阅读说明：本技术 用于履带式拖拉机的最终驱动装置上安装的电机 (Motor mounted on final drive for crawler tractor ) 是由 J·D·蒂格 T·J·施拉特 J·M·鲍曼 G·奥斯丁 于 2019-08-16 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种履带式拖拉机包括框架壳体、电动机模块以及最终驱动组件,框架壳体限定延伸到外孔的内腔。电动机模块包括具有带凸缘的端部的电动机壳体,以及延伸穿过带凸缘的端部的转子轴。带凸缘的端部安装到框架壳体的围绕外孔的外安装表面,使得电动机模块延伸穿过外孔并且被固持在框架壳体内腔内。最终驱动组件安装到带凸缘的端部并且包括与转子轴处于操作接合的齿轮组,以便用于最终驱动组件的机动化操作。(A track-type tractor includes a frame housing defining an interior cavity extending to an exterior aperture, a motor module, and a final drive assembly. The motor module includes a motor housing having a flanged end, and a rotor shaft extending through the flanged end. The flanged end is mounted to an outer mounting surface of the frame housing surrounding the outer aperture such that the motor module extends through the outer aperture and is retained within the frame housing interior cavity. A final drive assembly is mounted to the flanged end and includes a gear set in operative engagement with the rotor shaft for motorized operation of the final drive assembly.)

1. A track-type tractor (100), comprising:

a frame housing (110) defining an internal cavity extending to a first external aperture (112);

a first motor module (120) including a first motor housing (121) having a first flanged end (123), and a first rotor shaft (125) extending through the first flanged end (123), the first flanged end (123) being mounted to a first outer mounting surface (113) of the frame housing (110) surrounding the first outer aperture (112) such that the first motor module (120) extends through the first outer aperture (112) and is retained within the frame housing interior cavity; and

a first final drive assembly (140) mounted to the first flanged end (123) and including a gear set (144) in operative engagement with the first rotor shaft (125) for motorized operation of the first final drive assembly (140).

2. The track-type tractor (100) of claim 1, wherein the first motor module (120) is cantilevered within the frame housing interior cavity.

3. The track-type tractor (100) of claim 1 or 2, further including a second motor module (120 ') including a second motor housing (121') having a second flanged end (123 '), and a second rotor shaft (125') extending through the second flanged end (123 '), the second flanged end (123') being mounted to a second outer mounting surface (113 ') of the frame housing (110) surrounding a second outer aperture (112'), such that the second motor module (120 ') extends through the second outer aperture (112') and is retained within the frame housing cavity; and

a second final drive assembly (140 ') mounted to a second flanged end (123') of the second motor housing (121 ') and in operative engagement with the rotor shaft (125') for motorized operation of the second final drive assembly (140 '), wherein the second motor module (120') is cantilevered within the frame housing cavity.

4. The track type tractor (100) of any one of claims 1-3, further including a first brake assembly (150), the first brake assembly (150) being mounted between the first flanged end (123) and the first final drive assembly (140).

5. The track-type tractor (100) of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the first final drive assembly (140) includes a first mounting flange (143) mounted to the first flanged end (123), and wherein the first outer mounting surface (113) is configured to accommodate direct mounting of the first mounting flange (143).

6. A method of installing an electric drive system in a frame housing (110) of a track-type tractor (100), the method comprising:

inserting a first motor housing (121) of a first motor module (120) through a first outer aperture (112) in the frame housing (110) such that the first motor housing (121) extends into an inner cavity of the frame housing (110) and a first rotor shaft (125) of the first motor module (120) extends outside of the frame housing (110);

mounting a first flanged end (123) of the first motor housing (121) to a first outer mounting surface (113) of the frame housing (110) surrounding the first outer aperture (112); and

mounting a first final drive assembly (140) to the first flanged end (123) such that the first final drive assembly (140) is in operative engagement with the first rotor shaft (125) for motorized operation of the first final drive assembly (140).

7. The method of claim 6 wherein mounting the first flanged end (123) of the first motor housing (121) to the first outer mounting surface (113) comprises securing the first motor module (120) within the frame housing cavity in a cantilevered state.

8. The method of claim 6 or 7, further comprising:

inserting a second motor housing (121 ') of a second motor module (120 ') through a second outer aperture (112 ') in the frame housing (110 ') such that the second motor housing (121 ') extends into an inner cavity of the frame housing (110 ') and a second rotor shaft (125 ') of the second motor module (120 ') extends outside of the frame housing (110 ');

mounting a second flanged end (123 ') of the second motor housing (121') to a second outer mounting surface (113 ') of the frame housing (110) surrounding the second outer aperture (112'); and

mounting a second final drive assembly (140 ') to the second flanged end (123 ') such that the second final drive assembly (140 ') is in operative engagement with the second rotor shaft (125 ') for motorized operation of the second final drive assembly (140 '),

wherein mounting the second flanged end (123 ') of the second motor housing (121') to the second outer mounting surface (113 ') includes securing the second motor module (120') in a cantilevered state within the frame housing cavity.

9. The method of any of claims 6-8, wherein mounting the first final drive assembly (140) to the first flanged end (123) comprises mounting a first brake assembly (150) between the first flanged end (123) and the first final drive assembly (140).

10. The method of any of claims 6-8, wherein mounting the first final drive assembly (140) to the first flanged end (123) comprises mounting a first mounting flange (143) of the first final drive assembly (140) to the first flanged end (123), wherein the first outer mounting surface (113) is configured for accommodating direct mounting of the first mounting flange (143).

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to an electric motor module and, more particularly, to a frame-mounted electric motor module for a track-type work machine.

Background

The electric drive may be used as a driving power source in a vehicle, such as an off-road track-type work machine (e.g., a track-type tractor), an on-highway truck, or an automobile. The electric drive may supplement the drive power provided by the internal combustion engine, or the electric drive may provide all of the drive power for the vehicle. The use of an electric drive to supplement or replace an internal combustion engine may reduce emissions generated during vehicle operation. Furthermore, the electric drive may increase the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. In operation, the electric drive motor typically generates an output torque that is transmitted by the final drive to ground engaging components on the machine, such as tracks on a track-type tractor.

Some machines, such as track-type tractors, typically include a differential steering device disposed between an electric motor and a ground engaging device on the machine. The differential steering device is operable to vary the relative speeds of the ground engaging devices in order to steer the machine. For example, U.S. patent application publication No. 2016/0096563 describes an electrically driven retrofit kit that includes an electric motor module that is mountable in a frame housing and operatively connected to a final drive assembly mounted on the frame housing by a planetary gear assembly that provides differential steering of a track-type tractor by allowing adjustment of the rotational speed of the final drive assemblies relative to each other.

In other embodiments, multiple drive motors may be provided to individually drive the opposing ground engaging devices. For example, U.S. patent No. 7,309,300 describes an electric drive system for a track type work machine having a plurality of electric motors. However, space requirements for the various motors and drives are high, and may limit the ability to retrofit or otherwise utilize the original size and configuration of the frame housing for a similar machine powertrain.

The foregoing background discussion is intended only to aid the reader. It is not intended to limit the innovations described herein nor to limit or expand the prior art discussed. Thus, the foregoing discussion should not be used to indicate that any particular element of an existing system is not suitable for use with the innovations described herein, nor is it intended to indicate that any element is essential in implementing the innovations described herein. The implementation and application of the innovations described in this invention are defined by the appended claims.

Disclosure of Invention

An exemplary track-type tractor includes a frame housing defining an interior cavity extending to a first exterior aperture, a first motor module, and a first final drive assembly. The first motor module includes a first motor housing having a first flanged end, and a first rotor shaft extending through the first flanged end. The first flanged end is mounted to a first outer mounting surface of the frame housing surrounding the first outer aperture such that the first motor module extends through the first outer aperture and is retained within the frame housing interior cavity. A first final drive assembly is mounted to the first flanged end and includes a gear set in operative engagement with the first rotor shaft for motorized operation of the first final drive assembly.

In an exemplary method of installing an electric drive system in a frame housing of a track-type tractor, a first motor housing of a first motor module is inserted through a first outer aperture in the frame housing such that the first motor housing extends into an interior cavity of the frame housing and a first rotor shaft of the first motor module extends outside of the frame housing. The first flanged end of the first motor housing is mounted to a first outer mounting surface of the frame housing surrounding the first outer aperture. The first final drive assembly is mounted to the first flanged end such that the first final drive assembly is in operative engagement with the first rotor shaft for motorized operation of the first final drive assembly.

An exemplary electric drive system retrofit kit for a track-type tractor includes an electric motor module and a final drive assembly. The motor module includes a motor housing having a flanged end including a first set of mounting holes disposed about an outer periphery, and a rotor shaft extending through the flanged end. The final drive assembly includes a mounting flange and a gear set, wherein the mounting flange includes a second set of mounting holes sized and positioned to align with the first set of mounting holes when the rotor shaft is engaged with the gear set such that mounting fasteners installed through the aligned first and second sets of mounting holes may be installed in corresponding mounting holes in an outer wall of the track type tractor for use in the installation of the motor module and final drive assembly with the track type tractor.

Other features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a side view of a track type tractor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the motor module and final drive assembly externally mounted on the frame housing of the track-type tractor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 2; and is

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an electric drive system including two electric motor modules and a final drive assembly externally mounted on a frame housing of a track-type tractor, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure relates to a mounting arrangement for an electric drive system of a track type work machine, including an electric motor module having a flanged end configured to be secured to an outer mounting surface of a frame housing. Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Corresponding or similar reference numerals will be used, where possible, to designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the drawings. Further, where more than one element of the same type may be present, reference to various elements described herein is made collectively or individually. However, these references are merely exemplary in nature. It is therefore to be noted that, unless explicitly stated in the appended claims, any such reference to an element in the singular is to be construed to refer to the plural as well, and vice versa, without limiting the scope of the invention to the exact number or type of such element.

The detailed description describes exemplary embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the claimed invention is broader than and unlimited by the exemplary embodiments, and the terms used in the claims have their full ordinary meaning. Features and components of one exemplary embodiment may be combined with other exemplary embodiments. Inventions within the scope of the present inventions may include additional features or may have fewer features than those shown in the exemplary embodiments.

Fig. 1 illustrates a track type work machine 100, such as a track type tractor, that includes a frame housing 110 enclosing a power source, such as an electric powertrain, as described in more detail below. A final drive assembly 140 is attached to each side 114 of the frame housing 110 to engage and support a corresponding track chain 105 (or other such tracked ground engaging member). The track-type tractor 100 is propelled by the movement of the track chains 105 driven by the rotation of the final drive assembly 140, as is well known in the art.

Referring to the partial cross-sectional view of fig. 2 and the exploded perspective view of fig. 3, the exemplary track-type tractor 100 includes at least one motor module 120 and a final drive assembly 140 mounted externally to the frame housing 110. The motor module 120 includes a housing 121 having a substantially cylindrical body portion 122 and a flanged end portion 123. The body portion 122 is sized to be received in the internal cavity of the frame housing 110 through a final drive aperture or outer aperture 112 in the side of the frame housing, and the flanged end 123 is sized to abut the outer mounting surface 113 of the frame housing surrounding the final drive aperture 112. The mounting holes 126 disposed on the perimeter of the flanged end may be sized and positioned to align with the corresponding mounting holes 116 in the outer mounting surface 113 for mounting the motor module 120 to the frame housing 110 using mounting fasteners (e.g., bolts). As shown, the motor module housing 121 may be provided with an enlarged shoulder 127 behind the flanged end 123 to provide a tight fit or press fit engagement between the motor module housing 121 and the final drive device bore 112.

The portion of the motor module 120 disposed outside the frame housing 110 may depend on the thickness of the flanged end 123. Although the flanged end 123 is shown as being relatively thin, a thicker or axially enlarged flanged end may be provided to position a larger portion of the motor module outside of the frame housing, thereby reducing the space occupied by the motor module within the frame housing. Alternatively, spacers may be mounted between the flanged end and the outer mounting surface of the frame housing to position the larger portion of the motor module outside of the frame housing.

The rotor shaft 125 in the motor module housing 121 extends beyond the flanged end 123 for operative rotational connection with the final drive assembly 140 for driving the outer sprocket 147. In the example shown, the rotor shaft 125 engages a gear set 124, the gear set 124 being rotationally connected with an output shaft 145 in the final drive assembly, the output shaft 145 in turn being connected with a gear set 144. The final drive assembly 140 includes a support spindle 142 having a mounting flange 143, the mounting flange 143 being sized to align with the flanged end 123 of the motor module housing 121 and may have a mounting hole 146, the mounting hole 146 being sized and positioned to align with the mounting holes 116, 126 in the frame housing and motor module flanged end 123 such that a single set of fasteners may be used to mount the motor module 120 and the final drive assembly 140 to the frame housing 110. While the mounting flange 143 of the final drive assembly 140 may be mounted directly to the flanged end 123 of the motor module housing 121 or directly engaged with the flanged end 123, in the illustrated embodiment the brake assembly 150 is operable to reduce the rotational speed of the rotor shaft 125, being sandwiched between the flanged end 123 of the motor module housing 121 and the mounting flange 143 of the final drive assembly 140, to receive and operatively engage the abutting ends of the rotor shaft 125 and the output shaft 145.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of fig. 4, the track-type tractor 100 may include an electric drive train system having two motor modules 120, 120 ', brake assemblies 150, 150 ' and final drive assemblies 140, 140 ' externally mounted on the frame housing 110. The second motor module 120 ', brake assembly 150 ', and final drive assembly 140 ' may be constructed and mounted in substantially the same manner as the first motor module 120, brake assembly 150, and final drive assembly 140, as described in greater detail above.

As shown, the housing body portions 122, 122 ' of the motor modules 120, 120 ' may be substantially unsupported within the frame housing 110 such that the motor modules are secured within the frame housing in a cantilevered state by attaching the flanged ends 123, 123 ' to the frame housing outer mounting surface 113. In other embodiments (not shown), the body portions 122, 122 'of one or both of the motor modules 120, 120' may be supported by a portion of the frame housing 110 or by another motor module (e.g., by brackets to which the body portions are attached).

Industrial applicability

The mounting arrangement of the present invention is suitable for implementation and use in industrial environments (e.g., mining, agriculture, and construction). The described technology may provide for an electrically driven track-type tractor, whether originally constructed or retrofitted from an original machine-driven track-type tractor, and may also be applied to other work machines (e.g., wheel loaders, motor graders, excavators, articulated trucks, pipe-lining machines, trenchers, dozers), on-or off-highway trucks, or automobiles).

The work machine frame housing 110 may be configured to house machine or electric powertrain components. For example, upon assembly, the same frame housing may be used for both the construction machine and the electrically driven work machine by selecting and installing the respective powertrain components, thereby reducing construction and inventory costs. As another example, existing machine-driven work machines may be retrofitted with an electric powertrain assembly for converting the work machine into an electrically driven work machine.

While the single motor of a conventional electric drive system may be sized to fit entirely within the frame housing of a conventional machine-driven work machine, for other electric drive system arrangements that include multiple motor drive systems, the overall size or shape of the electric drive system prevents the electric system from fitting into the same space in which the machine transmission is replaced. For example, complete enclosure of multiple independently operable motor modules within a conventionally sized work machine frame housing may be limited or prevented by space constraints within the frame housing (e.g., provided to eliminate the need for a differential steering arrangement, e.g., to improve motor efficiency). By externally mounting the flanged ends 123 of the one or more motor modules 120 to the outer mounting surface 113 of the frame housing 110, the space occupied by the motor modules within the frame housing is reduced so that the one or more motor modules may be housed in a smaller frame housing of the track-type tractor 100. By using the conventional final drive aperture 112 for mounting the motor module 120 and the outer mounting surface 113 of the conventional frame housing 110, it is possible to use the existing frame housing in an initial configuration or retrofit assembly without modifying the frame housing.

In retrofitting the existing work machine 100 to replace an existing machine drive system with an electric drive system, as described herein, in an exemplary embodiment, the final drive assembly is disassembled from the frame housing mounting surface 113 and the machine drive system is removed from the frame housing 110. The body portion 122 of the motor module housing 121 is inserted into the final drive aperture 112 and the flanged end 123 engages the frame housing mounting surface 113. Brake assembly 150 is assembled to flanged end 123 of motor module housing 121 and mounting flange 143 of final drive assembly 140 is assembled to the brake assembly such that rotor shaft 125 engages gear set 124 within housing 151 of brake assembly 150, gear set 124 being in rotational connection with output shaft 145 in the final drive assembly, output shaft 145 in turn being in connection with gear set 144. After aligning the mounting holes 116, 126, 146, 156 of the frame housing 110, the motor module 120, the final drive assembly 140, and the brake assembly 150, the fastening bolts are installed through the aligned mounting holes. In the illustrated embodiment, final drive assembly 140 includes a spindle 142, spindle 142 configured to engage an external brake assembly 150. Accordingly, an electric drive system retrofit kit may include the motor module 120, the brake assembly 150, and the final drive assembly 140, and may additionally include longer replacement fastening bolts to accommodate attachment of the motor module, the brake assembly, and the final drive assembly to the frame housing 110. In other embodiments, the electric drive system may be configured to accommodate the final drive assembly and/or brake assembly of an existing machine drive system such that no new final drive assembly and/or brake assembly is required.

While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions as determined based on the claims and any equivalents thereof. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions-such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, circuits, devices and components, software, hardware, control logic, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on-may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present invention, however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Unless expressly stated otherwise, a parameter determined to be "approximately" or "about" a specified value is intended to include both the specified value and values within 10% of the specified value. Further, it is to be understood that the drawings of the present invention may, but are not necessarily, to scale and that, accordingly, the various proportions and proportions apparent in the drawings are to be understood in light of the present disclosure. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, and there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention itself, or as part of a claim, that is not set forth herein. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.

As used herein, the articles "a" and "an" are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with "one or more". Where only one item is desired, the term "one" or similar language is used. Furthermore, as used herein, the term "having (has, have, having, etc.)" is intended to be an open-ended term. Further, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based, at least in part, on" unless explicitly stated otherwise.