Electric tractor

• US 4,662,472 A
• Filed: 09/24/1984
• Issued: 05/05/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donell P. Froehlich, Leslie L. Christianson, Mylo A. Hellickson, Ralph Alcock
• Original Assignee: Donell P. Froehlich, Leslie L. Christianson, Mylo A. Hellickson, Ralph Alcock
• Inventors: Alcock, Ralph, Christianson, Leslie L., Hellickson, Mylo A., Froehlich, Donell P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Love, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/654,168
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 180/235, 180/53.1, 180/53.5, 180/53.8, 180/69.6, 180/65.1, 180/65.6, 180/65.7, 180/65.8, 180/65.4
• US Class Current: 180/235
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/34 for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles arrangement or mounting of control devices for changing number of driven wheels B60K23/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/06 from the transmission power take-off transmissions having power-take-off B60K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/025 Comprising a transmission shaft passing through the coupling joints B62D53/021 takes precedence; trailers with powered axles B62D59/00

Abstract

An articulated battery-powered electric tractor includes front and rear frame members which are pivotally connected for movement about a substantially vertical axis. A hydraulically-actuated articulation apparatus pivots the front and rear frame members with respect to each other. Wheels support the frame members for travel over the ground. A power-take-off shaft is mounted to the front frame member and is used for driving implements. Electric energy is stored in batteries which are mounted to the rear frame member. The first electric motor is mounted to the rear frame member and is used to drive the tractor wheels. A second electric motor is mounted to the front frame member and is used to drive the power-take-off shaft and the hydraulic articulation apparatus.

Claims

1. A battery-powered electric tractor comprising:

a frame;

ground-engaging wheel means for supporting the frame for over-the-ground travel;

storage battery means for storing electric energy;

power-take-off means mounted on the frame for driving implements;

first dedicated electric motor means mounted on the frame for driving only the ground-engaging wheel means and supplied with electric energy from the storage battery means;

mechanical linkage means for transferring motion from the first electric motor means to the ground-engaging wheel means, the mechanical linkage means including transmission means for selecting one of a plurality of ratios between rotational speeds of the first motor means and the ground-engaging wheel means;

second dedicated electric motor means mounted on the frame for driving only the power-take-off means and supplied with electric energy from the storage battery means;

first electric control means for controlling the flow of electric energy from the storage means to the first motor means in response to operator controlled first transducer means; and

overspeed means for preventing the flow of electric energy from the storage means to the motor means when the motor speed reaches an overspeed limit.

2. The tractor of claim 1 wherein the ground-engaging wheel means include four wheels, each wheel being driven by the first electric motor means.

3. The tractor of claim 1 wherein the frame is an articulated frame including a front and a rear frame member pivotally connected for movement about a substantially vertical axis.

4. The tractor of claim 3 and including articulation means for pivoting the front and rear frame members with respect to each other.

5. The tractor of claim 4 wherein the articulation means includes at least one hydraulic cylinder.

6. The tractor of claim 5 and including a hydraulic pump which is driven by the second electric motor means.

7. The tractor of claim 3 wherein the first electric motor means is mounted to the rear frame member.

8. The tractor of claim 7 wherein the second electric motor means is mounted to the front frame member.

9. The tractor of claim 7 wherein the power-take-off means is mounted to the front frame member.

10. The tractor of claim 9 wherein the storage battery means are mounted to the rear frame member.

11. The tractor of claim 9 wherein the power-take-off means includes a rotating shaft.

12. The tractor of claim 1 and including gear means for transferring rotational motion from the second motor means to the power-take-off means.

13. The tractor of claim 1 wherein the control means varies speed of the first motor means by varying a frequency of voltage pulses applied to the first motor means.

14. The tractor of claim 13 wherein the control means varies width of the voltage pulses applied to the first motor means.

15. The tractor of claim 1 wherein the overspeed means includes:

sensor means for providing an electric signal proportional to speed of the first motor means;

circuit means for comparing the electric signal to a reference voltage indicative of the overspeed limit and for providing an overspeed signal when speed of the first motor means reaches the overspeed limit; and

relay means responsive to the circuit means for disconnecting the storage battery means from the first motor means when the overspeed signal is detected.

16. The tractor of claim 1 and including second electric control means for controlling the flow of electric energy from the storage battery means to the second motor means in response to operator controlled second transducer means.

17. The tractor of claim 16 wherein the control means varies speed of the second motor means by varying a frequency of voltage pulses applied to the second motor means.

18. The tractor of claim 17 wherein the control means varies width of the voltage pulses applied to the second motor means.

19. The tractor of claim 16 and including overspeed means for preventing the flow of electric energy from the storage battery means to the second motor means when speed of the second motor means reaches an overspeed limit.

20. The tractor of claim 19 wherein the overspeed means includes:

sensor means for providing an electric signal proportional to speed of the second motor means;

circuit means for comparing the electric signal to a reference voltage indicative of the overspeed limit and for providing an overspeed signal when speed of the second motor means reaches the overspeed limit; and

relay means responsive to the circuit means for disconnecting the storage battery means from the second motor means when the overspeed signal is detected.

21. The tractor of claim 1 wherein the first and second motor means are DC, series wound motors.

22. An articulated battery-powered electric vehicle comprising:

front and rear members pivotally connected for movement about a substantially vertical axis;

a plurality of wheel means for supporting the frame members for travel over the ground;

articulation means for pivoting the front and rear frame members with respect to each other;

power-take-off means mounted to one of the front and rear frame members for driving implements;

storage battery means mounted to one of the front and rear frame members for storing electric energy;

first dedicated electric motor means mounted to one of the front and rear frame members for driving only the wheel means and supplied with electric energy from the storage batter means;

second dedicated electric motor means mounted to one of the front and rear frame members for driving only the power-take-off means and supplied with electric energy from the storage battery means;

mechanical linkage means for transferring motion from the first electric motor means to the wheel means, the mechanical linkage means including transmission means for selecting one of a plurality of ratios between rotational speeds of the first motor means and the wheel means;

first electric control means for controlling the flow of electric energy from the storage means to the first motor means in response to operator controlled first transducer means; and

overspeed means for preventing the flow of electric energy from the storage means to the motor means when the motor speed reaches an overspeed limit.

23. The vehicle of claim 22 wherein the articulation means is driven by the second electric motor means.

24. The vehicle of claim 23 wherein the articulation means includes hydraulic means.

25. The vehicle of claim 24 and further including hydraulic pump means for driving the hydraulic means, the hydraulic pump means being driven by the second motor means.

26. An articulated battery-powered electric vehicle comprising:

front and rear members pivotally connected for movement about a substantially vertical axis;

a plurality of wheel means for supporting the frame members for travel over the ground;

articulation means for pivoting the front and rear frame members with respect to each other;

power-take-off means mounted to one of the front and rear frame members for driving implements;

storage battery means mounted to one of the front and rear frame members for storing electric energy;

first dedicated electric motor means mounted to one of the front and rear frame members for driving only the wheel means and supplied with electric energy from the storage batter means;

second dedicated electric motor means mounted to one of the front and rear frame members for driving only the power-take-off means and supplied with electric energy from the storage battery means;

mechanical linkage means for transferring motion from the first electric motor means to the wheel means, the mechanical linkage means including transmission means for selecting one of a plurality of ratios between rotational speeds of the first motor means and the wheel means;

second electric control means for controlling the flow of electric energy from the storage means to the second motor means in response to operator controlled second transducer means; and

overspeed means for preventing the flow of electric energy from the storage means to the motor means when the motor speed reaches an overspeed limit.

27. A battery-powered electric tractor comprising:

a frame;

ground-engaging wheel means for supporting the frame for over-the-ground travel;

storage battery means for storing electric energy;

power-take-off means mounted on the frame for driving implements;

first electric motor means mounted on the frame for driving only the ground-engaging means supplied with electric energy from the storage means;

second electric motor means mounted on the frame for driving the power-take-off means supplied with electric energy from the storage means;

second electric control means for controlling the flow of electric energy from the storage means to the second motor means in response to operator controlled second transducer means; and

overspeed means for preventing the flow of electric energy from the storage means to the motor means when the motor speed reaches an overspeed limit.

28. The tractor of claim 27 wherein the overspeed means includes:

sensor means for providing an electric signal proportional to motor speed;

circuit means for comparing the electric signal to a reference voltage indicative of the overspeed limit and for providing an overspeed limit; and

relay means responsive to the circuit means for disconnecting the storage means from the motor means when the overspeed signal is detected.