Working machine with power-branching drive

Abstract

A working machine including a working assembly that can be driven by an engine, with the engine being connectable to the working assembly via a power branching transmission including a first mechanical power branch and a second electric or hydraulic power branch, the first and second power branches being combined by a summation transmission that can be coupled to the working assembly on the output side and provides a variable transmission ratio between the first mechanical power branch and the working assembly that can be adjusted by the rotational speed of the second electric or hydraulic power branch. A blocking device is provided for blocking the variability of the transmission ratio that can be adjusted between the first mechanical power branch and the output side of the summation transmission by the rotational speed of the second electric or hydraulic power branch.

Claims

1. A working machine having a working assembly that is drivable by an engine configured to be connected to the working assembly via a power split transmission comprising a first power branch and a second power branch; wherein the first and second power branches are combined by a summation transmission that is couplable to the working assembly at an output side; wherein a variable transmission ratio between the first power branch and the output side is configured to be set by a summation transmission input rotational speed that is configured to be provided by the second power branch; wherein a blocking apparatus is provided for blocking the variability of the transmission ratio by the second power branch; wherein the first power branch is a mechanical power branch; wherein the second power branch is selected from the group consisting of an electric power branch and a hydraulic power branch; and wherein the summation transmission is integrated into the working assembly.

2. The working machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the blocking apparatus has holding means for stopping a summation transmission train to which the second power branch is connected.

3. The working machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein the holding means have a brake for stopping the summation transmission input train to which the second power branch is connected.

4. The working machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the blocking apparatus has holding means for fixedly coupling a summation transmission train to the second power branch and is drive-connected to a further gear train to which the first power branch is connected.

5. The working machine in accordance with claim 4, wherein the holding means have a clutch for a rotationally fixed coupling of the summation transmission input train to which the second power branch is connected to the further gear input train to which the first power branch is connected.

6. The working machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the summation transmission has a planetary transmission.

7. The working machine in accordance with claim 6, wherein the first power branch is drive-connected to a web of the planetary transmission and the second power branch is drive-connected to a sun gear that is in rolling engagement with planetary gears of the planetary transmission, with a ring gear in rolling engagement with the planetary gears forming an output side of the planetary transmission.

8. The working machine in accordance with claim 7, wherein the holding means have a brake for stopping the summation transmission input train to which the second power branch is connected; and wherein the sun gear is directly or indirectly blockable by the brake.

9. The working machine in accordance with claim 7, wherein the holding means have a clutch for a rotationally fixed coupling of the summation transmission input train to which the second power branch is connected to the further gear input train to which the first power branch is connected; and wherein the sun gear and the web are blockable with respect to one another by the clutch.

10. The working machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein a control apparatus is provided for automatic actuation of the blocking apparatus in dependence on the working speed of the working assembly.

11. The working machine in accordance with claim 10, wherein the control apparatus is configured such that the blocking apparatus blocks the transmission ratio of the summation transmission when the working speed of the working assembly is in a predefined range and the rotational speed of the engine is in a corresponding predefined range at the blocked, fixed increased-speed/decreased-speed ratio.

12. The working machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second power branch comprises a hydrostat.

13. The working machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein a control apparatus is provided for automatic actuation of the blocking apparatus in dependence on the rotational speed of the engine.

14. The working machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the summation transmission is received in an inner space of the working assembly formed as a cylindrical, elongate working rotor.

15. A working machine having a working assembly that is drivable by an engine configured to be connected to the working assembly via a power split transmission comprising a first power branch and a second power branch; wherein the first and second power branches are combined by a summation transmission that is couplable to the working assembly at an output side; wherein a variable transmission ratio between the first power branch and the output side is configured to be set by a summation transmission input rotational speed that is configured to be provided by the second power branch; wherein a blocking apparatus is provided for blocking the variability of the transmission ratio by the second power branch; wherein the first power branch is a mechanical power branch; wherein the second power branch is selected from the group consisting of an electric power branch and a hydraulic power branch; and wherein the working machine is self-propelling and the engine forms a traction drive.

16. The working machine in accordance with claim 15, wherein the blocking apparatus has holding means for stopping a summation transmission train to which the second power branch is connected.

17. The working machine in accordance with claim 16, wherein the holding means have a brake for stopping the summation transmission input train to which the second power branch is connected.

18. The working machine in accordance with claim 15, wherein the blocking apparatus has holding means for fixedly coupling a summation transmission train to the second power branch and is drive-connected to a further gear train to which the first power branch is connected.

19. The working machine in accordance with claim 18, wherein the holding means have a clutch for a rotationally fixed coupling of the summation transmission input train to which the second power branch is connected to the further gear input train to which the first power branch is connected.

20. The working machine in accordance with claim 15, wherein the summation transmission has a planetary transmission.

21. The working machine in accordance with claim 15, wherein the summation transmission is received in an inner space of the working assembly formed as a cylindrical, elongate working rotor.

22. The working machine in accordance with claim 15, wherein a control apparatus is provided for automatic actuation of the blocking apparatus in dependence on the working speed of the working assembly.

23. The working machine in accordance with claim 22, wherein the first power branch is drive-connected to a web of the planetary transmission and the second power branch is drive-connected to a sun gear that is in rolling engagement with planetary gears of the planetary transmission, with a ring gear in rolling engagement with the planetary gears forming an output side of the planetary transmission.

24. The working machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the holding means have a brake for stopping the summation transmission input train to which the second power branch is connected; and wherein the sun gear is directly or indirectly blockable by the brake.

25. The working machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the holding means have a clutch for a rotationally fixed coupling of the summation transmission input train to which the second power branch is connected to the further gear input train to which the first power branch is connected; and wherein the sun gear and the web are blockable with respect to one another by the clutch.

26. The working machine in accordance with claim 22, wherein the control apparatus is configured such that the blocking apparatus blocks the transmission ratio of the summation transmission when the working speed of the working assembly is in a predefined range and the rotational speed of the engine is in a corresponding predefined range at the blocked, fixed increased-speed/decreased-speed ratio.

27. The working machine in accordance with claim 15, wherein a control apparatus is provided for automatic actuation of the blocking apparatus in dependence on the rotational speed of the engine.

28. A working machine having a working assembly that is drivable by an engine configured to be connected to the working assembly via a power split transmission comprising a first power branch and a second power branch; wherein the first and second power branches are combined by a summation transmission that is couplable to the working assembly at an output side; wherein a variable transmission ratio between the first power branch and the output side is configured to be set by a summation transmission input rotational speed that is configured to be provided by the second power branch; wherein a blocking apparatus is provided for blocking the variability of the transmission ratio by the second power branch; wherein the first power branch is a mechanical power branch; and wherein the second power branch comprises an adjustable hydrostat as an energy converter that is arranged together with the summation transmission in the interior of the working assembly.

29. The working machine in accordance with claim 28, wherein the blocking apparatus has holding means for stopping a summation transmission train to which the second power branch is connected.

30. The working machine in accordance with claim 29, wherein the holding means have a brake for stopping the summation transmission input train to which the second power branch is connected.

31. The working machine in accordance with claim 28, wherein the blocking apparatus has holding means for fixedly coupling a summation transmission train to the second power branch and is drive-connected to a further gear train to which the first power branch is connected.

32. The working machine in accordance with claim 31, wherein the holding means have a clutch for a rotationally fixed coupling of the summation transmission input train to which the second power branch is connected to the further gear input train to which the first power branch is connected.

33. The working machine in accordance with claim 28, wherein the summation transmission has a planetary transmission.

34. The working machine in accordance with claim 33, wherein the first power branch is drive-connected to a web of the planetary transmission and the second power branch is drive-connected to a sun gear that is in rolling engagement with planetary gears of the planetary transmission, with a ring gear in rolling engagement with the planetary gears forming an output side of the planetary transmission.

35. The working machine in accordance with claim 34, wherein the holding means have a brake for stopping the summation transmission input train to which the second power branch is connected; and wherein the sun gear is directly or indirectly blockable by the brake.

36. The working machine in accordance with claim 34, wherein the holding means have a clutch for a rotationally fixed coupling of the summation transmission input train to which the second power branch is connected to the further gear input train to which the first power branch is connected; and wherein the sun gear and the web are blockable with respect to one another by the clutch.

37. The working machine in accordance with claim 28, wherein a control apparatus is provided for automatic actuation of the blocking apparatus in dependence on the working speed of the working assembly.

38. The working machine in accordance with claim 37, wherein the control apparatus is configured such that the blocking apparatus blocks the transmission ratio of the summation transmission when the working speed of the working assembly is in a predefined range and the rotational speed of the engine is in a corresponding predefined range at the blocked, fixed increased-speed/decreased-speed ratio.

39. The working machine in accordance with claim 28, wherein a control apparatus is provided for automatic actuation of the blocking apparatus in dependence on the rotational speed of the engine.

40. The working machine in accordance with claim 28, wherein the summation transmission is received in an inner space of the working assembly formed as a cylindrical, elongate working rotor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a sectional, schematic representation of the rotary cutter of a surface cutter and of the summation transmission provided therein that has two power input trains of which one can be stopped by a directly connected brake and the other is connected to a mechanical drive train and to an internal combustion engine connected thereto;

(2) FIG. 2 is a sectional, schematic representation of the rotary cutter of a surface cutter similar to FIG. 1, with a brake for stopping one of the two power input trains of the summation transmission being indirectly connected to this power input train via a transmission stage;

(3) FIG. 3 is a sectional, schematic representation of the rotary cutter of a surface cutter and of the summation transmission received therein similar to the preceding Figures, with the two power input trains being able to be fixedly coupled to one another by a clutch;

(4) FIG. 4 is a comparative representation of the course of the rotor torque over the rotor rotational speed, with the torque course being shown with power split, that is with an open brake and/or an open clutch, by a solid line, on the one hand, and the torque course being shown with a closed brake and/or a closed clutch or with a bridged hydraulic power branch by a dashed line, on the other hand;

(5) FIG. 5 is a sectional, schematic representation of the rotary cutter of a surface cutter similar to FIG. 1, with a brake for stopping the summation transmission train drive-connected to the electric or hydraulic power branch being connected to the energy converter of the electric or hydraulic power branch or to the summation transmission input shaft connected thereto; and

(6) FIG. 6 is a sectional, schematic representation of the rotary cutter of a surface cutter similar to FIG. 5, with a brake for stopping the summation transmission train drive-connected to the electric or hydraulic power branch being connected to the energy converter of the electric or hydraulic power branch.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) To facilitate an understanding of the principles and features of the various embodiments of the invention, various illustrative embodiments are explained below. Although exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention is limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

(8) As used in the specification and the appended Claims, the singular forms a, an and the include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, reference to a component is intended also to include a composition of a plurality of components. References to a composition containing a constituent is intended to include other constituents in addition to the one named.

(9) In describing exemplary embodiments, terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is intended that each term contemplates its broadest meaning as understood by those skilled in the art and includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

(10) Ranges may be expressed as from about or approximately or substantially one value and/or to about or approximately or substantially another value. When such a range is expressed, other exemplary embodiments include from the one value and/or to the other value.

(11) Similarly, as used herein, substantially free of something, or substantially pure, and like characterizations, can include both being at least substantially free of something, or at least substantially pure, and being completely free of something, or completely pure.

(12) Comprising or containing or including is meant that at least the named compound, element, particle, or method step is present in the composition or article or method, but does not exclude the presence of other compounds, materials, particles, method steps, even if the other such compounds, material, particles, method steps have the same function as what is named.

(13) The characteristics described as defining the various elements of the invention are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, if the characteristic is a material, the material includes many suitable materials that would perform the same or a similar function as the material(s) described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention. Such other materials not described herein can include, but are not limited to, for example, materials that are developed after the time of the development of the invention.

(14) The working machine 1 shown only sectionally and schematically in the figures can comprise as a working assembly 2 a rotationally drivable working rotor 3 that can, for example, be the rotary cutter of a surface cutter such as of an asphalt cutter. The working rotor 3 can in this respectroughly speakinghave a cylindrical, elongate and/or tubular rotor body to which outer periphery working tools such as cutter chisels can be arranged.

(15) The working rotor 3 can be driven from an internal combustion engine 5 only schematically indicated that can simultaneously also drive another auxiliary assembly of the working machine 1 and/or can also serve as a traction drive of the working machine 1 when the working machine 1 is configured as self-propelling. The internal combustion engine 5 can optionally also be a different engine or motor, for example an electric motor, when permitted by the energy supply.

(16) The engine, in particular the internal combustion engine 5, can in this respect be connected to the working rotor 3 via a power split transmission 6, with the power split transmission 6 being able to comprise at least one mechanical first power branch 7 and one electric or hydraulic second power branch 8. The two power branches 7 and 8 are combined in a summation transmission 9 that can advantageously be received in an inner rotor space surrounded by the working rotor 3.

(17) The first mechanical power branch 7 can be a mechanical drive train that can be connected to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine 5 directly or while interposing one or more transmission stages 10. As FIG. 1 shows, the transmission stage 10 can, for example, comprise a belt or chain stage 4. The mechanical power train that forms the first power branch 7 can here also comprise a clutch to be able to couple and decouple the internal combustion engine 5 to and from the working assembly 2.

(18) The electric or hydraulic second power branch 8 comprises at least one electric or hydraulic energy converter 11 that converts electric or hydraulic drive energy into a mechanical, in particular rotary, drive movement. With an electric power split, the energy converter 11 can be an electric motor. With a hydraulic configuration of the energy converter 11, the latter can be a preferably adjustable hydrostat or a hydraulic motor, for example in the form of an adjustable inline motor/axial piston motor, but with different converter configurations also being possible.

(19) The electric or hydraulic supply of the energy converter 11 can take place by an electric generator or by a hydraulic pump that is not separately shown, with the generator or the pump being able to be driven by the internal combustion engine 5.

(20) To be able to combine the two the power branches 7 and 8 in the summation transmission 9, the summation transmission 9 can comprise two power input trains 12 and 13 to which the mechanical drive train coming from the internal combustion engine 5, on the one hand, and the energy converter 11, on the other hand, are rotationally fixedly connected. In this respect, a permanent rotationally fixed connection can be provided or a clutch can be interposed to be able to decouple the mechanical drive train and/or the energy converter from the summation transmission 9. The power input trains as power input elements to which the power branches 7 and 8 are connected can have a power input shaft or also a power input pinion or a gear wheel that conducts the input power into the transmission in which then the two incoming powers are summed.

(21) As FIG. 1 shows, the summation transmission 9 can be configured as a planetary transmission, with the planetary transmission being able to be single-stage or multi-stage.

(22) As FIG. 1 shows, a first power input shaft 14 that can be connected to the mechanical first power branch 7 can drive a web 16 of the planetary transmission that can carry a plurality of planetary gears 17. The first power input shaft 14 can drive the web 16 via a spur gear stage 18 here, but can optionally also be formed directly by the web 16.

(23) The second power input shaft 15 can drive a sun gear 19 of the planetary transmission, with the sun gear 19 being able to be directly connected to the second input shaft 15 or being able to be connected thereto while interposing a spur gear stage 20.

(24) As FIG. 1 shows, the planetary gears 17 that are rotatably supported at the web 16 and that mesh with or are in cutting engagement with the sun gear 19 drive a ring gear 21 of the planetary transmission that can form the output side of the planetary transmission. The ring gear 21 can be directly connected to the working rotor 3 or can alternatively also form the input shaft of a further planetary transmission stage that can then be connected to the working rotor 3 at the output side. The summation transmission can optionally be connected by a clutch to the working rotor 3 to be able to decouple it from the drive train for servicing purposes, for example.

(25) The sun gear 19 can be stopped by a brake 22 that can hold the sun gear 19, for example to a transmission case of the summation transmission 9. The brake 22 can here act directly on the sun gear 19, as FIG. 1 shows, or can act indirectly on the sun gear 19, for example while interposing a transmission stage that can be a spur gear stage, as FIG. 2 shows.

(26) Such a brake can also be integrated in or associated with the energy converter 11, for example in the form of a brake 22 directly provided at an electric motor that acts as an energy converter 11, as FIGS. 5 and 6 show. The brake 22 here be connected to the power input shaft 15 to which the energy converter 11 is drive-connected or also to an outlet shaft of the energy converter 11, optionally also to a converter transmission shaft of a converter output transmission, cf. FIG. 5. Alternatively, the brake 22 can here also be seated directly at the energy converter 11, for example at the motor shaft of an electric motor at the side of the electric motor disposed opposite the power input shaft 15, cf. FIG. 6.

(27) The brake 22 can here be configured as a friction brake, for example in the form of a multi-disk brake, or also as a shape-matched brake, for example in the form of a jaw clutch or of a claw brake.

(28) As FIG. 3 shows, the sun gear 19 can also be rotationally fixedly connected to the web 16, with here a clutch 23 being able to be provided between the web 16 and the sun gear 19 to couple the two power input trains 12 and 13 rotationally fixedly to one another. The clutch 23 could, however, also couple two other transmission elements or transmission trains of the summation transmission to stop the variability of the translation ratio, with one of the transmission trains to be coupled being able to be drive-connected to the electric/hydraulic power branch and the other being able to be drive-connected to the mechanical power branch so that the electric/hydraulic branch runs along with the mechanical branch.

(29) The brake 22 and the clutch 23 are each part of a blocking apparatus 24 by means of which the transmission ratio between the mechanical first power branch 7 and the output side of the summation transmission 9 can be set to drive the working assembly 2 at a fixed transmission from the internal combustion engine 5.

(30) The brake 22 and/or the clutch 23 can here be configured as manually and/or semi-automatically and/or fully automatically actuable. A control apparatus 26 can advantageously be provided for actuating the blocking apparatus 24 comprising the brake 22 or the clutch 23 that can operate in dependence on the rotational speed of the working rotor 3 and/or in dependence on the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine 5.

(31) The electric or hydraulic second power branch 8 can in particular then be bridged by closing the brake 22 or by closing the clutch 23 when the working speed of the working assembly 2 is in a range 27 in which a higher drive torque can be implemented at the working assembly 2 by a purely mechanical power transfer from the internal combustion engine 5, that is with a closed brake 22 and/or with a closed clutch 23 or at a fixed transmission between the internal combustion engine and the working assembly, than with a switched-in power split or with a division of the drive power to the mechanical and/or electric power branches.

(32) The control apparatus 26 can in particular activate the blocking apparatus 34, that is, can close the brake 22 or the clutch 23, when the required rotor rotational speed of the working rotor 3 can be reached by an internal combustion engine rotational speed that is in a range of the rotational speed curve of the internal combustion engine favorable for torque and/or for consumption and can be converted into the desired working rotor rotational speed by the fixed speed-increase/speed-decrease ratio that the summation transmission 9 has with a blocked blocking apparatus 24.

(33) With a fully automatic configuration of the control apparatus 26, the latter actuates the brake 22 or the clutch 23 when the working rotor 3 is in the rotational speed range 27, cf. FIG. 4. With a semi-automatic configuration, a signal can be output, for example on a display apparatus, to the machine operator who can then trigger the actuation of the blocking apparatus 24.