Dual Electrical Machine System for Agricultural Machinery

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural working machines face inefficiencies due to oversized electrical systems that are not fully utilized, leading to high investment costs and poor efficiency, as they need to accommodate varying electrical outputs from different attachments.

Innovation Solution

The use of two interconnectable electrical machines and a flywheel mass energy storage system, allowing the system to adapt power supply to the required load and store excess energy for later use, enabling efficient operation across different attachments and hybrid functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single powerful electrical system is designed to accommodate maximum power requirements of all attachments, then the electrical system can supply any attachment, but the system is oversized and not fully utilized for most applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical system adaptabilityVSAvoidelectrical system efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical system is divided into two separate electrical machines instead of using one oversized machine. The first electrical machine is sized for internal consumers and small attachments, while the second electrical machine handles large attachments with high power requirements. This segmentation allows each machine to operate at optimal capacity, avoiding the inefficiency of an oversized single system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between one or two electrical machines based on the power requirements of the attached implement. The control system activates the second electrical machine only when a large attachment is detected, allowing the system to adapt its capacity to match actual demand rather than operating at fixed oversized capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single powerful electrical system is designed to accommodate maximum power requirements, then any attachment can be powered, but investment costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical system capacityVSAvoidinvestment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of manufacturing and installing one extremely powerful electrical machine, the system uses two smaller electrical machines. This segmentation reduces the total cost of equipment while maintaining the capability to handle maximum power requirements when needed, as the machines work together only for large attachments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes its effective power capacity parameter dynamically by activating either one or two electrical machines based on the attachment type. This allows the system to match its capacity parameters to actual requirements, avoiding the constant overhead cost of maintaining an oversized single machine at full capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If excess electrical energy is generated by the first electrical machine, then internal consumers are well supplied, but the energy is wasted if not utilized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical capacity utilizationVSAvoidexcess energy waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the first and second electrical machines into a coordinated system where excess energy from the first machine can be transferred to the second machine. This combination allows energy to be shared between the two machines, preventing waste of excess energy generated during low-demand operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system ensures continuous useful action by transferring excess electrical energy from the first electrical machine to the second electrical machine through the coupling means. This prevents energy waste by continuously utilizing excess generation capacity to support the second machine when it operates, maintaining optimal energy utilization across the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful 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 configuration allows for high utilization of electrical capacity, efficient energy storage, and adaptation to varying power demands, reducing waste and enhancing overall system efficiency by using only necessary components and storing excess energy for later use.

Implementation Method 1

a mechanical energy store in the form of a flywheel mass store, which has at least one flywheel mass wheel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlywheel: Flywheel

Implementation Method 2

The electrical machine can act in particular as a generator and/or as an electric motor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3450235B1Agricultural working machine and electrical system for same
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 CLAAS INDUSTRIETECHNIK GMBH
  • EP3450235B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3450235B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3450235B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application relates to an agricultural machine (1) comprising an internal combustion engine (2), a transmission device (3) and an electrical system (13), the electrical system (13) comprising an electric machine (4) and an energy storage device (6), wherein the electric machine (4) can be driven by means of the internal combustion engine (2) so that the electric machine (4) can function as a generator, wherein the electric machine (4) is operatively connected to the energy storage device (6) so that the electric machine (4) can be driven by means of energy stored in the energy storage device (6) and can thus function as an electric motor, wherein the energy storage device (6) and the electric machine can be connected to each other in an energy-transferring manner by means of a coupling means (9) (4).According to the invention, the electrical system (13) of the working machine (1) comprises a second electric machine (5) which can interact with the first electric machine (4) and the energy storage device (6), wherein the second electric machine (5) can be connected to the first electric machine (4) in a torque-transmitting manner by means of a coupling means (8).