Torque Energy Storage Coupling for Uneven Drive Train Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural machines face non-uniform load cycles and fluctuating load levels, leading to high stress on the drive train and reduced driving comfort due to varying power demands, which existing energy storage solutions fail to effectively manage.
Innovation Solution
An energy storage arrangement featuring a shaft, housing, actuator, freewheel, energy store, and couplings that allow for axial displacement to charge, hold, or discharge torque, utilizing a freewheel to prevent torque transmission in one direction and enable efficient energy storage and retrieval through shifting couplings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the drive train directly transmits torque without energy storage, then the structure is simple, but the drive train experiences high stress and reduced reliability due to uneven load cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The energy store (spring, piston, or flywheel) is pre-loaded or pre-positioned to store energy before it is needed. During high-torque phases, the energy store is charged by the shaft; during low-torque phases, it discharges to supplement shaft output, thereby smoothing the torque delivery and protecting the drive train from stress peaks
Solution Approach 2:
The energy store acts as an intermediary between the shaft and the driven mechanism. It buffers the direct connection, absorbing torque fluctuations and providing a smoothed torque output to the drive train components, thereby reducing stress and improving reliability
2Productivity
If the actuator is continuously connected to both housing and support element, then the torque transmission is stable, but the ability to charge and discharge energy store is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is designed to be dynamically positionable along the shaft axis. It can switch between different engagement states: engaged with the housing for charging, engaged with the support element for holding, or disengaged from both for discharge. This dynamic repositioning enables flexible energy management while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control
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 effectively manages torque in agricultural machines by stabilizing power demands, reducing stress on the drive train, and enhancing driving comfort by allowing for efficient charging, holding, and discharging of energy, thereby improving operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a freewheel (140) disposed between the shaft (110) and actuator (130) and fastened to the shaft (110), the freewheel (140) being configured to transmit no torque in one rotational direction
Implementation Method 2
an energy store (150) configured to store torque
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage arrangement includes a shaft for transmitting torque, a housing, an actuator configured to be axially moved, a freewheel disposed between the shaft and actuator and fastened to the shaft, the freewheel being configured to transmit no torque in one rotational direction, an energy store configured to store torque, a support element, an outer coupling between the housing and the support element, and an inner coupling between the support element and the shaft.