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EP-4735285-A1 - SINGLE-AXLE TRACTOR

EP4735285A1EP 4735285 A1EP4735285 A1EP 4735285A1EP-4735285-A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a single-axle tractor (1) comprising: a structural frame (2) comprising two lateral walls (21) structurally interconnected to each other and arranged spaced apart from each other on either side of a battery compartment (9), wherein the battery com- partment (9) is arranged on an inside between the two lateral walls (21) and comprises at least one battery module (91A, 91B, 91C) supported with respect to the structural frame (9); two wheel drive units (3) each comprising a wheel (4) attached to an axle and a motor for driving said wheel (4) around said axle; wherein the wheel drive units (3) are mounted on the outside of the lateral walls (21) respectively, such that central axes of the wheel drive units (3) meet.

Inventors

  • BERNOLD, Nicolas Fabian
  • CADUFF, Gian
  • SANGKLIN-SCHNEIDER, Marco
  • VINCENZ, Daniel

Assignees

  • novaziun AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240626

Claims (12)

  1. 1. A single-axle tractor (1) comprising: a structural frame (2) comprising two lateral walls (21) structurally interconnected to each other and arranged spaced apart from each other on either side of a battery compartment (9), wherein the battery compartment (9) is arranged on an inside between the two lateral walls (21) and comprises at least one battery module (91 A, 91 B, 91 C) supported with respect to the structural frame (9); two wheel drive units (3) each comprising a wheel (4) attached to an axle and a motor for driving said wheel (4) around said axle; wherein the wheel drive units (3) are mounted on the outside of the lateral walls (21) respectively, such that central axes of the wheel drive units (3) meet.
  2. 2. The single-axle tractor (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lateral walls (21) of the structural frame (2) are interconnected to each other by a front wall (22), said front wall (22) comprising a mechanical interface (5) to attach an auxiliary equipment to the single-axle tractor (1).
  3. 3. The single-axle tractor (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the two lateral walls (21) are interconnected to each other by one or more of the following: a bottom wall (25), a rear wall (24), a top wall (23), or a spacer (26).
  4. 4. The single-axle tractor (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the battery compartment (9) comprises a plurality of horizontally and/or vertically stacked battery modules (91 A, 91 B, 91 C).
  5. 5. The single-axle tractor (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the battery compartment (9) and/or the battery modules (91 A, 91 B, 91 C) comprise one or more battery module attachment members (92, 95) to support the at least one battery module (91A, 91 B, 91C) with respect to the lateral walls (21).
  6. 6. The single-axle tractor (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the battery compartment (9) is accessible via a rear opening in the structural frame (2), wherein the rear opening is provided by opening and/or removing a releasably attached rear wall (25).
  7. 7. The single-axle tractor (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each wheel drive unit (3) is mounted on the outside of the lateral walls (21) by way of a counter support (27) arranged on the inside of the lateral walls (21) adjacent to the wheel drive unit (3), wherein a plurality of connecting members extend through the lateral walls to fasten the wheel drive unit (3) to the counter support (27).
  8. 8. The single-axle tractor (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the battery compartment (9) is arranged at least partially between the wheel drive units (3).
  9. 9. The single-axle tractor (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a power electronics module attached to the structural frame (2) and an electrical battery connection, the electrical battery connection configured to electrically connect at least one battery module (91 A, 91 B, 91 C) to the power electronics module.
  10. 10. The single-axle tractor (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the motors are electric motors and the single-axle tractor (1) further comprises two electrical motor connections (85) for electrically connecting the power electronics module with the two electric motors, respectively.
  11. 11. The single-axle tractor (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an operating arm (7) pivotably arranged on a top wall (23) of the structural frame (2), and an operating unit (71) attached to the operating arm (7).
  12. 12. The single-axle tractor (1) according to claim 11, wherein the operating arm (7) includes a parallelogram linkage (73) configured such that the operating arm (7) may be moved from an extended position to a retracted position, wherein the operating arm (7) includes a retention mechanism (74) configured such that the op- erating arm (7) can be set at any desired position between the extended position and the retracted position.

Description

SINGLE-AXLE TRACTOR FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a single-axle tractor, in particular to a battery powered single-axle tractor. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Single-axle tractors are a type of small tractor carried on a pair of wheels, typically used for horticultural, agricultural, industry, landscaping, farm and home work. They are arranged to push and/or pull auxiliary equipment. An operator usually walks behind the single-axle tractor, gripping a pair of handles to steer and/or otherwise control the singleaxle tractor. The operator may also, at times, for some tractors, stand on a small platform at the rear of the tractor. Auxiliary equipment may be attached to the front and/or the rear of the tractor. Singleaxle tractors may have permanently attached auxiliary equipment, or may have one or more interfaces allowing for the attachment and removal of different auxiliary equipment. A considerable range of auxiliary equipment has been developed for use with single-axle tractors, including plows, hoes, cultivators, hay balers, hay rakes, rototillers, cutter bars, mowers, sweepers, snow blowers, snowploughs, harrows, mulchers, weed brushes, and so on. The interface provides for a mechanical connection to the auxiliary equipment, (i.e. for fixing of the auxiliary equipment to the tractor and optionally for supporting at least part of the weight of the auxiliary equipment). The interface typically also includes a driveline connector such that the tractor can drive the auxiliary equipment Single-axle tractors with combustion engines are well known and comprise a centrally arranged combustion engine and a transmission coupled to a lateral drive, the lateral drive shaft being connected to the wheel axles. A differential arranged on the drive shaft controls power to each wheel, allowing for the tractor to steer. Other tractor designs include an engine driven hydraulic pump connected to two hydraulic motors, each hydraulic motor connected to a wheel axle. A hydraulic system which distributes pressure between the left and right hydraulic motors is used to steer the tractor. Single-axle tractors with electric engines have also been developed, in an effort to make horticultural work more sustainable and reduce emissions. Additionally, the benefits of electric engines include more favorable torque curves, lower noise, and reduced weight. A problem that needs to be addressed, however, is operational time, as the energy density of batteries is approximately a factor of 100 less than that of gasoline typically used in combustion engines. Therefore, for achieving a comparable operational time, i.e. time between recharging, requires the installation of large, and therefore heavy and costly battery modules. The design of known single-axle tractors has not yet satisfactorily addressed the issue of providing sufficient battery storage, while at the same time maintaining a compact and balanced overall apparatus. For example, EP3471988A1 discloses an electrically driven single-axle tractor with a drive axle connected to two wheels, a single electric motor coupled to the drive axle, and electrical energy sources arranged above the drive axle. A secondary electric motor is coupled to an equipment drive shaft for releasable coupling with a piece of equipment. A disadvantage of the single-axle tractor according to this disclosure is that the overall space provided for the battery remains a small proportion of the total volume occupied by the tractor. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE It is an object of embodiments disclosed herein to provide a single-axle tractor. In particular, it is an object of the embodiments disclosed herein to provide a single-axle tractor which does not have at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. A single-axle tractor is disclosed comprising a structural frame. The structural frame comprises two lateral walls structurally interconnected to each other. The lateral walls are arranged spaced apart from each other on either side of a battery compartment. The battery compartment is arranged at least partially on an inside of the structural frame between the two lateral walls. The battery compartment comprises at least one battery module supported with respect to the structural frame. The single-axle tractor comprises two wheel drive units. Each wheel drive unit comprises a wheel attached to an axle and a motor for driving said wheel around said axle. The two wheel drive units are mounted on the outside of the two lateral walls respectively. The central axes of the wheel drive units, i.e. the virtual lines extending through the axle of both wheel drive units, meet. In other words, a first central axis of the first wheel drive unit intercepts a second central axis of the second wheel drive unit. Each wheel drive unit has an attached wheel. In an embodiment, the two wheel drive units are mounted on the outside of the two lateral walls in that each wheel drive unit is arranged on th