Agricultural implement that can be coupled to hybrid and electric vehicles

Abstract

The present invention relates to an agricultural implement (1) that can be coupled to hybrid or electric vehicles (2), characterised in that it comprises: - an electric motor (3); and - a coupling system (4) for coupling the implement (1) to the vehicle (2), said coupling system comprising a hitch suitable for being attached to the vehicle (2) and a power outlet which is connected to a female socket at the rear of the vehicle (2) and which electrically powers the motor (3) via cables, said motor transforming the electrical energy arriving from the vehicle (2) into the kinetic energy required to perform any agricultural work.

Description

[0001] -2-

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Agricultural implement attachable to hybrid and electric vehicles.

[0004] TECHNICAL SECTOR

[0005] The present invention falls within the agricultural machinery sector and refers to an agricultural implement or tool whose novel characteristics allow for improved and efficient integration with hybrid and electric vehicles during the performance of any agricultural work.

[0006] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The mechanization and modernization of the countryside, as well as the new regulatory frameworks on sustainability, have forced the introduction of important technological improvements both in agricultural vehicles and in the implements or agricultural instruments attached to them.

[0008] Agricultural vehicles have become electrified, increasingly independent of manual operations, and fully autonomous agricultural machinery and vehicles now exist. Onboard electronic management systems in agricultural vehicles are capable of automatically managing the transmission and engine speed, achieving greater energy efficiency and operational performance, as well as more precise and efficient control of the electric actuators incorporated in the implements or agricultural tools attached to these vehicles.

[0009] Although agricultural implements or tools are being sensorized and technified to automate and achieve greater precision in carrying out the agricultural work for which they were designed, in relation to the movement of their parts and accessories, these implements continue to be based on power take-off systems from the endothermic engines present in agricultural vehicles, such as those described in inventions ES 0227248 U or ES 0243253 U.

[0010] Agricultural implements coupled to state-of-the-art hybrid or 100% electric vehicles still have many critical problems to solve. -3-

[0011] Implements attached to fully electric vehicles have a simpler architecture, as the mechanisms needed to transmit movement between the vehicle and the implements have been reduced.

[0012] However, for certain agricultural tasks, electric motors do not achieve adequate power levels. Their energy density, which ranges from 0.2 to 0.3 kWh / kg, is significantly lower than that of diesel engines, which reach energy densities of around 2.5 kWh / kg. The Electronic Foundation for the Agricultural Industry (AEF), together with agricultural machinery and equipment manufacturers, has developed a standard for the transmission of electrical energy between agricultural vehicles and implements. This standard provides for the transmission of up to 150 kW of electrical energy in either 480 V alternating current or 700 V direct current to achieve power levels equivalent to those obtained with internal combustion engines.As an adverse side effect of this increase in the movement levels of electric motors, the overall autonomy of the agricultural vehicle and its attached implements is reduced, which makes it necessary to improve the energy accumulators to cover the normal working days that occur in the agricultural field.

[0013] The present invention provides solutions to the aforementioned problems in the use of implements on hybrid or fully electric vehicles by integrating an electric motor into the implement itself and a vehicle-implement coupling system that electrically powers said motor via cables. The motor integrated into the implement transforms the electrical energy it receives from the vehicle into kinetic energy, eliminating the need for any transmission of motion or other type of energy between the vehicle and the implement for performing electrical work.

[0014] The solution proposed in the present invention allows for greater energy efficiency by eliminating the power take-off mechanisms between the vehicle engine and the implement. Furthermore, the present invention increases reliability and reduces repair times in the event of implement failure by simplifying the coupling between the two parts, in addition to resulting in a safer and less polluting implement compared to those existing in the prior art. -4-

[0015] EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention consists of an agricultural implement or tool (1) attachable to hybrid or fully electric vehicles (2), comprising the following elements:

[0017] An electric motor (3);

[0018] A coupling system (4) between the implement (1) and the vehicle (2), comprising a suitable hitch for attaching it to the vehicle (2) and an electrical socket that connects to a female plug at the rear of the vehicle (2), and which, through cables, allows the motor (3) to be electrically powered, which is responsible for transforming the electrical energy received from the vehicle (2) into the kinetic energy necessary to perform any agricultural work such as precision sowing, plowing, spraying plant protection products, crushing stone, or any combination thereof.

[0019] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to facilitate the description of the above, a drawing is attached which schematically represents the present invention, provided as a non-limiting example only:

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the implement of the present invention attached to an agricultural vehicle;

[0022] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic side view of a first preferred embodiment of the implement (1) of the present invention, comprising a coupling system (4) between the implement (1) and the vehicle (2), whether hybrid or fully electric, consisting of a hitch, an electrical socket, and electrical cables. The hitch used is suitable for coupling the implement (1) and the vehicle (2) and can be any type of hitch known in the prior art, such as an automatic, ball-type, or fixed-type hitch. The electrical socket connects to a female socket located at the rear of the vehicle (2), and the electrical cables provide power to the electric motor (3) located on the implement (1). Between the implement (1) and the vehicle -5-

[0024] (2) there is no transmission of mechanical energy such as, for example, that which occurs from the vehicle's engine power take-off, but simply the transmission of electrical energy.

[0025] The motor (3) of the implement (1) transforms the electrical energy from the vehicle (2) into the kinetic energy necessary to perform agricultural tasks. The implement (1) of the present invention can be used for any agricultural work, such as plowing, precision sowing, spraying plant protection products on crops, or crushing stones, among others.

[0026] By using the electric motor (3) vibrations of the implement (1) are eliminated, achieving more precise, efficient and effective agricultural work and less polluting.

[0027] Furthermore, the use of the coupling system (4) without moving parts greatly increases safety during the operation and maintenance of said implement (1).

[0028] The foregoing description is intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. That is to say, there are many variations and modifications that can be introduced into the foregoing descriptions that would be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art, and the present invention is intended to encompass all such modifications and variations. Such modifications may include the choice of materials, the overall dimensions of the embodiment, and so forth. Consequently, the scope of the present invention shall not be limited to any specific embodiment, illustration, or description given herein, but the scope of the invention shall be determined by the appended claims using the plain and ordinary meaning of the words used therein.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Agricultural implement (1) attachable to hybrid or electric vehicles (2), characterized in that it comprises: An electric motor (3); A coupling system (4) between the implement (1) and the vehicle (2), comprising a suitable hitch for attaching it to the vehicle (2) and an electrical outlet that connects to a female socket at the rear of the vehicle (2) and which, through cables, electrically powers the motor (3), which is responsible for transforming the electrical energy received from the vehicle (2) into the kinetic energy necessary to perform any agricultural work.

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