Baler Rotary Drive Transmission for Peak Torque Smoothing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Baler systems face challenges with high peak torque requirements during compaction, leading to inconvenient driving patterns and increased fuel consumption, as well as difficulties in starting the baler due to high inertia flywheels, which result in reduced driveline speed and increased complexity and cost.

Innovation Solution

A rotary drive transmission with a torsional drive transfer device that includes a resilient element, allowing limited relative rotation between the drive and driven parts, reduces peak torque requirements by storing energy during torque peaks and converting it into kinetic energy between peaks, thereby smoothing power delivery without increasing overall energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a high inertia flywheel is used to smooth power delivery during compaction, then power delivery is smoothed, but the driveline speed reduces and starting becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower delivery smoothingVSAvoiddriveline speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The driveline is segmented into multiple inertia elements (flywheel and torsional drive transfer device) that work together to smooth power delivery while maintaining overall system speed. The torsional drive transfer device acts as an intermediate element that decouples the speed reduction effect from the power smoothing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The torsional drive transfer device serves as an intermediary between the flywheel and the driveline, allowing the flywheel to provide power smoothing without directly imposing its speed reduction effect on the entire driveline. This mediator enables starting while maintaining power delivery smoothing benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Force

If a high inertia flywheel is used to store energy during torque peaks, then peak torque is reduced, but starting the baler becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepeak torque reductionVSAvoidbaler starting

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The torsional drive transfer device introduces dynamic flexibility to the driveline, allowing it to accommodate the high inertia flywheel during operation while enabling acceleration during starting. The torsional flexibility allows temporary energy storage during peak torque without preventing initial system acceleration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the effective inertia parameter dynamically - during starting, the torsional drive transfer device allows the driveline to accelerate despite the flywheel's inertia, while during operation, the flywheel's inertia provides peak torque reduction. This parameter change enables both starting ease and peak torque management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Force

If the driveline speed is reduced to accommodate flywheel inertia, then peak torque requirements are reduced, but fuel consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepeak torque requirementVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The torsional drive transfer device enables periodic energy exchange between the flywheel and the driveline, allowing the system to maintain higher average speeds while still providing peak torque reduction. The periodic torsional flexing allows energy recovery during deceleration phases, reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous speed reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution mitigates the issues of high peak torque and inconvenient driving patterns, allowing the tractor to start the flywheel without extra motors or clutch, while maintaining increased bale density and reducing the complexity and cost of the driveline.

Implementation Method 1

a torsional drive transfer device that comprises a resilient element and is configured to allow limited relative rotation in the drive direction between the rotary drive part and the rotary driven part against a reaction force provided by the resilient element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a flywheel connected to a rotary input of the drive mechanism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlywheel energy storage: Flywheel

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorsion: Torsion Spring

Data Source

PatentEP4169371A1Baler and a rotary drive transmission for a baler

Publication Date: 2023.04.26 KUHN GELDROP

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AI summary

A rotary drive transmission is provided for a baler comprising a bale chamber, a plunger that compresses bale material in the bale chamber, a drive mechanism that drives reciprocating movement of the plunger, and a flywheel connected to a rotary input of the drive mechanism. The rotary drive transmission comprises a rotary drive part, a rotary driven part that drives rotation of the flywheel, and a torsional drive transfer device that transfers rotary drive between the rotary drive part and the rotary driven part. The torsional drive transfer device comprises a resilient element and is configured to allow limited relative rotation in the drive direction between the rotary drive part and the rotary driven part against a reaction force provided by the resilient element.