WORK VEHICLE

Abstract

A work vehicle includes a hybrid transmission to vary power from an engine and output the power to a travel device, the hybrid transmission including an electric transmission including a motor generator and a gear transmission including a gear driver. The work vehicle includes an inverter to drive the motor generator. The work vehicle includes a pump to cool the inverter by supplying, to the inverter, a refrigerant to cool the motor generator.

Claims

1. A work vehicle comprising: an engine; a travel device; a battery; a hybrid transmission to vary power from the engine and output the power to the travel device, the hybrid transmission including an electric transmission including a motor generator, and a gear transmission including a gear driver; an inverter to drive the motor generator; and a pump to cool the inverter by supplying, to the inverter, a refrigerant to cool the motor generator.

2. The work vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: an accumulator to store the refrigerant; and a supply to supply the refrigerant to the motor generator; wherein the pump is operable to cause the refrigerant in the accumulator to be supplied to the inverter, from the inverter to the supply, and from the supply to the motor generator and to return from the motor generator to the accumulator.

3. The work vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the electric transmission and the gear transmission are separated from each other; the accumulator is included in the electric transmission; the refrigerant is a lubricant accumulated in the electric transmission; and the lubricant accumulated in the electric transmission is different from a lubricant accumulated in the gear transmission.

4. The work vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising an oil cooler on a supply passage for the lubricant from the electric transmission to the inverter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a left side view of a tractor.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an inside of a hybrid transmission.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a plan view of an inverter.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a left side view of a longitudinal section of the inverter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] A tractor as an example of a work vehicle is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. In FIGS. 1 to 4, F indicates a front direction, B indicates a rear direction, U indicates an upper direction, D indicates a lower direction, R indicates a right direction, and L indicates a left direction.

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a body 1 is supported by right and left front wheels 2 (corresponding to travel devices) and right and left rear wheels 3 (corresponding to travel devices). The body 1 has a front portion provided with a bonnet 6, and the body 1 has a rear portion provided with a driving portion 9.

[0031] The body 1 includes an engine 5, a clutch housing 11 (corresponding to an electric transmission) (corresponding to an accumulator) connected to a rear portion of the engine 5, a transmission case 12 (corresponding to a gear transmission) connected to a rear portion of the clutch housing 11, a front frame 14 connected to a front portion of the engine 5, and so on. A hybrid transmission 4 includes the clutch housing 11 and the transmission case 12.

[0032] The front wheels 2 are supported by the front frame 14, and the rear wheels 3 are supported by a rear portion of the transmission case 12. The engine 5 is covered with the bonnet 6. The driving portion 9 is covered with a cabin 10, and the driving portion 9 includes a driver seat 7 and a control wheel 8 by which the front wheels 2 are steered.

[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 2, inside the clutch housing 11, a clutch 13, a hydraulic pump 15 (corresponding to a pump), a first motor generator 21 (corresponding to a motor generator), and a second motor generator 22 (corresponding to a motor generator) are provided.

[0034] The clutch 13 is connected to an output shaft 5a of the engine 5, a transmission shaft 16 is connected to the clutch 13 and extends from the inside of the clutch housing 11 to a rear portion of the inside of the transmission case 12. A cylindrical shaft 17 is rotatably attached to the transmission shaft 16 and extends from the inside of the clutch housing 11 into a front portion of the inside of the transmission case 12. The hydraulic pump 15 and the first motor generator 21 are attached to the transmission shaft 16, and the second motor generator 22 is attached to the cylindrical shaft 17.

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 2, inside the transmission case 12, a planetary device 18 (corresponding to a gear driver), a forward-reverse switching device 19 (corresponding to a gear driver), a sub-transmission 20 (corresponding to a gear driver), a rear-wheel differential device 23 (corresponding to a gear driver), a front-wheel transmission 24 (corresponding to a gear driver), a PTO clutch 30, a PTO transmission 25 (corresponding to a gear driver), and a PTO shaft 26 are provided.

[0036] Power from the engine 5 (or power from the first motor generator 21) is transmitted to the planetary device 18 and changed in speed, transmitted from the forward-reverse switching device 19 to the sub-transmission 20, and then transmitted to the rear wheels 3 via the rear-wheel differential device 23. Power branching right before the rear-wheel differential device 23 is transmitted to the front-wheel transmission 24, transmitted from a transmission shaft 28 to a front-wheel differential device 29, and then transmitted to the front wheels 2 via the front-wheel differential device 29.

[0037] The power from the engine 5 (or the power from the first motor generator 21) is transmitted to the PTO transmission 25 via the transmission shaft 16 and the PTO clutch 30 and changed in speed and then transmitted to the PTO shaft 26 provided in the rear portion of the transmission case 12.

[0038] The inside of the clutch housing 11 and the inside of the transmission case 12 are separated from each other by a wall portion 11a of the rear portion of the clutch housing 11 and a wall portion 12a of a front portion of the transmission case 12. The transmission shaft 16 and the cylindrical shaft 17 penetrate through the wall portion 11a of the clutch housing 11 and the wall portion 12a of the transmission case 12.

[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the planetary device 18 includes a sun gear 18a, a plurality of planetary gears 18b, a carrier 18c, a ring gear 18d, and so on.

[0040] In the planetary device 18, the sun gear 18a is connected to the cylindrical shaft 17. The carrier 18c is connected to the transmission shaft 16, the planetary gears 18b are rotatably supported by the carrier 18c, and the sun gear 18a meshes with the planetary gears 18b. The cylindrical shaft 27 is rotatably attached to the transmission shaft 16. The ring gear 18d is connected to the cylindrical shaft 27, and the planetary gears 18b mesh with the ring gear 18d.

[0041] The power from the engine 5 (or the power from the first motor generator 21) is transmitted to the carrier 18c of the planetary device 18, and the power from the second motor generator 22 is transmitted to the sun gear 18a of the planetary device 18. In a planetary device 18, the power from the engine 5 (or the power from the first motor generator 21) and the power from the second motor generator 22 are combined and changed in speed, and the combined power is transmitted from the ring gear 18d of the planetary device 18 to the cylindrical shaft 27.

[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the forward-reverse switching device 19 includes a forward clutch 31, a reverse clutch 32, a transmission shaft 33, a relay gear 34, and so on.

[0043] The forward clutch 31 and the reverse clutch 32 are attached to the cylindrical shaft 27. The transmission shaft 33 is provided in parallel with the cylindrical shaft 27, and transmission gears 33a, 33b are connected to the transmission shaft 33. The forward clutch 31 includes an output gear meshing with the transmission gear 33a of the transmission shaft 33. The reverse clutch 32 includes an output gear meshing with the relay gear 34, and the relay gear 34 meshes with the transmission gear 33b of the transmission shaft 33.

[0044] In the forward-reverse switching device 19, when the forward clutch 31 is operated into a transmission state, the power from the cylindrical shaft 27 is transmitted to the transmission shaft 33 in a forward-travel state via the forward clutch 31. When the reverse clutch 32 is operated into a transmission state, the power from the cylindrical shaft 27 is transmitted to the transmission shaft 33 in a reverse-travel state via the reverse clutch 32 and the relay gear 34.

[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sub-transmission 20 includes a high gear 35, a low gear 36, a cylindrical shaft 37, a transmission shaft 38, a shift member 39, and so on.

[0046] The high gear 35 is connected to the transmission shaft 33. The cylindrical shaft 37 is rotatably attached to the transmission shaft 16, transmission gears 37a, 37b are connected to the cylindrical shaft 37, and the high gear 35 meshes with the transmission gear 37a of the cylindrical shaft 37.

[0047] The transmission shaft 38 is provided coaxially with the transmission shaft 33 and the high gear 35, and the shift member 39 is provided in the transmission shaft 38. The low gear 36 is rotatably attached to the transmission shaft 38, and the low gear 36 meshes with the transmission gear 37b of the cylindrical shaft 37.

[0048] In the sub-transmission 20, when the shift member 39 is slid to mesh with the high gear 35, the transmission shaft 33 is connected to the transmission shaft 38, so that the power from the transmission shaft 33 is transmitted to the transmission shaft 38 in a high-speed state. When the shift member 39 is slid to mesh with the low gear 36, the power from the transmission shaft 33 is transmitted to the transmission shaft 38 in a low-speed state via the high gear 35, the cylindrical shaft 37, and the low gear 36.

[0049] The power transmitted to the transmission shaft 38 is transmitted from a rear-wheel output shaft 40 to the rear-wheel differential device 23 and transmitted from the rear-wheel differential device 23 to the rear wheels 3.

[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the front-wheel transmission 24 includes a standard clutch 41, a speed increasing clutch 42, a transmission shaft 43, a front-wheel output shaft 44, and so on.

[0051] The standard clutch 41 and the speed increasing clutch 42 are attached to the transmission shaft 43, and the power from the rear-wheel output shaft 40 is transmitted to the transmission shaft 43. The front-wheel output shaft 44 is provided in parallel with the transmission shaft 43, and transmission gears 44a, 44b are connected to the front-wheel output shaft 44. The standard clutch 41 includes an output gear meshing with the transmission gear 44a of the front-wheel output shaft 44, and the speed increasing clutch 42 includes an output gear meshing with the transmission gear 44b of the front-wheel output shaft 44.

[0052] When the front wheels 2 are operated within a range of right and left setting angles from a straight travel position, the standard clutch 41 is operated into a transmission state in the front-wheel transmission 24.

[0053] The power from the rear-wheel output shaft 40 is transmitted to the front-wheel output shaft 44 via the transmission shaft 43 and the standard clutch 41 and transmitted to the front wheels 2 via the transmission shaft 28 and the front-wheel differential device 29, so that the front wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3 are driven at the same speed.

[0054] When the front wheels 2 are steered to right or left beyond the right and left setting angles, the speed increasing clutch 42 is operated into a transmission state in the front-wheel transmission 24.

[0055] The power from the rear-wheel output shaft 40 is transmitted to the front-wheel output shaft 44 via the transmission shaft 43 and the speed increasing clutch 42 and transmitted to the front wheels 2 via the transmission shaft 28 and the front-wheel differential device 29, so that the front wheels 2 are driven at a speed higher than the rear wheels 3.

[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 2, an inverter 45 and a battery 46 are provided for the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22.

[0057] In a case where the first motor generator 21 (the second motor generator 22) works as a motor and provides power to the transmission shaft 16 (the cylindrical shaft 17), direct-current power of the battery 46 is converted into alternating-current power by the inverter 45 and supplied to the first motor generator 21 (the second motor generator 22), so that the first motor generator 21 (the second motor generator 22) works as the motor (a drive mode).

[0058] In a case where the first motor generator 21 (the second motor generator 22) is driven to work as a generator, alternating-current power generated in the first motor generator 21 (the second motor generator 22) is converted into direct-current power by the inverter 45 and charged in the battery 46 (a charging mode).

[0059] Based on the state of a work device (not illustrated) to be attached to the body 1, the traveling state of the body 1, or the like, the charging mode and the drive mode of the first motor generator 21 and the charging mode and the drive mode of the second motor generator 22 are set by a control device (not illustrated).

[0060] In this case, a state where the first motor generator 21 is set to the charging mode and the second motor generator 22 is set to the drive mode is a basic traveling state.

[0061] In the basic traveling state, the power from the engine 5 is transmitted to the carrier 18c of the planetary device 18, and the power from the second motor generator 22 is transmitted to the sun gear 18a of the planetary device 18, so that the power from the engine 5 is combined with the power from the second motor generator 22 in the planetary device 18, and the combined power is transmitted from the ring gear 18d of the planetary device 18 to the cylindrical shaft 27.

[0062] Traveling is also performable in the drive modes of the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22 while the engine 5 is stopped by operating the clutch 13 into a cut-off state.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a lubricant with a relatively low viscosity (corresponding to a refrigerant) is accumulated in a bottom portion of the clutch housing 11. The amount of the lubricant is set such that an oil level L1 of the lubricant accumulated in the clutch housing 11 stays at a low position at which the lubricant does not make contact with the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22.

[0064] In the transmission case 12, a lubricant with a viscosity higher than the viscosity of the lubricant in the clutch housing 11 is accumulated. A sufficient amount of the lubricant is accumulated in the transmission case 12 such that the oil level of the lubricant accumulated in the transmission case 12 is higher than the oil level L1 of the lubricant in the clutch housing, and the transmission case 12 serves as an oil bath.

[0065] With the above configuration, the lubricant accumulated in the clutch housing 11 (the lubricant used to cool the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22) is set to be different from the lubricant accumulated in the transmission case 12.

[0066] The inside of the clutch housing 11 and the inside of the transmission case 12 are separated from each other by the wall portion 11a of the rear portion of the clutch housing 11 and the wall portion 12a of the front portion of the transmission case 12. The lubricant accumulated in the clutch housing 11 (the lubricant used to cool the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22) is not mixed with the lubricant accumulated in the transmission case 12.

[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the hydraulic pump 15 is driven by the transmission shaft 16, and the lubricant in the clutch housing 11 is sucked by the hydraulic pump 15 through a filter 47 with a relatively fine weave.

[0068] The lubricant sucked by the hydraulic pump 15 is supplied from the hydraulic pump 15 to an oil cooler 50 through a supply passage 48 such that the lubricant is cooled. The lubricant cooled by the oil cooler 50 is supplied to the inverter 45 through a supply passage 49 and cools the inverter 45.

[0069] In the present preferred embodiment, inside the clutch housing 11, a plurality of jet nozzles 53 (corresponding to a supply) is provided to face each portion of the first motor generator 21 and each portion of the second motor generator 22, and a jet pump 52 (corresponding to a supply) is provided for the jet nozzles 53. In this case, the jet nozzles 53 may be configured to supply the lubricant to each portion of the first motor generator 21 and each portion of the second motor generator 22 without the jet pump 52.

[0070] The lubricant that has cooled the inverter 45 is supplied to the jet pump 52 through a supply passage 51 and is supplied from the jet pump 52 to the jet nozzles 53 through a supply passage 54. The lubricant is supplied from the jet nozzles 53 to each portion of the first motor generator 21 and each portion of the second motor generator 22, so that the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22 are cooled and lubricated.

[0071] The lubricant that has cooled and lubricated the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22 naturally falls from the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22 and returns to the bottom portion of the clutch housing 11.

[0072] With the above configuration, the lubricant in the clutch housing 11 (the electric transmission) is supplied by the hydraulic pump 15 to the inverter 45 and then supplied from the inverter 45 to the jet pump 52 (the supply) and the jet nozzles 53 (the supply).

[0073] The lubricant is supplied from the jet pump 52 (the supply) and the jet nozzles 53 (the supply) to the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22 and returns from the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22 to the clutch housing 11 (the electric transmission).

[0074] The oil cooler 50 configured to cool the lubricant is provided on the supply passages 48, 49 for the lubricant from the clutch housing 11 (the electric transmission) to the inverter 45.

[0075] As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, the inverter 45 includes a capacitor 55, an IGBT 56 as an example of a power transistor, a resistor 57, and so on. The capacitor 55, the IGBT 56, the resistor 57, and so on are accommodated in a case 58.

[0076] The case 58 includes a board member 58a and a cover portion 58b. Inside the board member 58a of the case 58, a cooling passage 59 through which the lubricant passes is provided, and the cooling passage 59 includes a first portion 59a, a second portion 59b, and a third portion 59c.

[0077] The first portion 59a of the cooling passage 59 is formed rearward along the front-rear direction from a front portion of the board member 58a of the case 58, and the supply passage 49 (see FIG. 2) is connected to a front portion of the first portion 59a of the cooling passage 59.

[0078] The second portion 59b of the cooling passage 59 is formed by changing the direction of a rear portion of the first portion 59a of the cooling passage 59 by 180 degrees and is directed forward along the front-rear direction. The third portion 59c of the cooling passage 59 is formed by changing the direction of a front portion of the second portion 59b of the cooling passage 59 by 180 degrees and is directed rearward along the front-rear direction. The supply passage 51 (see FIG. 2) is connected to a rear portion of the third portion 59c of the cooling passage 59.

[0079] In the board member 58a of the case 58, the capacitor 55 is attached to a portion corresponding to the first portion 59a and an upper portion of the second portion 59b of the cooling passage 59. In the board member 58a of the case 58, the IGBT 56 and the resistor 57 are attached to a portion corresponding to an upper portion of the third portion 59c of the cooling passage 59.

[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the third portion 59c of the cooling passage 59 includes an upper portion where an opening 59d is opened, and the IGBT 56 is provided in the opening 59d of the cooling passage 59. The IGBT 56 has a lower portion where a plurality of pin fins 56a as a heat sink is provided to face downward, and the pin fins 56a of the IGBT 56 enter the third portion 59c from the opening 59d of the cooling passage 59. The third portion 59c of the cooling passage 59 has a lower portion where a projecting portion 59e projecting upward is provided in a portion facing the opening 59d of the cooling passage 59.

[0081] With the above configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, the lubricant is supplied from the oil cooler 50 to the first portion 59a of the cooling passage 59 through the supply passage 49. When the lubricant passes from the first portion 59a to the second portion 59b in the cooling passage 59, the capacitor 55 is cooled.

[0082] The lubricant enters the third portion 59c from the second portion 59b of the cooling passage 59. Due to the projecting portion 59e of the cooling passage 59, the lubricant comes closer to the pin fins 56a of the IGBT 56, so that the IGBT 56 is sufficiently cooled (heat of the IGBT 56 is absorbed by the lubricant).

[0083] The lubricant that has passed the projecting portion 59e of the cooling passage 59 reaches the position of the resistor 57, so that the resistor 57 is cooled. The lubricant that has come out of the third portion 59c of the cooling passage 59 is supplied to the jet pump 52 through the supply passage 51.

[0084] Instead of providing the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22, one motor generator (not illustrated) may be provided in the clutch housing 11. In this configuration, the motor generator should be provided in the transmission shaft 16.

[0085] Instead of accumulating the lubricant in the bottom portion of the clutch housing 11, an oil tank (not illustrated) in which the lubricant is accumulated may be provided separately from the clutch housing 11.

[0086] A case (not illustrated) covering the first motor generator 21 (the second motor generator 22) may be provided separately from the clutch housing 11, and the first motor generator 21 (the second motor generator 22) may be cooled by passing a refrigerant through the inside of the case.

[0087] With this configuration, as the refrigerant for cooling the first motor generator 21 (the second motor generator 22) and the inverter 45, a coolant can be used.

[0088] The hydraulic pump 15 and the jet pump 52 may not be provided, and an electric oil pump (not illustrated) (corresponding to a pump) may be provided on the supply passage 49.

[0089] With this configuration, the pressure of the lubricant can be set to be high on the downstream side from the supply passage 49, so that the lubricant smoothly flows in the cooling passage 59 of the inverter 45. Accordingly, even without the jet pump 52, the lubricant is supplied from the jet nozzles 53 to each portion of the first motor generator 21 and each portion of the second motor generator 22 without difficulty.

[0090] A pump (not illustrated) and a supply passage (not illustrated) to supply the lubricant accumulated in the clutch housing 11 to the inverter 45 to cool the inverter 45 may be independently provided to be separated from a pump (not illustrated) and a supply passage (not illustrated) to supply the lubricant accumulated in the clutch housing 11 to the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22 to cool the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22.

[0091] Hereby, the lubricant accumulated in the clutch housing 11 is used both to cool the inverter 45 and to cool the first motor generator 21 and the second motor generator 22.

[0092] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are not limited to tractors but are also applicable to work vehicles for loading and transporting goods, work vehicles for pulling a bogie or the like, and work vehicles for construction such as wheel loaders, and preferred embodiments of the present invention are also applicable to work vehicles equipped with crawler travel devices instead of the front wheels and the rear wheels.

[0093] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.