Energy system and energy box

Abstract

A energy system (200) and a energy box (100) for machinery, wherein the energy box is configured to receive a limited and continuous oleodynamic power from an operating machine, convert it into electrical energy by means of an oleodynamic motor and an alternator, accumulate electrical energy and supply the equipment with an increased power compared to the input power, for short-duration cyclical processes.

Description

[0001] DESCRI PTION

[0002] "Energy system and energy box"

[0003] ★ ★ ★

[0004] The present invention relates to an energy system and an energy box for machinery .

[0005] In particular, the present invention relates to an energy system for signi ficantly increasing, for limited time intervals , the energy supplied to a machine or equipment , by exploiting the limited oleodynamic power of operating machines and an energy storage unit , appropriately si zed and managed .

[0006] Currently, the mechani zation sector of numerous processes is moving towards two main types of products . A first type concerns speci fic machinery for a speci fic operation, a phase or work cycle , which require maximi zing mechanical performance ; such machinery provides for only one type of use and their cost must therefore be amorti zed for only the work cycle for which they are intended .

[0007] A second type consist in multipurpose machines which allow the use of a basic operating machine , adapting it to versatile processes for multiple applications .Multipurpose machines are more economically advantageous , especially for medium and small-si zed companies . However, multipurpose machines present some dimensional and mechanical as well as performance issues . The speciali zation of mechanical work to be performed with these machines requires ever greater power and, in the case of particular applications , multipurpose machines require very high-performance and powerful oleodynamic systems . This need increases the costs of the machinery and requires technological adj ustments related to the energy needs of the equipment to be coupled to the basic operating machine . Currently, the need to adapt a multipurpose machine to the energy needs of a work cycle , even i f of a limited duration work cycle , leads to the request for systems with high power and oleodynamic systems , resulting in oversi zed and expensive machinery .

[0008] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an energy device and an energy system that allow, using a multipurpose operating machine having limited power and not suf ficient for some types of applications , to power equipment that perform cycl ical processes , requiring high power for a limited time .

[0009] The aim of the present invention i s therefore to provide an energy box that allows operating machines with limited power to be able to carry out "cyclic" and non-continuous work, powering equipment with energy absorption much greater than that available for the operating machine alone .

[0010] A further aim of the present invention is to provide an energy system, comprising an energy box, which allows an optimisation, in terms of power supplied and machinery used, of the cyclical processes which characterise numerous applications .

[0011] An example of application of the energy box obj ect of the present invention is its use in machines for harvesting hanging fruit . Shaking trees , in fact , requires signi ficant power for a very limited time with alternating work cycles , in particular 20 / 25 minutes of work and 35 / 40 minutes of break, or 30 cycles per hour .

[0012] The application of shakers on operating machines currently have many constraints , one of these being linked to the oleodynamic power of the multipurpose operating machine to which the shakers can be connected . In order to operate a shaker correctly ( depending on the si ze ) a hydraulic socket on the arm with a signi ficant capacity is needed with absorbed power generally not available on multipurpose machines , which typically supply limited power .

[0013] The need of such features makes the use of shakers impractical on many operating machines , because few of the operating machines have adequate energy performance and in any case they have insuf ficient dimensions and power .

[0014] Due to these limitations , is di f ficult to provide equipment and in particular a standard shaker that is easily interchangeable and adaptable to a multipurpose machine . Some energy storage or support systems are known, such as the one described in EP4108624A1 . The patent text describes a drive system for a forkli ft , with a oleodynamic system, comprising at least one oleodynamic pump and at least one oleodynamic motor, and a primary motor connected to the oleodynamic pump, implemented as an electric motor in which the direction of rotation of the oleodynamic motor is controlled by the primary motor .

[0015] However, known energy systems do not allow the generation of energy and power of such intensity and stability as to power equipment that carries out work cycles that require signi ficant power for a very limited time , with alternating work cycles . .

[0016] According to the present invention, an energy box is reali zed, as defined in claim 1 .

[0017] According to the present invention, an energy system is also reali zed, as defined in claim 10 .

[0018] For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is now described, purely by way of non- limiting example , with reference to the attached drawings , in which :

[0019] - figure 1 shows a schematic view of the energy box, according to the invention;

[0020] - figure 2 shows an energy system in which an energy box is connected to a machine and to an equipment , according to the invention;

[0021] - figure 3 shows an example of application of the energy box to a shaker on a tracked wheelbarrow, according to the invention;

[0022] - figure 4 shows another example of application of the energy box to a shaker on a mini-loader, according to the invention;

[0023] - figure 5 shows a further example of application of the energy box to a demolition hammer on a mini-excavator, according to the invention;

[0024] - figure 6 shows a final example of application of the energy box to a shaker on an agricultural tractor, according to the invention .

[0025] The energy box 100 according to the invention is applicable to multipurpose operating machines to appropriately power equipment intended to carry out cyclical processes in which high power is required for short intervals of time . According to the invention, the multipurpose operating machine is connected by means of an oil-dynamic line to the energy box 100 , to which it supplies a limited and continuous oil-dynamic power . The energy box 100 , thanks to its structure described below, is able to supply output , to a device connected to it and for work cycles of short time , a oleodynamic power much greater than that available and supplied by a multipurpose operating machine . The increased energy output from the energy box 100 is oleodynamic energy .

[0026] Known operating machines , currently on the market , have a hydraulic power take-of f .

[0027] According to the present invention, the energy box 100 comprises :

[0028] - An input oleodynamic line connected to an operating machine , for example a multipurpose operating machine , which provides continuous and limited oleodynamic power ;

[0029] - An output oleodynamic line , which provides a power much higher than the input power to the equipment that is connected to the energy box 100 , this power will be signi ficantly and appropriately increased depending on the final needs and with the intrinsic flexibility in terms of flow rate and hydraulic pressure that the system allows ;

[0030] - an oleodynamic motor 105 , connected to the hydraulic socket of the operating machine ; - an alternator 102 , connected to the oleodynamic motor

[0031] 105 ;

[0032] - an electrical energy storage system 101 , connected to the alternator 102 to accumulate the input energy;

[0033] - an electric motor 106 having power suf ficient to power an equipment connected to the energy box 100 , for example a shaker ;

[0034] - a oleodynamic pump 103 with fixed or variable flow rate connected to the electric motor 106 .

[0035] According to one aspect of the invention, the energy box also comprises a tank 104 of adequate volume containing the hydraulic oil necessary for the operation of the equipment and a wiring system of wires and pipes .

[0036] The wires and pipes are autonomous lines , independent of the controls of the operating machine and are able to manage the operation of the energy box 100 and the equipment connected to it , through drives available to the operator .

[0037] According to one aspect of the invention, the energy box 100 comprises a control unit o f the charge of the storage system 101 .

[0038] In use , the oleodynamic line o f the self-propelled machine , or of the multipurpose operating machine , is connected via two pipes to the oleodynamic line at the input of the energy box 100 . The incoming oleodynamic energy activates the oleodynamic motor 105 which, being connected to the alternator 102 , produces electrical energy that is accumulated by the energy storage system 101 , in turn connected to an electric motor 106 of adequate power .

[0039] The electric motor 106 is connected to a oleodynamic pump 103 with variable or fixed flow, in turn fed by a tank 104 of adequate capacity .

[0040] The oleodynamic pump 103 is finally connected with adequate pipes to the output oleodynamic line , to which the equipment intended to carry out cyclical processes is connected .

[0041] The energy box 100 according to the invention, thanks to its structure and its components , allows to supply a hydraulic power signi ficantly greater than that input both in the form of hydraulic flow and pressure .

[0042] The energy box according to the invention makes the terminal equipment totally independent from the operating machine to which the energy box is installed and connescted . The energy box 100 in fact allows to supply the oleodynamic power necessary for the operation of the terminal equipment , providing the adequate flow and hydraulic pressure even di f ferent from that supplied by the operating machine . The oleodynamic pump 103 is advantageously able to provide adequate power for the operation of an equipment , which for example is a shaker or the tool to be used for a certain limited period of time but which requires high power .

[0043] Advantageously, the energy box 100 allows to provide an equipment that absorbs high energy, for defined interval of timeand related to the work cycles , a oleodynamic power much greater than the input power coming from a sel f- propelled operating machine .

[0044] Advantageously, by using the energy box 100 to power equipment that performs continuous cycles processes and not continuous process , the storage system 101 has suf ficient time to be recharged durign the time interval between the processing cycles .

[0045] In an alternative embodiment , the energy box 100 is not connected through the hydraulic socket of the multipurpose operating machine but the alternator 102 of the energy box is connected to the power take-of f ( PTO) of the operating machine .

[0046] According to one embodiment , the energy box comprises : an input oleodynamic line , connected to the operating machine ; an output oleodynamic line , configured to provide greater power compared to the input power, to the equipment ; a oleodynamic motor ( 105 ) , connected to a hydraulic socket of the multipurpose operating machine , and an alternator ( 102 ) , connected to the oleodynamic motor ( 105 ) .

[0047] In the alternative form, however, the connection of the energy box to the operating machine does not occur via the oleodynamic motor 105 but via the alternator, that in this case is connected to the power take-of f of the operating machine .

[0048] According to one aspect of the invention, the energy box 100 comprises software and hardware configured to manage the input power and storage in relation to the energy used . In particular, the hardware comprises an electronic board, a monitor or display for data management .

[0049] According to one aspect of the invention, the energy box 100 comprises inside it a thermal engine to support the system, having a tank of limited capacity and preferably less than 15 liters and even more preferably less than 12 liters .

[0050] According to one aspect of the invention, the energy box 100 is closed and sealed .

[0051] According to one aspect of the invention, a plurality of perforated coupling plates allows it to be applied very easily to any operating machine , making the available power separate from the usable hydraulic power . Advantageously, the series of perforated plates allows the energy box 100 to be easily connected to an operating machine , adapting it to the considerably variable cases of the operating machines on which it will be installed .

[0052] The characteristics of the energy box 100 make it suitable for powering any equipment intended to perform cyclical processes that uses hydraulic power .

[0053] According to the present invention, an energy system 200 is also provided comprising a machine , preferably a multipurpose machine , an equipment suitable for performing cyclical processes and an energy box 100 having the characteristics already described .

[0054] According to the present invention, is also provided a system comprising an energy box 100 and an equipment able to perform cyclical processes , for example a shaker or an equipment suitable for performing similar processing cycles . This system composed of an energy box 100 and a terminal equipment in use is applicable to any operating machine .

[0055] A typical application is the one in which the powered equipment is a shaker, which performs intermittent high- energy processes . A further example of application is that of percussion machines for road works .

[0056] According to one aspect of the invention, the energy box has dimensions such as to respect the dimensional constraints of the operating machines on which it will be installed and connected, typically : A x B x H with A between 70 cm and 150 cm; B between 25 cm and 80 cm; H between 25 cm and 100 cm; and preferably A x B x H equal to 100 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm .

[0057] The weight of the energy box 100 is such that it can be easily moved and supported by the operating machines on which it will be instal led, preferably between 150 kg and 350 kg, making it advantageously practical to transport .

[0058] A further example of application of the energy box 100 is the technical field of drilling, where power peaks are needed for short periods . In this case , the system 200 equipment is a drilling machine . In an exemplary case optimi zed by the Applicant , it was determined that with an input hydraulic power of 20 It / min at 150 bar, the energy box allows to obtain an output hydraulic power of 100 It / min at 200 bar .

[0059] Advantageously, the energy box 100 is versatile since it is not tied to the operating machine , instead it is removably connected and can be applied to various multipurpose or sel f-propelled machinery . The presence of the hydraulic tank and the hydraulic and electric cords makes the energy box 100 independent from the operating machine . Advantageously, the energy box 100 makes the thermal power of the operating machine independent of the power required to operate the necessary equipment .

[0060] Advantageously, the energy box 100 is coupled to the multipurpose operating machine in a simple and practical way, by means of a bracket system .

[0061] Advantageously, the energy box 100 includes a control and management system equipped with a speci fic software that allows the operator to control and balance the input power with the output power .

[0062] The energy box according to the invention advantageously allows to overcome the current problem that requires that multipurpose machines are purchased considering the maximum necessary absorptions , even for limited uses both in time and cyclically . In this way the power required for this type of machine is always increasing, increasing costs and energy consumption . The energy box and the energy system according to the invention allow to optimi ze the power and therefore to reduce gas emissions .

[0063] Thanks to the energy box and the energy system according to the invention, a small machine can perform, for limited and cyclical periods of time , operation that would require greater power than those available . Advantageously, the energy box 100 is easily applicable to any operating machine , by means of coupling plates .

[0064] Advantageously, the energy box 100 expands the range of potential application of multipurpose machines and operating machines in intermittent and non-continuous work .

[0065] According to one aspect of the invention, the energy box 100 includes wiring systems , configured for remote control by means of controls carried in a cabin . The control systems , not being linked to the operating machine , are interchangeable and can be used on any other vehicle .

[0066] Advantageously according to the invention, by balancing the dimensions of the alternator 102 with the storage capacity of the energy storage system 101 and the other elements of the system, signi ficant oleodynamic power can be guaranteed even with long-lasting work cycles .

[0067] Advantageously, the use of oleodynamic systems , such as variable flow pumps , allows to optimi ze performance by optimi zing energy and reducing waste , or by signi ficantly reducing exhaust gas pollution, reducing the thermal power of the machines and therefore consumption .

[0068] Advantageously, the energy box 100 allows to reduce the hourly cost of cyclical processing and operation, as there is no energy waste . Advantageously, the energy storage system 101 can be recharged by the operating machine or even via the electrical network .

[0069] Finally, it is clear that modi fications and variations can be made to the energy box according to the invention, described and illustrated here , without departing from the protective scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims .

Claims

CLAIMS1. Energy box (100) configured to be removably connected downstream of an operating machine from which a limited and continuous hydraulic power is supplied, and upstream of an equipment configured to carry out cyclical processes at high power in limited times, characterised in comprising :- an input oleodynamic line, connected to the operating machine ;- an output oleodynamic line, configured to supply power to the equipment;- an oleodynamic motor (105) , connected to a hydraulic socket of the operating machine;- an alternator (102) , connected to the oleodynamic motor (105) or to an hydraulic power take-off of the operating machine;- an electrical energy storage system (101) connected to the alternator (102) ;- an electric motor (106) , connected to the energy storage system (101) ;- an oleodynamic pump (103) having a fixed or variable flow rate , connected to the electric motor (106) and configured to power the equipment connected to the energy box (100) .

2. Energy box (100) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising:- a control unit of the charge of the storage system (101) .- a tank (104) , containing hydraulic oil;- a wiring system of wires and pipes, able to manage the operation of the energy box (100) and of the equipment connected to the energy box.

3. Energy box (100) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising:- an hardwere and software configured to manage the input power through the input oleodynamic line and its conversion in electric energy through the electric motor and the alternator, and the storage of energy in the energy storage system in relation to the energy used .

4. Energy box (100) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising inside a thermal engine.

5. Energy box (100) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in having dimensions A x B x H wherein A is comprised between 70 cm and 150 cm; B is comprised between 25 cm and 80 cm; H is comprised between 25 cm and 100 cm, being easy to transport.

6. Energy box (100) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in having weight comprised between 150 kg and 350 kg, being easy to transport.

7. Energy box (100) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising a plurality of perforated coupling plates, able to removably fasten said energy box to the operating machine.

8. Energy box (100) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising wiring systems configured for remote control .

9. Energy system (200) comprising :- an operating machine, able to provide an input power;- an equipment able to perform cyclical processes at high power and for limited times, and- an energy box (100) removably connected to, and interposed between, the operating machine to which it is connected by means of an input oleodynamic line, and the equipment to which it is connected by means of an output oleodynamic line, said energy box (100) being able to receive from the operating machine a limited and continuous oleodynamic power, to convert said power in electrical energy through an oleodynamic motor andan alternator, to store electrical energy and to supply an oleodynamic power increased compared to the input power to the equipment, to perform cyclical and limited time processes.

10. Energy system (200) according to claim 9 characterized in that said energy box (100) comprises:- an input oleodynamic line, with connection to the operating machine, in which the operating machine supply an input continuous and limited oleodynamic power by means of said input oleodynamic line;- an oleodynamic motor (105) , connected to the power take-off of the operating machine;- an alternator (102) , connected to the oleodynamic motor (105) ;- an electric energy storage system (101) connected to the alternator (102) ;- an electric motor (106) , connected to the storage system ( 101 ) ,- an oleodynamic pump (103) having fixed or variable flow rate, connected to the electric motor (106) configured to power the equipment connected to the energy box (100) ;- an output oleodynamic line, that provide an increased power compared to the input power, to the equipment.

11. Energy system (200) according to claim 9, characterized in that said equipment is a shaker for agricultural use.

12. Energy system (200) comprising an energy box (100) according to one of the claims 1-8, an operating machine and an equipment configured to perform cyclical processes, wherein the energy box is able to supply to the equipment a power increased compared to the oleodynamic power suppled by the oleodynamic machine, for short time intervals.

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