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BR-102020005984-B1 - COMBINED STARTER-GENERATOR DEVICE AND DRIVE TRAIN ASSEMBLY

BR102020005984B1BR 102020005984 B1BR102020005984 B1BR 102020005984B1BR-102020005984-B1

Abstract

COMBINED STARTER-GENERATOR DEVICE AND DRIVE TRAIN ASSEMBLY. A combined starter-generator device is provided for a work vehicle having a propeller. The starter-generator device includes an electric machine and a gear set configured to receive rotational input from the electric machine and the propeller. The gear set is configured to operate in at least one first, second, or third gear ratio in a first direction of power flow and at least one fourth gear ratio in a second direction of power flow. The starter-generator device further includes at least one clutch selectively engaged to the gear set to effect the gear ratios and an actuation assembly including at least one electromechanical solenoid device configured to selectively shift at least one clutch from a disengaged position, in which at least one clutch is disengaged from the gear set, to an engaged position, in which at least one clutch is engaged to the gear set.

Inventors

  • STEVEN R. FLIEARMAN
  • LISA R. LLOYD

Assignees

  • DEERE & COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20200325
Priority Date
20190416

Claims (20)

  1. 1. Combined starter-generator device (130) for a work vehicle having a propeller (120), the starter-generator device (130) characterized in that it comprises: an electric machine (134); a gear set (320) configured to receive rotational input from the electric machine (134) and from the propeller (120) and to couple the electric machine (134) and the propeller (120) in a first energy flow direction and a second energy flow direction, the gear set (320) configured to operate in at least one first transmission ratio, a second transmission ratio, or a third transmission ratio in the first energy flow direction and at least one fourth transmission ratio in the second energy flow direction; at least one clutch selectively coupled to the gear set (320) to effect one of the first, second, or third transmission ratios in the first energy flow direction and the fourth transmission ratio in the second energy flow direction. of energy; and an actuation assembly including at least one electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430, 450, 470, 490, 510, 530) mounted to a reaction member (392) and configured to selectively shift at least one clutch from an unengaged position, in which at least one clutch is disengaged from the gear assembly (320), to an engaged position, in which at least one clutch is engaged to the gear assembly (320).
  2. 2. Combined starter-generator device (130) according to claim 1, characterized in that the reaction member (392) is generally disc-shaped.
  3. 3. Combined starter-generator device (130) according to claim 1, characterized in that the reaction member (392) includes a first reaction member face (393) and a second reaction member face (394), opposite the first reaction member face (393) and oriented towards at least one clutch, wherein the at least one electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430, 450, 470, 490, 510, 530) includes a first electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430) with a first armature, wherein the actuation assembly further includes a first linkage assembly (412, 432) with a first actuation pin (416, 436) coupled to at least one clutch, a first linkage member (413, 433) extending between the first armature and the first actuation pin (416, 436), and a first pivot element (434) mounted to the first reaction member face (393) and coupled to the first connecting member (413, 433) such that the first connecting member (413, 433) is pivotable around the first pivot element (434).
  4. 4. Combined starter-generator device (130) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430) is mounted on a perimeter of the reaction member (393) such that the actuation of the first armature pivots the first connecting member and axially displaces the first actuating pin (416, 436) and at least one clutch between the disengaged and engaged positions.
  5. 5. Combined starter-generator device (130) according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one clutch includes a first clutch and a second clutch, each selectively positionable between the engaged and disengaged positions, and wherein the first electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430) is configured to reposition the first clutch, and wherein the at least one electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430, 450, 470, 490, 510, 530) additionally includes a second electromechanical solenoid device (450, 470) configured to reposition the second clutch.
  6. 6. Combined starter-generator device (130) according to claim 5, characterized in that the second electromechanical solenoid device (450, 470) includes a second armature, wherein the actuation assembly further includes a second set of links (452, 472) with a second actuation pin (456, 476) coupled to the second clutch, a second link member (453, 473) extending between the second armature and the second actuation pin (456, 476), and a second pivot element (454, 474) mounted to the first face of the reaction member (393) and coupled to the second link member (453, 473) such that the second link member (453, 473) is pivotable around the second pivot element (454, 474), and wherein the second electromechanical solenoid device (450, 470) is mounted on the perimeter of the reaction member (392) so that the action of the second armature pivots the second connecting member (453, 473) and axially displaces the second actuating pin (456, 476) and the second clutch between the disengaged and engaged positions.
  7. 7. Combined starter-generator device (130) according to claim 6, characterized in that the actuation assembly includes at least one pair of the first electromechanical solenoid devices (410, 430) and at least one pair of the second electromechanical devices (450, 470).
  8. 8. Combined starter-generator device (130) according to claim 6, characterized in that each of the first and second electromechanical solenoid devices (410, 430, 450, 470) includes a connecting element configured to respectively receive current to energize the first and second electromechanical solenoid devices (410, 430, 450, 470).
  9. 9. Combined starter-generator device (130) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first and second clutches are toothed clutches and the second clutch is concentrically arranged within the first clutch when the first and second clutches are in the engaged positions.
  10. 10. Combined starter-generator device (130) according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one clutch additionally includes a third clutch selectively positionable between the engaged and disengaged positions, wherein at least one electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430, 450, 470, 490, 510, 530) additionally includes a third electromechanical solenoid device (490, 510, 530) configured to reposition the third clutch, the third electromechanical solenoid device (490, 510, 530) including a third armature, wherein the actuation assembly additionally includes a third set of links (492, 512, 532) with a third actuation pin (496, 516, 536) coupled to the third clutch, a third link member (493, 513, 533) extending between the third armature and the third actuation pin (496, 516, 536), and a third pivot element (494, 514, 534) mounted to the first face of the reaction member (393) and coupled to the third connecting member (493, 513, 533) such that the third connecting member (493, 513, 533) is pivotable around the third pivot element (494, 514, 534), wherein the third electromechanical solenoid device (490, 510, 530) is mounted on the perimeter of the reaction member (392) such that the actuation of the third armature pivots the third connecting member (493, 513, 533) and axially displaces the third actuation pin (496, 516, 536) and the third clutch between the disengaged and engaged positions.
  11. 11. Combined starter-generator device (130) according to claim 10, characterized in that the gear assembly (320) includes a compound epicyclic gear train comprising an input shaft (310), first-stage and second-stage sun gears (322, 334), first-stage and second-stage planetary gears (324, 340), first-stage and second-stage carriers (326, 342), and an annular gear (332) with the first-stage planetary carrier (326) splined connected to the second-stage sun gear (334); wherein, in a cold propeller start mode, the first clutch is in the engaged position to lock the second-stage planetary carrier (342) and the second and third clutches are in the engaged positions, and further, rotational energy from the electric machine (134) moves in the first energy flow direction from the input shaft (310) to the first stage sun gear (322), to first stage planetary gears (324), to first stage planetary carrier (326), to second stage sun gear (334), to second stage planetary gears (340), and to ring gear (332) out of the propeller (120) in the first transmission ratio; wherein, in a hot propeller start mode, the second clutch is in the engaged position to lock the first stage planetary carrier (326) and the first and third clutches are in the engaged positions, and additionally, the rotational energy of the electric machine (134) moves in the first energy flow direction from the input shaft (310), to the first stage sun gear (322), to the first stage planetary gears (324), and to the ring gear (332) out of the propeller in the second transmission ratio.
  12. 12. Combined starter-generator device (130) according to claim 11, characterized in that, in an amplification mode, the third clutch is in the engaged position to couple the input shaft (310) to the ring gear (332) and the first and second clutches are in the engaged positions, and further, the rotational energy of the electric machine (134) moves in the first energy flow direction from the input shaft (310), to the first and second stage sun gears (322, 334), to the first and second stage planetary gears (324, 340), and to the ring gear (332) out of the propeller (120) in the third transmission ratio; wherein, in one generation mode, the third clutch is in the engaged position to couple the input shaft (310) to the ring gear (332) and the first and second clutches are in the engaged positions, and further, rotational energy from the propeller (120) moves in the second energy flow direction from the ring gear (332), to the first and second stage planetary gears (324, 340), to the first and second stage sun gears (322, 334), and to the input shaft (310) out to the electric machine (134) in the fourth transmission ratio.
  13. 13. Combined starter-generator device (130) according to claim 12, characterized in that each of the third and fourth gear ratios is a 1:1 ratio through the gear set (320), and wherein the first gear ratio is greater than the second gear ratio, and the second gear ratio is greater than the third gear ratio.
  14. 14. Drive train assembly (110) for a work vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a propeller (120); an electric machine (134); a set of gears (320) configured to receive rotational input from the electric machine (134) and from the propeller (120) and to couple the electric machine (134) and the propeller (120) in a first energy flow direction and a second energy flow direction, the set of gears (320) configured to operate in at least one first gear ratio, one second gear ratio, or one third gear ratio in the first energy flow direction and at least one fourth gear ratio in the second energy flow direction; at least one clutch selectively coupled to the set of gears (320) to effect one of the first, second, or third gear ratios in the first energy flow direction and the fourth gear ratio in the second energy flow direction; an actuation assembly including at least one electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430, 450, 470, 490, 510, 530) mounted to a reaction member (392) and configured to selectively shift at least one clutch from an unengaged position, in which at least one clutch is disengaged from the gear assembly (320) to an engaged position, in which at least one clutch is engaged to the gear assembly (320); and a controller (150) coupled to at least one electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430, 450, 470, 490, 510, 530) to selectively energize and shift the electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430, 450, 470, 490, 510, 530).
  15. 15. Drive train assembly (110) according to claim 14, characterized in that the reaction member (392) is generally disc-shaped.
  16. 16. Actuation train assembly (110) according to claim 14, characterized in that the reaction member (392) includes a first reaction member face (393) and a second reaction member face (394), opposite the first reaction member face (393) and oriented towards at least one clutch, wherein at least one electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430, 450, 470, 490, 510, 530) includes a first electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430) with a first armature, the first electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430) being mounted on a perimeter of the reaction member (392), and wherein the actuation assembly further includes a first set of links (412, 432) with a first actuation pin (416, 436) coupled to the less a clutch, a first connecting member (413, 433) extending between the first armature and the first actuating pin (416, 436), and a first pivot element (434) mounted to the first reaction member face (393) and coupled to the first connecting member (413, 433) such that the actuation of the first armature pivots the first connecting member (413, 433) around the pivot element (434) and axially displaces the first actuating pin (416, 436) and at least one clutch between the disengaged and engaged positions.
  17. 17. Drive train assembly (110) according to claim 16, characterized in that at least one clutch includes a first clutch and a second clutch, each selectively positionable between the engaged and disengaged positions, and wherein the first electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430) is configured to reposition the first clutch, and wherein the at least one electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430, 450, 470, 490, 510, 530) further includes a second electromechanical solenoid device (450, 470) configured to reposition the second clutch, the second electromechanical solenoid device (450, 470) including a second armature, wherein the actuation assembly further includes a second linkage assembly (452, 472) with a second actuation pin (456, 476) coupled to the second clutch, a second connecting member (453, 473) extending between the second armature and the second actuating pin (456, 476), and a second pivot element (454, 474) mounted to the first face of the reaction member (393) and coupled to the second connecting member (453, 473) so that the second connecting member (453, 473) is pivotable around the second pivot element (454, 474), wherein the second electromechanical solenoid device (450, 470) is mounted on the perimeter of the reaction member (392) so that the actuation of the second armature pivots the second connecting member (453, 473) and axially displaces the second actuating pin (456, 476) and the second clutch between the disengaged and engaged positions.
  18. 18. Drive train assembly (110) according to claim 17, characterized in that at least one clutch additionally includes a third clutch selectively positionable between the engaged and disengaged positions, wherein at least one electromechanical solenoid device (410, 430, 450, 470, 490, 510, 530) additionally includes a third electromechanical solenoid device (490, 510, 530) configured to reposition the third clutch, the third electromechanical solenoid device (490, 510, 530) including a third armature, wherein the actuation assembly additionally includes a third linkage assembly (492, 512, 532) with a third actuation pin (496, 516, 536) coupled to the third clutch, a third linkage member (493, 513, 533) extending between the third armature and the third actuation pin (496, 516, 536), and a third pivot element (494, 514, 534) mounted to the first face of the reaction member (393) and coupled to the third connecting member (493, 513, 533) such that the third connecting member (493, 513, 533) is pivotable around the third pivot element (494, 514, 534), wherein the third electromechanical solenoid device (490, 510, 530) is mounted on the perimeter of the reaction member (392) such that the actuation of the third armature pivots the third connecting member (493, 513, 533) and axially displaces the third actuation pin (496, 516, 536) and the third clutch between the disengaged and engaged positions.
  19. 19. Actuation train assembly (110) according to claim 18, characterized in that the actuation assembly includes at least one pair of the first electromechanical solenoid devices (410, 430), at least one pair of the second electromechanical devices, and at least one pair of the third electromechanical devices.
  20. 20. Drive train assembly (110) according to claim 19, characterized in that the gear assembly (320) includes an epicyclic gear train comprising an input shaft (310), first-stage and second-stage sun gears (322, 334), first-stage and second-stage planetary gears (324, 340), first-stage and second-stage carriers (326, 342), and an annular gear (332) with the first-stage planetary carrier (326) splined connected to the second-stage sun gear (334), wherein, in a cold-start propeller mode, the first clutch is in the engaged position to lock the second-stage planetary carrier (342) and the second and third clutches are in the engaged positions, and additionally, rotational energy from the electric machine (134) moves in the first energy flow direction from the input shaft (310) to the first stage sun gear (322), to first stage planetary gears (324), to first stage planetary carrier (326), to second stage sun gear (334), to second stage planetary gears (340), and to the ring gear (332) out of the propeller (120) in the first transmission ratio, wherein, in a hot propeller start mode, the second clutch is in the engaged position to lock the first stage planetary carrier (326) and the first and third clutches are in the engaged positions, and additionally, the rotational energy of the electric machine (134) moves in the first energy flow direction from the input shaft (310), to the first stage sun gear (322), to the first stage planetary gears (324), and to the ring gear (332) out of the propeller (120) in the second transmission ratio, wherein, in an amplification mode, the third The clutch is in the engaged position to couple the input shaft (310) to the ring gear (332), and the first and second clutches are in the engaged positions. Additionally, rotational energy from the electric machine (134) moves in the first energy flow direction from the input shaft (310) to the first and second stage sun gears (322, 334), to the first and second stage planetary gears (324, 340), and to the ring gear (332) out of the propeller (120) in the third transmission ratio. In a generation mode, the third clutch is in the engaged position to couple the input shaft (310) to the ring gear (332), and the first and second clutches are in the engaged positions. Additionally, rotational energy from the propeller (120) moves in the second energy flow direction from the ring gear. (332), for first stage and second stage planetary gears (324, 340), for first stage and second stage sun gears (322, 334), and to the input shaft (310) out to the electric machine (134) in the fourth transmission ratio.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [001] This invention relates to work vehicle power systems, including arrangements for starting mechanical power equipment and generating electrical power from it. FUNDAMENTALS OF THE INVENTION [002] Work vehicles, such as those used in agriculture, construction, and forestry industries, and other conventional vehicles, may be powered by an internal combustion engine (e.g., a diesel engine), although it is becoming more common for mixed power sources (e.g., propellers and electric motors) to be employed. In any case, propellers remain the primary power sources of work vehicles and require mechanical input from a starter to initiate rotation of the crankshaft and the reciprocating motion of the pistons within the cylinders. The torque demands for starting a propeller are high, particularly so for large diesel propellers, common in heavy-duty machinery. [003] Work vehicles additionally include subsystems that require electrical power. To power these work vehicle subsystems, a portion of the engine power may be derived using an alternator or generator to generate AC or DC power. The work vehicle battery is then charged by reversing the alternator current. Conventionally, a belt, straight or serpentine, couples an engine output shaft to the alternator to generate AC power. The torque demands for generating engine current in operation are significantly lower than for starting the engine. In order to properly transfer power between the engine and the battery for both starting the engine and generating electrical power, numerous different components and devices are typically required, thus raising the issues regarding size, cost, and complexity. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [004] This invention provides a combined engine starting and electric power generator device with an integral transmission, such as can be used in work vehicles for cold starting of the engine and for generating electric power, thus serving the dual purpose of an engine starter and an alternator with more robust power transmission to, and from, the engine in both cases. [005] In one aspect, the invention provides a combined starter-generator device for a work vehicle having a propeller. The starter-generator device includes an electric machine and a gear set configured to receive rotational input from the electric machine and from the propeller and to couple the electric machine and the propeller in a first energy flow direction and a second energy flow direction. The gear set is configured to operate in at least one first gear ratio, one second gear ratio, or one third gear ratio in the first energy flow direction and at least one fourth gear ratio in the second energy flow direction. The starter-generator device further includes at least one clutch selectively coupled to the gear set to effect the first, second, and third transmission ratios in the first energy flow direction and the fourth transmission ratio in the second energy flow direction, and an actuation assembly including at least one electromechanical solenoid device configured to selectively shift at least one clutch from a disengaged position, in which at least one clutch is disengaged from the gear set, to an engaged position, in which at least one clutch is coupled to the gear set. [006] In another aspect, the invention provides a drive train assembly for a work vehicle. The drive train assembly includes a propeller; an electric machine; and a gear set configured to receive rotational input from the electric machine and from the propeller and to couple the electric machine and the propeller in a first energy flow direction and a second energy flow direction. The gear set is configured to operate in at least one first gear ratio, one second gear ratio, or one third gear ratio in the first energy flow direction and at least one third gear ratio in the second energy flow direction. The drive train assembly further includes at least one clutch selectively coupled to the gear set to effect the first, second, and third gear ratios in the first energy flow direction and the fourth gear ratio in the second energy flow direction; an actuation assembly including at least one electromechanical solenoid device configured to selectively shift at least one clutch from an unengaged position, in which at least one clutch is disengaged from the gear assembly, to an engaged position, in which at least one clutch is engaged with the gear assembly; and a controller coupled to at least one electromechanical solenoid device to selectively energize and shift the electromechanical solenoid device. [007] The details of one or more embodiments are shown in the attached drawings and in the description below. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [008] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an example work vehicle in the form of an agricultural tractor, in which the described integrated start