POWERSHIFT TRANSMISSION

Abstract

A powershift transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft arranged parallel with the input shaft, a branching unit arranged on the input shaft through which a torque acting on the input shaft is divided between two power paths, a switch group including at least two switching stages arranged in the first power path, and a torque converter arranged in the second power path. A torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft via the switch group and the torque converter.

Claims

1. A powershift transmission, comprising: an input shaft; an output shaft arranged parallel with the input shaft; a branching unit arranged on the input shaft through which a torque acting on the input shaft is divided between two power paths; a switch group comprising at least two switching stages arranged in the first power path; and a torque converter arranged in the second power path; wherein a torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft via the switch group and the torque converter.

2. The powershift transmission of claim 1, wherein the torque converter comprises a first machine and a second machine, the second machine being operationally connected to the first machine.

3. The powershift transmission of claim 2, wherein the first and the second machines comprise electrical or hydraulic machines.

4. The powershift transmission of claim 1, wherein the at least two switch states are produced by switch units which each comprise a drive toothed wheel and an output socket gear, the output socket gear disposed in engagement with the drive toothed wheel.

5. The powershift transmission of claim 4, wherein the drive toothed wheels of the switch group are arranged on the input shaft and the output socket gears of the switch group are arranged on the output shaft.

6. The powershift transmission of claim 4, further comprising a transmission shaft located in a second power path which surrounds the input shaft at the peripheral side.

7. The powershift transmission of claim 6, wherein outer shaft portions of each switching unit are arranged on the transmission shaft and drive toothed wheels are arranged on the outer shaft portions.

8. The powershift transmission of claim 4, further comprising a clutch associated with each switch unit via which the switch unit is operably connected.

9. The powershift transmission of claim 1, wherein the branching unit is formed by a planetary stage.

10. The powershift transmission of claim 9, wherein the input shaft is connected to a planet carrier of the planetary stage.

11. The powershift transmission of claim 9, wherein: the first power path is connected to a ring gear of the planetary stage; and the second power path is connected to a sun wheel of the planetary stage.

12. The powershift transmission of claim 11, further comprising a first machine connected to a sun wheel by a toothed wheel pair.

13. The powershift transmission of claim 9, further comprising a second machine connected to the output shaft via a transmission switch group comprising at least one toothed wheel pair.

14. The powershift transmission of claim 1, wherein the output shaft is formed from a first and a second output shaft unit.

15. The powershift transmission of claim 14, wherein the first and second output shaft units are connected to one another by a clutch.

16. The powershift transmission of claim 14, wherein the switch group transmits a torque to the first output shaft unit and the torque converter transmits a torque to the second output shaft unit.

17. A steplessly switchable powershift transmission, comprising: an input shaft; an output shaft arranged parallel with the input shaft; a branching unit arranged on the input shaft through which a torque acting on the input shaft is divided between two power paths; a switch group comprising at least two switching stages arranged in the first power path; and a torque converter arranged in the second power path; wherein, a torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft via the switch group and the torque converter; further wherein, the output shaft is formed from a first and a second output shaft unit, the first and second output shaft units connected to one another by a clutch, wherein the switch group transmits a torque to the first output shaft unit and the torque converter transmits a torque to the second output shaft unit.

18. The powershift transmission of claim 17, wherein the at least two switch states are produced by switch units which each comprise a drive toothed wheel and an output socket gear, the output socket gear disposed in engagement with the drive toothed wheel.

19. The powershift transmission of claim 18, wherein the drive toothed wheels of the switch group are arranged on the input shaft and the output socket gears of the switch group are arranged on the output shaft.

20. A powershift transmission, comprising: an input shaft; an output shaft arranged parallel with the input shaft; a branching unit arranged on the input shaft through which a torque acting on the input shaft is divided between two power paths; a switch group comprising at least two switching stages arranged in the first power path; and a torque converter arranged in the second power path; wherein, a torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft via the switch group and the torque converter; wherein, the branching unit is formed by a planetary stage comprising a planet carrier coupled to the input shaft, a ring gear coupled to the first power path, and a sun wheel coupled to the second power path; further wherein, a first machine is connected to the sun wheel by a toothed wheel pair and a second machine connected to the output shaft via a transmission switch group comprising at least one toothed wheel pair.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an agricultural machine,

[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the powershift transmission, and

[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of another embodiment of the powershift transmission according to the present disclosure.

[0033] Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The embodiments of the present disclosure described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows an agricultural machine in the form of a tractor 10 and any device 12 pulled by the tractor. In this embodiment, the machine is constructed, for example, as a round baler. The device 12 comprises a chassis 14 which is supported on wheels 16 and which has a bale formation chamber 18. The device 12 is pulled via a towbar 20 by the tractor 10. The drivable elements thereof are driven by a PTO shaft 22 by the tractor 10.

[0036] The tractor 10 comprises a chassis 24 which is supported on front, steerable wheels 26 and wheels 28 which are driven backwards. An operator workplace having a seat 32 is located in a cab 30. From the seat, a steering wheel 34, an accelerator pedal 36 and an operator station 38 can be activated.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the powershift transmission according to the present disclosure, wherein a drive motor 41 drives a drive shaft 40. Via a branching unit 60, drive power which is introduced via the drive shaft is divided over a first power path 61 and a second power path 62, wherein the first power path 61 is constructed as a mechanical power path via which a torque can be transmitted from the drive shaft 40 to the output shaft 50. To this end, a switch group 80 is provided. The first power path 61 further has a clutch 55 via which the second power path 61 can be uncoupled in such a manner that no torque transmission to the output shaft 50 is possible.

[0038] The second power path 62 is constructed in a non-mechanical manner and has to this end a torque converter 70 via which a torque can be transmitted either in an electric or in a hydraulic manner to the output shaft 50. It is further possible to use one or more stepped-down or stepped-up toothed wheel pairs 75 via which the torque transmitted from the torque converter 70 can accordingly be stepped down or stepped up.

[0039] In order to combine the two power paths 61 and 62, there is further provided a combination unit 90 which transmits the powers from the first mechanical power path 61 and from the second non-mechanical power path 62 to the output shaft 50.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the powershift transmission according to the present disclosure. The drive motor 41 transmits a torque or a drive power to the input shaft 40. There is arranged on the input shaft 40 a branching unit 60 which in the example shown is constructed as a planetary stage. Accordingly, the branching unit 60 has a sun wheel 64, a plurality of planets which are arranged on a planet carrier 63 and a ring gear 65, wherein the planets are arranged between the sun wheel 64 and the ring gear 65. The input shaft 40 is directly connected to the planet carrier 63 and represents the only source via which a torque or via which a drive power can be transmitted from the drive motor 41 to the branching unit 60.

[0041] The sun gear 64 and the ring gear 65 form the starting points for the first power path 61 and the second power path 62, wherein the first power path 61 is connected to the ring gear 65 and the second power path 62 is connected to the sun wheel 64. Starting from the ring gear 65, the torque guided via the first power path 61 or the power transmitted via the first power path 65 is transmitted to a transmission shaft 86. The transmission shaft 86 is constructed to be hollow and directly surrounds the input shaft 40 in a rotatable manner. It is thereby possible for the input shaft 40 and the transmission shaft 86 to be able to have different rotation speeds.

[0042] There is provided between the transmission shaft 86 and the output shaft 50 a switch group 80, via which the torque can be transmitted from the transmission shaft 86 to the output shaft 50. To this end, drive toothed wheels 81 are arranged on the transmission shaft 86 and output socket gears 82 are arranged on the output shaft 50. Each combination of a drive toothed wheel 81 and an output socket gear 82 forms a switch unit 84, wherein the drive toothed wheels 81 and the output socket gears 82 of a switch unit 84 are in engagement with each other. In the example shown, a total of five switch units 84 are provided and are different from each other with regard to their step-down or step-up ratio so that simply as a result of the switch group 80 a total of five different switching states can be adjusted. However, it is also within the scope of the present disclosure that a smaller or larger number of switch units 84 may be provided.

[0043] In order to switch the individual switch units 84, each switch unit 84 is associated with a separate clutch 87, wherein a coupled switch unit 84 means that a torque or a drive power can be transmitted via this switch unit 84. In order to ensure a transmission, it is significant in this instance for only one switch unit 84 to be activated.

[0044] For coupling, each switch unit 84 has either on the drive toothed wheel 81 or on the output socket gear 82 an outer shaft portion 84, 85 which surrounds either the output shaft 51 or the transmission shaft 86 in a peripheral direction. By activating one of the clutches 87, a rotationally secure connection is accordingly provided either between the transmission shaft 86 and the outer shaft portion 84 or between the outer shaft portion 85 and the output shaft 50.

[0045] The output shaft 50 is further subdivided into two output shaft units 51, 52, which are orientated coaxially relative to each other and which are connected to each other by means of a clutch 55. There is consequently produced a direct transmission of the torque or the drive power from the first output shaft unit 51 to the second output shaft unit 52, wherein it is in principle also within the scope of the present disclosure that there is arranged between the two output shaft units 51, 52 an additional toothed wheel pair via which a step-down or step-up is produced between the two output shaft units 51, 52. The output socket gears 82 are arranged together with the output shaft portions 85 and the associated clutches 87 on the first output shaft unit 51.

[0046] By releasing the clutch 55, the two output shaft units 51, 52 are separated from each other so that a combination of the two power paths 61, 62 is no longer possible. Accordingly, the torque is transmitted via the second power path 62 to the second output shaft unit 52. To this end, a toothed wheel pair 74 is initially arranged on the input shaft 40 and is directly connected to the sun wheel 64 of the branching unit 60. Via the toothed wheel pair 74, it is again possible to achieve a step-up or a step-down, wherein the drive toothed wheel of the toothed wheel pair 74 is arranged on the input shaft and is constructed so as to rotate with respect to the input shaft. The output socket gear is connected via a separate shaft to a first machine 71 of the torque converter 70. The first machine 71 can be constructed as either an electrical or a hydraulic machine. At the same time, it may apply an additional torque to the toothed wheel pair 74 and consequently to the sun wheel 64. In this instance, the electrical machine 71 would act as an electric motor or as a hydraulic motor. Alternatively, the first machine 71 can also absorb a torque originating from the sun wheel 64 or a power originating from the sun wheel 64. In this instance, the first machine 71 would be constructed as an electrical generator or as a hydraulic pump.

[0047] The first machine 71 is operationally connected to the second machine 72, wherein both machines 71, 72 are constructed at the same time either as an electrical machine or as a hydraulic machine. If the machines 71, 72 are constructed as electrical machines, a current from the first machine 71 can be transmitted to the second machine 72 or vice versa, wherein between the two machines 71, 72 additional electronic components such as, for example, an electronic power unit or an accumulator can be provided. In the case of construction as hydraulic machines, between the two machines 71, 72 at least one hydraulic hose is provided, via which hydraulic fluid can be transported under a specific pressure between the two machines 71, 72.

[0048] If the first machine 71 receives a torque or a power from the sun wheel 64 of the branching unit 60, there is consequently a transmission to the second machine 72, wherein the power can be adjusted by corresponding adjustment measures.

[0049] The second machine 72 is then connected via two toothed wheel pairs 91, 92 to the second output shaft unit 52, wherein the two toothed wheel pairs 91, 92 each comprise a drive toothed wheel and an output socket gear and represent different step-up or step-down ratios. Consequently, the torque is not transmitted directly between the second electrical machine 72 and the second output shaft unit 52, but instead adapted accordingly via the two toothed wheel pairs 91, 92. In this instance, the two toothed wheel pairs 91, 92 are arranged parallel with each other and accordingly represent two possible switching states which cannot, however, be switched at the same time.

[0050] The toothed wheel pairs 91, 92 consequently represent, on the one hand, another step-down or step-up possibility but are at the same time also a combination unit 90 via which the two power paths 61, 62 are combined.

[0051] At the input shaft 40, additional machines 42, 43 may further be provided and adjoin the input shaft 40 either directly or via corresponding toothed wheel pairs in a stepped-down or stepped-up manner.

[0052] The clutch 55, which is already described above and which connects the two output shaft units 51, 52 to each other, is always closed in forward mode. The individual switch units 84 represent different switch steps so that, depending on the number of switch units, specific discrete switching states can be adjusted via the first mechanical power path 61. Such a torque transmission is particularly efficient, wherein, however, a purely mechanical torque transmission does not enable stepless switching.

[0053] The intermediate regions are therefore provided by the non-mechanical second power path 62 so that a particularly advantageous combination of mechanical and non-mechanical power paths 61, 62 is formed.

[0054] If reverse travel is intended to be enabled with the powershift transmission, the clutch 55 is opened and at least two of the switch units 84 are switched. As a result of the different step-down or step-up ratios of the switch units 84, no torque can be effectively transmitted to the second output shaft unit 51 since a rotation of the output shaft unit 51 is not possible. Accordingly, the two connected switch units 84 lead to a blocking of the first mechanical power path 51.

[0055] As a result of the uncoupling of the clutch 55, however, the second power path can continue to be operated, wherein the ring gear 65 of the branching unit 60 now forms a fixed portion of the planetary stage. The drive power of the drive motor 41 is thereby transmitted only via the second power path 62 or via the sun wheel 64, the toothed wheel pair 64 and the two machines 71, 72 and the toothed wheel pairs 91, 92 to the second output shaft unit 52. There is accordingly a purely non-mechanical power transmission from the drive shaft 40 to the output shaft 50 or to the second output shaft unit 52. Such a power transmission is also referred to as a serial/hybrid power transmission.

[0056] While embodiments incorporating the principles of the present disclosure have been disclosed hereinabove, the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.