolant discharge pipe 33, a radiator device 34, and a temperature sensor S3. This coolant circulation system can adjust the temperature of the FC stack 11 within a predetermined range by circulating the coolant through the FC stack 11. The coolant is supplied to the FC stack 11 through the coolant supply pipe 32. The supplied coolant flows through coolant flow paths formed between the individual cells and is discharged to the coolant discharge pipe 33. The coolant discharged to the coolant discharge pipe 33 flows to the radiator device 34. The radiator device 34 dissipates heat from the coolant by exchanging heat between the incoming coolant and the outside air, and supplies the cooled coolant back to the coolant supply pipe 32.

[0043] The coolant pump 31 is installed in the coolant supply pipe 32 or the coolant discharge pipe 33 to deliver coolant to the FC stack 11. A coolant bypass passage may be provided between the coolant discharge pipe 33 and the coolant supply pipe 32. In this case, a flow divider valve is provided at the branching point where the coolant bypass passage branches off from the coolant discharge pipe 33. The flow divider valve can adjust the flow rate of coolant flowing through the bypass passage. The temperature sensor S3 detects the temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant discharge pipe 33.

[0044] The coolant used to cool the FC stack 11 is circulated through a flow path by an electric coolant pump (coolant pump) 31. A coolant control valve may be provided downstream of the FC stack 11. The coolant control valve adjusts the ratio of coolant flowing to the radiator unit 34 to coolant bypassing the radiator unit 34, enabling more precise control of the coolant temperature. Furthermore, by controlling the amount of coolant supplied by the coolant pump, it is also possible to control the temperature difference between the coolant at the inlet and outlet of the FC stack 11 to stay within a desired range. The temperature of the coolant in the FC stack 11 can be controlled to a temperature that maximizes the power generation efficiency of the FC stack 11, for example, around 70°C.

[0045] The coolant flowing through the FC stack 11 preferably has higher insulating properties than the coolant used to cool ordinary electrical components. Since high voltages, for example, exceeding 300 volts, are generated in the FC stack 11, increasing the electrical resistance of the coolant can suppress current leakage through the coolant or the radiator device 34. The electrical resistance of the coolant may decrease as it is used. This is because ions dissolve into the coolant flowing through the FC stack 11. To remove such ions from the coolant and improve its insulating properties, it is desirable to place an ion exchanger in the coolant flow path.

[0046] The boost circuit 40 can raise the voltage output from the FC stack 11 by the power generation operation to a desired level. The downstream stage of the boost circuit 40 is connected to a high-voltage electrical circuit including an inverter device for motor drive. The downstream stage of the boost circuit 40 can also be connected in parallel to a low-voltage electrical circuit via a step-down circuit.

[0047] The control device 42 is an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls power generation by the FC module 10. The control device 42 detects or estimates the operating state of the FC power generation system 180 based on signals output from various sensors. Based on the operating state of the FC power generation system 180 and commands output from a higher-level computer or other ECU, the control device 42 controls the operation of the air compressor 12, fuel circulation pump 24, coolant pump 31, and various valves to control power generation by the FC stack 11. The control device 42 includes, for example, a processor, a memory device, and an input / output interface.

[0048] In the following explanation, for simplicity, "anode gas" will be referred to as "fuel gas" or "fuel," and "anode gas supply pipe" will be referred to as "piping."

[0049] 3. <Example of a work vehicle system configuration> Next, an example of the system configuration of the work vehicle 100 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of electrical connections and power transmission between components of the work vehicle 100 according to this disclosure. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing a more detailed configuration than the example in Figure 3. Figure 4 schematically shows the electrical signal paths (thin solid lines) and coolant paths (dotted lines) between components in the work vehicle 100.

[0050] First, with reference to Figure 3, examples of electrical connections and power transmission of components will be described. Electrical connections include both high-voltage and low-voltage systems. High-voltage electrical connections provide, for example, the power supply voltage for an inverter device. Low-voltage electrical connections provide, for example, the power supply voltage for electronic components that operate at relatively low voltages.

[0051] In the example shown in Figure 3, the work vehicle 100 comprises an FC module 10, an inverter device 72, a motor 70, a power transmission system 74, and a PTO shaft 76. The DC voltage of the power generated in the FC stack 11 of the FC module 10 is boosted by a boost circuit 40 and then supplied to the inverter device 72. The inverter device 72 converts the DC voltage to, for example, a three-phase AC voltage and supplies it to the motor 70. The inverter device 72 has a bridge circuit including a plurality of power transistors. The motor 70 has a rotating rotor and a stator having a plurality of coils electrically connected to the inverter device 72. The rotor is coupled to the output shaft 71, for example, via a reduction gear (speed reducer) or directly. The motor 70 rotates the output shaft 71 with torque and rotational speed controlled according to the waveform of the three-phase AC voltage from the inverter device 72.

[0052] The torque from the output shaft 71 of the motor 70 is transmitted to the power transmission system 74. The power transmission system 74 operates using the motor 70 as a power source and can drive the wheels 104R, 104F, and / or the PTO shaft 76 in Figure 1. Such a power transmission system 74 may have a structure similar to or identical to that of a power transmission system in a conventional tractor equipped with an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine. For example, by adopting a power transmission system used in agricultural tractors, it is possible to reduce the design and manufacturing costs for producing an agricultural work vehicle 100 equipped with an FC power generation system. The power transmission system 74 includes a drive system power transmission mechanism that transmits power from the motor 70 to the left and right rear wheels 104R via a clutch, transmission, and rear wheel differential, etc., and a PTO system power transmission mechanism that transmits power from the motor 70 to the PTO shaft 76. The power transmission system 74 includes a PTO clutch that switches between a state in which power from the motor 70 is transmitted to the PTO shaft 76 (connected state) and a state in which power is not transmitted (disconnected state). The PTO clutch can be operated manually by the driver using an operating part such as a clutch pedal. The PTO clutch can also be automatically disengaged by control or other means. The transmission case 102B in Figure 1 may be divided into a front case (transmission case) that houses the clutch such as the PTO clutch and the transmission, and a rear case (differential gear case) that houses the rear wheel differential, etc. The rear case is also called the rear axle case.

[0053] The work vehicle 100 is equipped with a secondary battery (battery pack) 80 that temporarily stores the electrical energy generated by the FC module 10. An example of the battery pack 80 is a lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack 80 can supply power to the inverter device 72 at the required timing, either in cooperation with the FC module 10 or independently. Various battery packs used in passenger electric vehicles can be used as the battery pack 80.

[0054] In addition to the motor 70 and inverter device 72, the work vehicle 100 is equipped with various electrically operated electrical components (on-board electronic components). Examples of electrical components include electromagnetic valves such as the on / off valve 20, the cooling fan of the radiator device 34, the electric pump of the cooling compressor 85, and a temperature control device for heating or cooling the FC stack 11. Such a temperature control device includes an electric heater 86. First and second DC-DC converters 81, 82 and a storage battery 83 for obtaining a power supply voltage suitable for the operation of these electrical components may also be included in the electrical components. Furthermore, various electronic components not shown (such as lamps and electric motors for hydraulic systems) may also be included in the electrical components. These electrical components may be similar to, for example, electronic components installed in conventional agricultural tractors.

[0055] In the example shown in Figure 3, the first DC-DC converter 81 is a circuit that steps down the voltage output from the boost circuit 40 of the FC module 10 to a first voltage, for example, 12 volts. The battery 83 is, for example, a lead-acid battery, and can store electrical energy at the voltage output from the first DC-DC converter 81. The battery 83 can be used as a power source for various electrical components, such as lamps.

[0056] The work vehicle 100 shown in Figure 3 is equipped not only with a first DC-DC converter 81 but also with a second DC-DC converter 82 as a voltage conversion circuit to step down the high voltage output by the FC module 10. The second DC-DC converter 82 is a circuit that steps down the voltage output from the boost circuit 40 of the FC module 10 (for example, several hundred volts) to a second voltage higher than the first voltage, for example, 24 volts. The cooling fan of the radiator unit 34 can operate with the voltage output from the second DC-DC converter 82, for example. Although the radiator unit 34 is shown as a single component in Figure 3, a single work vehicle 100 may be equipped with multiple radiator units 34. In addition, the electric pump of the cooling compressor 85 and the electric heater 86 can also operate with the voltage output from the second DC-DC converter 82.

[0057] The work vehicle 100 shown in Figure 3 is equipped with a temperature control device for cooling or heating the FC stack 11 included in the FC power generation system. Such a temperature control device requires a relatively large amount of power to operate. A relatively high voltage of 24 volts output by the second DC-DC converter 82 is supplied to this temperature control device. In this embodiment, the temperature control device includes a radiator device 34 for dissipating heat from the refrigerant used to cool the FC stack 11, and a relatively high voltage of 24 volts output by the second DC-DC converter 82 is supplied to the radiator device 34. The temperature control device includes a heater 86 for heating the FC stack 11. The relatively high voltage output by the second DC-DC converter 82 may also be supplied to the heater. The relatively high voltage output by the second DC-DC converter 82 may also be supplied to an air conditioning device, such as a cooling compressor 85.

[0058] The work vehicle 100 may also be equipped with a third voltage conversion circuit that converts the high voltage output by the FC module 10 into a third voltage higher than the second voltage. The third voltage is, for example, 48 volts. If the work vehicle 100 is equipped with other motors in addition to the motor 70, the third voltage may be used as a power source for such other motors, for example.

[0059] In agricultural work vehicles equipped with fuel cell power generation systems, in addition to electrical equipment necessary for agricultural work, electrical equipment necessary for the operation of the fuel cell power generation system is also installed, and therefore the appropriate voltage levels for each electrical equipment may differ. According to the embodiments of this disclosure, it becomes possible to supply an appropriate voltage level.

[0060] In the example shown in Figure 3, multiple fuel tanks 50 are housed within a single tank case 51. The fuel tanks 50 are connected to a filling port 52 into which fuel is supplied from the outside. This connection is made by piping 21 for carrying fuel gas. The fuel tanks 50 are also connected to the FC module 10 via piping 21 equipped with an on / off valve 20. When hydrogen is used as the fuel gas, these pipes 21 may be made of a material with high resistance to hydrogen embrittlement, such as austenitic stainless steel like SUS316L.

[0061] The tank case 51 is provided with a valve space 53, in which various valves, including a pressure reducing valve, are arranged. Through the various valves provided in the valve space 53, the piping 21 connects the fuel tank 50 and the FC module 10. Fuel gas, whose pressure has been reduced by the pressure reducing valve, flows through the piping 21 connecting the tank case 51 and the FC module 10. When the fuel gas is hydrogen gas, the fuel tank 50 may be filled with high-pressure hydrogen gas of, for example, 35 megapascals or more, but the hydrogen gas after passing through the pressure reducing valve may be reduced to, for example, about 2 atmospheres or less.

[0062] The fuel tank 50 is equipped with a sensor S4 for measuring the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank 50. Furthermore, a temperature sensor may be provided for measuring the temperature inside the fuel tank 50. An example of sensor S4 is a pressure sensor that measures the fuel pressure corresponding to the remaining amount of fuel. The pressure sensor acquires residual pressure data indicating the remaining fuel pressure in the fuel tank 50.

[0063] Next, refer to Figure 4. In addition to what is shown in Figure 3, Figure 4 shows multiple ECUs that communicate within the work vehicle 100, and user interface 1. Communication may be performed via CAN bus wiring, which functions as a path for electrical signals (thin solid lines). Figure 4 also shows a cooling system for achieving thermal management of the components. Specifically, the coolant path (dotted lines) is schematically shown.

[0064] As mentioned above, the first and second DC-DC converters 81 and 82 are each capable of outputting voltages of different magnitudes. These first and second DC-DC converters 81 and 82 are also provided with ECUs that control their respective voltage conversion circuits. These ECUs, like other ECUs, are supplied with a relatively low first voltage output by the first DC-DC converter 81.

[0065] In the example shown in Figure 4, the work vehicle 100 is equipped with a cooling system in which coolant is circulated by coolant pumps 31A and 31B. These coolant pumps 31A and 31B are located inside the FC module 10. The cooling system in this example includes a first radiator device 34A responsible for cooling the FC stack 11 and a second radiator device 34B responsible for cooling other electrical components. The cooling system has a flow path (first flow path) through which coolant flows between the FC stack 11 and the first radiator device 34A. The cooling system also has a flow path (second flow path) through which coolant flows between the electrical components, including the motor 70, and the second radiator device 34B. In the example shown in Figure 4, for example, a heater core 87 used for heating the cabin is provided, and the coolant flowing through the first radiator device 34A also flows through this heater core 87.

[0066] The user interface 1 includes an operating device 2, such as an accelerator pedal (or accelerator lever), and a main ECU 3 connected to the operating device 2. The main ECU 3 is connected to a main meter 4, a storage device 7, an audio output device 8, etc. The main meter 4 can display various parameters that identify the driving or operating status of the work vehicle 100. The user interface 1 further includes an FC system ECU 5 for controlling the FC power generation system. The FC system ECU 5 is connected to an FC meter 6. The FC meter 6 can display various parameters that identify the operating status of the FC power generation system.

[0067] The storage device 7 includes one or more storage media, such as flash memory or magnetic disks. The storage device 7 stores various data generated by the main ECU 3 and the FC system ECU 5. The storage device 7 also stores computer programs that cause the main ECU 3 and the FC system ECU 5 to perform desired operations. Such computer programs may be provided to the work vehicle 100 via a storage medium (e.g., semiconductor memory or optical disk) or a telecommunications line (e.g., the internet). Such computer programs may be sold as commercial software.

[0068] User interface 1 may further include an audio output device 8. An example of the audio output device 8 is a buzzer or a speaker. The audio output device 8 may be controlled by the main ECU 3. For example, the audio output device 8 may output a voice prompting refueling, as will be described later.

[0069] The cells of the battery pack 80 are controlled by a battery management unit (BMU). The BMU includes circuits and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that monitor the voltage of each battery cell, monitor for overcharging and over-discharging, and control cell balance. These circuits and the CPU may be mounted on a battery controller board.

[0070] 4. <Embodiment> (4.1. Basic configuration of work vehicles) Next, the basic configuration of an embodiment of the work vehicle according to this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the work vehicle 200 in this embodiment. Figure 6 is a schematic side view showing an example of the configuration of the work vehicle 200 in this embodiment.

[0071] The work vehicle 200 in this embodiment includes an FC module 10, a fuel tank 50, a sensor S4 (see Figure 3 or Figure 4), a motor 70, a driver's seat 107, and a vehicle body 102. The work vehicle 200 has the same configuration as the work vehicle 100 described with reference to Figure 1.

[0072] The work vehicle 200 in this embodiment further includes a display device, a processing device, and an operating terminal 400. For example, the main meter 4 and / or FC meter 6, or the operating terminal 400, function as the display device. The main ECU 3, a higher-level computer that communicates with the main ECU 3, or a combination thereof, function as the processing device.

[0073] The operating terminal 400 is a terminal for the user to perform operations related to the movement of the work vehicle and the operation of the implement, and is also called a virtual terminal (VT). The operating terminal 400 may be equipped with a touchscreen display and / or one or more buttons. The display may be a display such as a liquid crystal or organic light-emitting diode (OLED). By operating the touchscreen of the operating terminal 400, the user can perform various operations such as inputting information about the type of implement 300 and / or the type of work, changing control variables for the work vehicle 200 such as vehicle speed or engine speed, and switching the implement on / off. The operating terminal 400 may be configured to be detachable from the work vehicle 200. A user located away from the work vehicle 200 may control the operation of the work vehicle 200 by operating the detached operating terminal 400.

[0074] Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the operating terminal 400. The operating terminal 400 shown in Figure 7 comprises an input device 410, a display device 420, a control device 430, a ROM 440, a RAM 450, a storage device 460, and a communication device 470. These components are connected to each other via a bus so that they can communicate with one another.

[0075] The input device 410 is a device for converting user instructions into data and inputting it into a computer. The display device 420 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display device 420 has a touchscreen and, in addition to displaying images, also performs the functions of the input device 410.

[0076] The control device 430 includes a processor. The processor may be a semiconductor integrated circuit including, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). The processor may be implemented by a microprocessor or microcontroller. Alternatively, the processor may be implemented by an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) equipped with a CPU, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an ASSP (Application Specific Standard Product), or a combination of two or more circuits selected from these circuits. The processor sequentially executes a computer program stored in the ROM 440, which describes a set of instructions for performing at least one process, to achieve the desired process.

[0077] ROM440 can be, for example, writable memory (e.g., PROM), rewritable memory (e.g., flash memory), or read-only memory. ROM440 stores programs that control the operation of the processor. ROM440 does not have to be a single storage medium; it may be a collection of multiple storage media. Some of these storage media may be removable memory.

[0078] RAM450 provides a workspace for temporarily unpacking the control program stored in ROM440 during boot-up. RAM450 does not need to be a single storage medium; it may be a collection of multiple storage media.

[0079] The storage device 460 may be, for example, a magnetic storage device or a semiconductor storage device. An example of a magnetic storage device is a hard disk drive (HDD). An example of a semiconductor storage device is a solid-state drive (SSD).

[0080] The communication device 470 is a communication module for communicating via a network with, for example, a cloud server for managing agricultural work, a work vehicle, or a terminal device that can be used by a user (such as an agricultural manager or farm worker). The communication device 470 can perform wired communication compliant with communication standards such as IEEE 1394 (registered trademark) or Ethernet (registered trademark). The communication device 470 may also perform wireless communication compliant with Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi standards, or cellular mobile communication such as 3G, 4G, or 5G.

[0081] The work vehicle 200 may further include at least one sensing device for sensing the environment surrounding the work vehicle 200, and a processor for processing sensor data output from at least one sensing device. The sensing device may include, for example, multiple cameras, a LiDAR sensor, and multiple obstacle sensors. The sensor data output from the sensing device may be used, for example, for positioning. Various ECUs mounted on the work vehicle 200 may work together to perform calculations and controls to achieve autonomous driving based on the sensor data output from the sensing device.

[0082] In this embodiment, the fuel tank 50 is supported by a fixed frame 120. The fixed frame 120 is fixed to the vehicle body 102, straddling the driver's seat 107. The fuel tank 50 is located above the driver's seat 107. However, the location of the fuel tank 50 is not limited to the illustrated example, and could be, for example, inside the front housing 110.

[0083] In this embodiment, the fixed frame 120 is a long-axis structure such as a pipe fixed to the vehicle body 102. The fixed frame 120 includes two frames located on the left and right sides of the work vehicle 200 (see Figure 5). The front part of the fixed frame 120 has a curved shape. Note that the shape of the fixed frame 120 shown is merely an example, and the shape of the fixed frame 120 is not limited to this example.

[0084] In this embodiment, the vehicle body 102 has a front frame 102A that rotatably supports the front wheel 104F and a transmission case 102B that rotatably supports the rear wheel 104R. One end (front end) of the fixed frame 120 is fixed to the front frame 102A. The other end (rear end) of the fixed frame 120 is fixed to the transmission case 102B. These fixings can be performed by appropriate methods such as welding or bolting, depending on the material of the fixed frame 120. The fixed frame 120 may be formed from, for example, metal, synthetic resin, carbon fiber, or composite material such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic or glass fiber reinforced plastic. The transmission case 102B includes a rear axle case, and the rear end of the fixed frame 120 may be fixed to the rear axle case. If the fixed frame 120 is formed from metal, part or all of its surface may be covered with synthetic resin.

[0085] As shown in Figure 6, the work vehicle 200 is equipped with a cabin 105 surrounding a driver's seat 107 between the body 102 and the fixed frame 120. The driver's seat 107 is located at the rear of the cabin 105. In front of the driver's seat 107 are, for example, a steering handle (steering wheel) 106 for changing the direction of the front wheels 104F and an operating terminal 400. The cabin 105 has a cabin frame that constitutes the framework. A roof 109 is provided on top of the cabin frame. The cabin frame in this embodiment is a four-pillar type. The cabin 105 is supported by the transmission case 102B of the body 102, for example, via vibration-damping mounts. The user interface 1, described with reference to Figure 4, is provided inside the cabin 105. Since the cabin 105 does not directly support the fuel tank 50, it does not need to be specially strengthened, and a cabin that has been used in conventional tractors can be used.

[0086] The work vehicle 200 is equipped with a mounting platform 51A that connects the left frame 120 and the right frame 120. The fuel tank 50 may be placed on the mounting platform 51A. If there are multiple fuel tanks 50, the multiple fuel tanks 50 may be housed in a fuel tank module 55. As shown in Figure 6, the fuel tank module 55 is equipped with a tank case 51 that houses the multiple fuel tanks 50. The left and right fixed frames 120 may be connected to each other by members other than the mounting platform 51A.

[0087] A coupling device 108 is provided at the rear end of the transmission case 102B, which is the rear of the vehicle body 102. The coupling device 108 includes, for example, a three-point support device (also referred to as a "three-point link" or "three-point hitch"), a PTO shaft, a universal joint, and a communication cable. The coupling device 108 allows the implement 300 to be attached to and detached from the work vehicle 200. The coupling device 108 can change the position or orientation of the implement 300 by raising and lowering the three-point link, for example, by a hydraulic device. Power can also be supplied from the work vehicle 200 to the implement 300 via the universal joint. The work vehicle 200 can pull the implement 300 and cause the implement 300 to perform a predetermined task (agricultural work). The coupling device 108 may also be provided at the front of the vehicle body 102. In that case, the implement 300 can be connected to the front of the work vehicle 200.

[0088] The implement 300 comprises, for example, a drive unit, a control unit, and a communication unit. The drive unit performs the operations necessary for the implement 300 to perform a predetermined task. The drive unit includes, for example, a hydraulic unit, an electric motor, or a pump, depending on the application of the implement 300. The control unit controls the operation of the drive unit. The control unit causes the drive unit to perform various operations in response to signals transmitted from the work vehicle 200 via the communication unit. It can also transmit signals from the communication unit to the work vehicle 200 according to the status of the implement 300.

[0089] The implement 300 shown in Figure 6 is a rotary tiller, but the implement 300 is not limited to a rotary tiller. For example, any implement such as a seeder, spreader, transplanter, mower, rake, baler, harvester, spreader, or harrow can be connected to the work vehicle 200 and used.

[0090] The work vehicle 200 shown in Figure 6 is capable of being operated by a person, but may also be designed for unmanned operation only. In that case, components necessary only for manned operation, such as the cabin 105, steering wheel 106, and driver's seat 107, do not need to be provided on the work vehicle 200. The unmanned work vehicle 200 can be driven autonomously or by remote control by a user.

[0091] (4.2. Display of Estimated Results) The processing device in this embodiment is configured to estimate at least one of the distance, area, and time required for travel with an operation, based on the remaining amount of fuel measured by a sensor S4 provided in the fuel tank 50 and the type of implement 300 connected to the PTO shaft 76 and / or the type of operation performed by the implement 300, and to display the estimation result on a display device.

[0092] As mentioned earlier, the types of implements include, for example, rotary tillers, seeders, or spreaders. The types of work performed by implements include tilling, sowing, or fertilizing. However, there is not necessarily a one-to-one correspondence between the type of implement and the type of work. For example, if the implement is a rotary tiller, the types of work may include multiple types such as tilling, harrowing, or furrowing.

[0093] The processing unit, for example, obtains identification information of the implement 300 connected to the PTO shaft 76 and identifies the type of implement 300 based on the identification information. The work vehicle 200 and the implement 300 can communicate in accordance with ISOBUS standards, such as ISOBUS-TIM. In this way, the processing unit of the work vehicle 200 can obtain identification information of the implement 300 by communicating with the implement 300. Alternatively, the processing unit may identify the type of implement 300 connected to the PTO shaft 76 and / or the type of work performed by the implement 300 based on information about the type of implement 300 and / or the type of work entered by the user, for example, via the input device 410 of the operation terminal 400.

[0094] Sensor S4 acquires data on the remaining fuel pressure in the fuel tank 50. The processing unit can estimate the remaining fuel amount based on the remaining pressure data output from sensor S4. In this embodiment, the remaining fuel amount thus estimated may be referred to as the remaining fuel amount measured by sensor S4. The remaining fuel amount may be expressed as a percentage (%) of the tank capacity when full.

[0095] The storage device 7 of the work vehicle shown in Figure 4 stores data showing the relationship between the type of implement and / or the type of work and the amount of fuel consumed per unit time. Based on this data, the processing device in this embodiment estimates at least one of the distance, area, and time that can be traveled while performing the work. The unit of fuel consumption per unit time is, for example, L / h (liters per hour). Hereinafter, fuel consumption per unit time will simply be referred to as "fuel consumption".

[0096] Figure 8 shows an example of a table illustrating the relationship between implement type, work type, and fuel consumption. The example table (or lookup table) in Figure 8 includes five implement types: rotary tiller, spreader, seeder, mower, and harrow, and seven work types: plowing, harrowing, ridging, fertilizing, seeding, mowing, and soil crushing. The table lists the corresponding fuel consumption for each combination of implement type and work type. For example, when work vehicle 200 is plowing while towing a rotary tiller, the fuel consumption is C1 L / h, and when work vehicle 200 is fertilizing while towing a spreader, the fuel consumption is C4 L / h. Fuel consumption may vary depending on the implement type. Furthermore, fuel consumption may vary depending on the work type, even with the same implement type.

[0097] The fuel consumption figures included in the example table represent the combined fuel consumption of the work vehicle and the implement. However, the storage device may store data in a table that individually associates the fuel consumption of the work vehicle and the fuel consumption of the implement with the type of implement and the type of work. In this case, the processing device only needs to refer to the table and sum up the respective fuel consumption figures.

[0098] The processing unit refers to a table to identify the type of implement 300 and the fuel consumption corresponding to the type of work. Based on the identified fuel consumption (L / h) and the remaining fuel (L) measured by the sensor S4, the processing unit can estimate the time and distance (e.g., km) that can be traveled while working. For example, the processing unit can determine the time that can be worked by dividing the remaining fuel by the fuel consumption. The processing unit may further determine the distance that can be traveled by multiplying the time that can be worked by the speed of the work vehicle 200. The identification information of the implement 300 may further include, for example, information on the widthwise size of the implement 300. The processing unit may determine the area of ​​the workable area in the field by multiplying the distance that can be traveled by the widthwise size of the implement 300. The processing unit displays at least one of the distance, area, and time, which are thus estimated, on a display device.

[0099] The storage device 7 can store the fuel consumption C9 (L / h) when the implement 300 is not being driven, that is, when the PTO is not being driven. In this case, the processing device can estimate the time and distance (e.g., km) during which the vehicle can be driven without any work, based on the fuel consumption C9 (L / h) and the remaining fuel (L) measured by the sensor S4. Note that the fuel consumption C9 (L / h) when the implement is not being driven is smaller than the fuel consumption when the implement is being driven (e.g., any of C1 to C8 shown in Figure 8).

[0100] Figure 9A schematically shows an example of how the estimation results are displayed on the display device when the implement is driven. Figure 9B schematically shows an example of how the estimation results are displayed on the display device when the implement is not driven.

[0101] The display devices illustrated in Figures 9A and 9B are the main meter 4 and the FC meter 6, respectively. In this example, both the main meter 4 and the FC meter 6 are digital meters, although digital meters are not required. The display of the main meter 4 includes, for example, information regarding the speed of the work vehicle 200, the time, fuel consumption, indicator lights for the turn signals, a parking brake light, a charge light to indicate a charging system malfunction, and an indicator for a water temperature gauge showing the status of the radiator system (e.g., the temperature measured by the temperature sensor S3).

[0102] In the examples shown in Figures 9A and 9B, FC meters 6 are arranged on both sides of the main meter 4. However, the FC meters 6 may be arranged on only one side of the main meter 4, and the shape of each meter is not limited to the illustrated examples and is arbitrary. The FC meters 6 display information regarding the operating status of the FC power generation system 180. In this embodiment, the FC meters 6 also display the estimation results of the processing device described above as predictive information.

[0103] In the examples shown in Figures 9A and 9B, the display on the left side of the FC meter 6 includes information regarding the battery SOC (state of charge) indicating the charge status of the battery pack 80, the remaining fuel in the fuel tank 50 (%), the temperature of the fuel tank (°C), and the value (kPa) of the sensor S4 (pressure sensor) located in the fuel tank 50. The display on the left side of the FC meter 6 further includes the power generation status of the FC stack 11, a warning light 9 to warn of a malfunction in the fuel tank 50, and indicators corresponding to the battery SOC and remaining fuel, respectively.

[0104] In the example shown in Figure 9A, the FC meter 6 on the right displays estimated information such as the remaining range, remaining (workable) time, and working area when the implement is driven. The PTO clutch is engaged while the implement is being driven. However, it is not necessary for all of this information to be displayed. For example, the remaining range and remaining time may be displayed, but the working area information may not be displayed. The FC meter 6 on the right also displays information about the type of implement and the type of work.

[0105] In the example shown in Figure 9B, the FC meter 6 on the right displays estimated driving distance and driving time information, which are the results when the implement is not being driven. When the PTO clutch is disengaged, or even when the PTO clutch is engaged, if the prediction button (operation button) located around the driver's seat (e.g., in the cabin) is turned ON, the display on the FC meter 6 on the right may be configured to switch from the state shown in Figure 9A to the state shown in Figure 9B. The prediction button is a button that causes the processing unit to perform an estimation based on fuel consumption C9.

[0106] Thus, by presenting at least one piece of information—estimated driving distance, driving time, and working area—to, for example, a driver seated in the driver's seat or a user using an operating terminal, it becomes easier to prompt the driver or user to, for example, refuel, decide to stop the implement's operation, or change the work plan. Furthermore, by presenting information regarding the operating status of the FC power generation system to the driver or user, it becomes easier to prompt the driver or user to, for example, inspect the work vehicle or the FC power generation system.

[0107] Figure 10 schematically illustrates another example of how estimation results are displayed on a display device. The display device illustrated in Figure 10 is an operating terminal 400. The screen of the operating terminal 400 may also display the same or similar information as the information that can be displayed on the FC meter 6. The screen of the operating terminal 400 illustrated in Figure 10 displays the implement type, work type, and prediction information, as well as an input interface for setting vehicle speed and tilling depth, and vehicle information.

[0108] The processing unit may calculate at least one of the distance, area, and time that can be traveled when the implement 300 is stopped, and display the calculation results on a display device. When the implement is stopped compared to when it is running, fuel consumption may increase. Therefore, the travelable distance and working area may increase, and the travelable time may increase. The processing unit may estimate at least one of the travelable distance, area, and time based on the fuel consumption or fuel efficiency of the work vehicle 200 and the remaining fuel. This allows, for example, the driver to understand predictive information regarding when the implement is stopped, making it easier to decide whether to stop the implement's operation.

[0109] Figure 11 schematically shows an example of a display that includes information prompting refueling. Figure 11 shows an example of a digital meter display. The processing unit may display information prompting refueling on the display device when the remaining fuel level falls below a threshold. The threshold can be set, for example, to 10-20%. For example, when the remaining fuel level (%) falls below the threshold, the processing unit may display (pop up) the message 401 "Refueling is required." on the FC meter 6, as shown in Figure 11. Such a display can easily prompt the driver to refuel.

[0110] Figure 12 schematically shows an example of a pop-up display that includes information on remaining driving time. Figure 12 shows an example of the display on the screen of the operating terminal 400. The processing device may cause the display device to show a pop-up display that includes predictive information based on the estimation results. As illustrated in Figure 12, the processing device may display (pop up) the message 401 "You can perform work for another 15 minutes with the implement operating" on the FC meter 6. The message is not limited to the example shown, and may be, for example, a message notifying that the fuel level is low, a message prompting the replacement of the ion exchanger cartridge included in the FC module, or a message prompting the vehicle to stop if the implement is detached.

[0111] The processing unit may output voice messages based on the estimation results and / or voice messages prompting refueling to a voice output device. For example, the processing unit may output a voice message to a speaker notifying the driver of the remaining driving distance or time based on the estimation results, or a voice message prompting refueling to a speaker. Alternatively, the processing unit may output a buzzer sound to a buzzer prompting refueling.

[0112] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a display including map information. The map in the example display shown in Figure 13 includes a target route indicated by arrows, which is set within the field. The work vehicle 200 may further be equipped with a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver used for positioning. For example, the main ECU 3 of the work vehicle 200 can automatically drive the work vehicle 200 based on the position of the work vehicle 200 and the target route information.

[0113] The processing device may display map information on a display device that indicates how far in the field work can be carried out based on the estimation results. The map on the screen of the operating terminal 400 illustrated in Figure 13 shows the current location of the work vehicle 200 and the predicted destination based on the estimation results. The processing device determines the coordinates of the predicted destination in the geographic coordinate system based, for example, the coordinates of the current location in a geographic coordinate system fixed to the Earth, the target route, and the estimated drivable distance. The coordinates in the geographic coordinate system are represented, for example, by latitude and longitude. In this way, by displaying information that visualizes the estimation results on a display device, the processing device makes it easier for, for example, the driver or user to decide whether to continue work or change the work plan.

[0114] (4.3. Operation of the processing unit) Finally, an example of the operation of the processing unit will be explained with reference to Figure 14.

[0115] Figure 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure in operation of the processing unit.

[0116] First, the processing unit acquires sensor data output from the temperature sensor of the fuel tank 50 and measures the temperature of the fuel tank 50 based on the sensor data. The processing unit acquires sensor data output from the sensor S4 (pressure sensor) of the fuel tank 50 and measures the pressure of the fuel in the fuel tank 50 based on the sensor data (step S110).

[0117] Next, the processing unit determines whether the temperature and fuel pressure of the fuel tank 50 are within the normal range (step S120). If both values ​​are within the normal range, the process moves to the next step S140 (Yes in step S120). If either the temperature or fuel pressure of the fuel tank 50 is outside the normal range, the processing unit illuminates, for example, the warning light 9 on the FC meter 6 (see Figures 9A and 9B) (No in step S120).

[0118] Next, the processing unit estimates the remaining fuel amount based on the fuel pressure as described above (S140). The processing unit determines whether the remaining fuel amount is below a threshold (S150). If the remaining fuel amount is below the threshold (Yes in S150), the processing unit may, for example, flash the fuel level indicator on the FC meter 6 or display a message prompting refueling on the FC meter 6 (S160). Alternatively, if the remaining fuel amount is below the threshold, the processing unit may display the remaining driving distance, time, or working area, etc., on the FC meter 6.

[0119] In one embodiment, when the implement is driven (i.e., the PTO clutch is engaged) and the prediction button is OFF, the processing unit estimates the distance, time, and work area that can be traveled with the work based on the fuel consumption C1 to C8 (L / h) shown in Figure 8, for example. The processing unit can display the estimated travel distance, time, and work area along with the type of work and the type of implement, as shown in Figure 9A.

[0120] In another embodiment, the processing unit estimates the distance and time that can be driven without work, based on the fuel consumption C9 (L / h) when the implement is not driven, either when the implement is not driven (i.e., the PTO clutch is disengaged) or when the predict button is ON, even if the implement is driven. The processing unit may display the estimated distance and time that can be driven, as shown in Figure 9B.

[0121] When the remaining fuel level is above the threshold (No. in S150), the process ends.

[0122] The configurations and operations of the embodiments described above are illustrative only, and this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, the various embodiments described above may be combined as appropriate to form other embodiments.

[0123] As described above, this disclosure includes the work vehicles described in the following items.

[0124] [Item 1] A fuel cell module having a fuel cell stack, At least one fuel tank for containing fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell stack, A sensor for measuring the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, A motor connected to the aforementioned fuel cell module, The motor drives the power take-off shaft to which the implement is connected, Display device and A processing device that estimates at least one of the distance, area, and time required for travel with the operation, based on the measured remaining amount of fuel and the type of implement connected to the power take-off shaft and / or the type of operation performed by the implement, and displays the estimation result on the display device, A work vehicle equipped with the following features.

[0125] [Item 2] The processing device obtains identification information of the implement from the implement connected to the power take-off shaft, and identifies the type of implement and / or the type of work performed by the implement based on the identification information, as described in item 1.

[0126] [Item 3] The processing device identifies the type of implement and / or the type of work performed by the implement, based on information about the type of implement and / or the type of work entered by the user via an input device, as described in item 1.

[0127] [Item 4] The storage device further stores data showing the relationship between the type of implement and / or the type of work and the amount of fuel consumed per unit time, The processing apparatus estimates at least one of the distance, area, and time based on the data, according to any one of items 1 to 3 of the work vehicle.

[0128] [Item 5] The work vehicle according to any one of items 1 to 4, further comprising a processing device which calculates at least one of the distance, area, and time that can be traveled when the operation of the implement is stopped, and displays the calculation result on the display device.

[0129] [Item 6] The work vehicle according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the processing device causes the display device to show information prompting refueling when the remaining amount of fuel falls below a threshold.

[0130] [Item 7] The processing device is a work vehicle according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the processing device displays map information on the display device indicating how far in the field the work can be performed, based on the estimation result.

[0131] [Item 8] It is further equipped with an audio output device, The processing device causes the audio output device to output an audio based on the estimation result and / or an audio prompting refueling. A work vehicle listed in any of items 1 through 7.

[0132] [Item 9] The work vehicle according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein the sensor includes a pressure sensor that measures the pressure of the fuel corresponding to the remaining amount of fuel.

[0133] [Item 10] The aforementioned display device includes a meter panel, as described in any of items 1 to 9.

[0134] [Item 11] The aforementioned work vehicle is an agricultural machine, a work vehicle as described in any of items 1 to 10. [Industrial applicability]

[0135] The technology disclosed herein can be applied to agricultural machinery such as tractors, harvesters, rice transplanters, riding cultivators, vegetable transplanters, lawnmowers, seeders, fertilizer spreaders, or agricultural robots. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0136] 1...User interface, 2...Operating device, 3...Main ECU, 4...Main meter, 5...FC system ECU, 6...FC meter, 7...Storage device, 8...Audio output device, 10...Fuel cell module, 11...FC stack, 40...Boost circuit, 34...Radiator device, 40...Boost circuit, 50...Fuel tank, 51...Tank case, 70...Motor, 71...Output shaft, 72...Inverter device, 74... Power transmission system, 76... Power take-off (PTO) shaft, 80... Battery pack, 81... First DC-DC converter, 82... Second DC-DC converter, 83... Storage battery, 85... Air conditioning compressor, 86... Heater, 100... Work vehicle, 102... Body, 102A... Front frame, 102B... Transmission case, 104... Wheels, 104F... Front wheels, 104R... Rear wheels, 107... Driver's cab, 120... Fixed frame

Claims

1. A fuel cell module having a fuel cell stack, At least one fuel tank for containing fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell stack, A sensor for measuring the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, A motor connected to the aforementioned fuel cell module, The motor drives the power take-off shaft to which the implement is connected, Display device and A processing device that estimates at least one of the drivable distance, the workable work area, and the workable time when performing work while driving and towing or driving the implement, based on the measured remaining amount of fuel and the type of implement connected to the power take-off shaft and / or the type of work performed by the implement, and displays the estimation results on the display device, A work vehicle equipped with the following features.

2. The work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the processing device obtains identification information of the implement from the implement connected to the power take-off shaft, and identifies the type of the implement and / or the type of work performed by the implement based on the identification information.

3. The work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the processing device identifies the type of implement and / or the type of work performed by the implement based on information about the type of implement and / or the type of work entered by the user via an input device.

4. The device further includes a storage device that stores data showing the relationship between the type of implement and / or the type of work and the amount of fuel consumed per unit time. The work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the processing device estimates at least one of the distance, work area, and time based on the data.

5. The work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: the processing device, which calculates at least one of the distance that can be traveled, the working area, and the time when the operation of the implement is stopped, and displays the calculation result on the display device.

6. The work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the processing device causes the display device to display information prompting refueling when the remaining amount of fuel falls below a threshold.

7. The work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the processing device causes the display device to display map information indicating the extent to which the work can be performed in the field, based on the estimation result.

8. It is further equipped with an audio output device, The processing device causes the audio output device to output an audio based on the estimation result and / or an audio prompting refueling. A work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

9. The work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor includes a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the fuel corresponding to the remaining amount of fuel.

10. The work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the display device includes a meter panel.

11. The work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the work vehicle is an agricultural machine.

12. The work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the amount of fuel consumed differs depending on the type of work, even if the type of implement is the same.

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