Drive system with hydraulic idler tensioner

• US 9,528,576 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Anstey, Henry D., Derscheid, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIU, HENRY Y
• Application Number:
  US14/685,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20160305514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 474/134, 474/110, 474/103, 474/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/002 driven by power take-off
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/03 fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/08 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 15/0841 Drives for balers
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0812 Fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0865 Pulleys
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0885 the tension being a function of engine running condition
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0893 Circular path
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 7/00 Gearings for conveying rotary motion by endless flexible members specific for conveying rotary motion with variable gear ratio or for reversing rotary motion F16H9/00 ; chainwheels F16H55/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 7/08 Means for varying tension of belts, ropes, or chains pulleys of adjustable construction F16H55/52 ; gearings with endless belts F16H7/02; tensioning for chains or belts specially adapted for cycles B62M9/16; belt or chain tensioning arrangements for endless conveyors B65G23/44
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 7/1281 where the axis of the pulley moves along a substantially circular path

Abstract

A drive system for an agricultural work machine having a primary drive system configured to drive a performance system for performing a crop preparation or handling operation including a fluid motor, a fluid pump and a tensioner system. The fluid motor is configured to produce a drive force and to be driven by a flow of fluid moving through the motor. The fluid pump is operatively connected to the fluid motor and is configured to drive the fluid motor. The tensioner system is operatively connected to the fluid motor and to the fluid pump, wherein the direction of fluid flow through the fluid motor adjusts the application of at least one force applied to a belt in the drive system. The fluid motor is configured to adjust the force applied to the belt by regulating a belt tension in proportion to a torque provided by the fluid motor.

Claims

1. A drive system for an agricultural work machine having a primary drive system configured to drive a performance system for performing a crop preparation or handling operation, the drive system comprising:

a hydraulic motor having;

(i) a first port and a second port adapted to receive a flow a pressurized fluid; and

(ii) a drive shaft configured to produce a drive torque in a first direction and a second direction based on the direction of the flow of fluid through from the first port to the second port, wherein the drive shaft is adapted to couple to the primary drive system; and

a tensioner system operatively connected to the motor, wherein a directional movement of the drive shaft in one of the first direction and the second direction adjusts the application of at least one force applied in the drive system to adjust a tension thereof, wherein the tension is adjusted proportionally in response to the drive torque.

2. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the tensioner system adjusts the application of the at least one force applied in the drive system proportionally to the magnitude of the motor drive torque.

3. The drive system of claim 1 wherein the tensioner system includes a first tensioner, the first tensioner being configured to apply a first force when the drive shaft moves in the first direction, the first force configured to adjust the application of the at least one force applied in the drive system to adjust a tension thereof.

4. The drive system of claim 3 wherein the tensioner system includes a second tensioner, the second tensioner being configured to apply a second force when the motor shaft moves in the second direction.

5. The drive system of claim 4 further comprising a force transfer system configured to transfer the drive torque from the motor to the primary drive system, the force transfer system including a first wheel driven by a belt and a second wheel driven by the drive shaft of the motor, wherein the second wheel is operatively connected to the first wheel by the belt.

6. The drive system of claim 5 wherein the first force and second force are configured to be applied to the belt to increase the tension of the belt.

7. The drive system of claim 6 wherein the first force is configured to be applied to the belt during a first direction of movement of the belt and the second force is configured to be applied to the belt during a second direction of movement of the belt.

8. The drive system of claim 7 further comprising a first bias element and a second bias element, wherein the first force is applied to the belt in a direction opposite a first bias provided by the first bias element, and the second force is applied to the belt in a direction opposite a second bias provided by the second bias element.

9. A drive system for an agricultural work machine having a primary drive system configured to drive a performance system for performing a crop preparation or handling operation, the drive system comprising:

a motor configured to produce a drive force;

a tensioner system operatively connected to the motor, wherein a directional movement of the motor adjusts the application of at least one force applied in the drive system to adjust a tension thereof,

wherein the tensioner system includes a first tensioner, the first tensioner being configured to apply a first force when the motor moves in a first direction, the first force configured to adjust the application of the at least one force applied in the drive system to adjust a tension thereof;

wherein the tensioner system includes a second tensioner, the second tensioner being configured to apply a second force when the motor moves in a second direction;

a force transfer system configured to transfer the drive force from the motor to the primary drive system, the force transfer system including a first wheel driven by a belt and a second wheel driven by a shaft of the motor, wherein the second wheel is operatively connected to the first wheel by the belt; and

wherein the motor includes a fluid motor configured to be driven by a flow of fluid from a fluid pump, the fluid pump is operatively connected to the fluid motor through a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, and the fluid pump is configured to move fluid through the first fluid conduit, the fluid motor, and the second fluid conduit in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction.

10. The drive system of claim 9 wherein the first tensioner includes a first hydraulic actuator operatively connected to the first fluid line between the fluid pump and the fluid motor, and the second tensioner includes a second hydraulic actuator operatively connected to the second fluid line between the fluid pump and the fluid motor.

11. The drive system of claim 10 further comprising a first flow control valve operatively connected to the first fluid line between the fluid motor and the first hydraulic actuator, and a second flow control valve operatively connected to the second fluid line between the fluid motor and the second hydraulic actuator.

12. A drive system for an agricultural work machine having a primary drive system configured to drive a performance system for performing a crop preparation or handling operation, the drive system comprising:

a hydraulic fluid pump configured to provide a flow of pressurized fluid and having a first connector and a second connector;

a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the first connector and the second connector of the hydraulic fluid pump, the hydraulic motor including an output driven directionally in a first direction and a second direction based on the direction of fluid flow through the hydraulic motor;

a wheel operatively connected the output of the hydraulic motor and to the primary drive system, the wheel configured to be driven by the output of the hydraulic motor;

a belt operatively connected to the wheel and to the primary drive system; and

a tensioner disposed adjacently to the belt, the tensioner being configured to tension the belt as the wheel is driven by the hydraulic motor.

13. The drive system of claim 12 wherein the tensioner proportionally tensions the belt based upon the output of the hydraulic motor.

14. The drive system of claim 12 wherein the tensioner includes a first tensioner configured to tension the belt at a first location of the belt, and a second tensioner configured to tension the belt at a second location of the belt.

15. The drive system of claim 14 wherein the first tensioner includes a first hydraulic actuator operatively connected to the first connector of the hydraulic fluid pump and to a first port of the hydraulic motor, and a second hydraulic actuator operatively connected to the second connector of the hydraulic fluid pump and to a second port of the hydraulic motor.

16. A drive system for an agricultural work machine having a primary drive system configured to drive a performance system for performing a crop preparation or handling operation, the drive system comprising:

a hydraulic fluid pump having a first connector and a second connector;

a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the fluid outlet of the hydraulic fluid pump, the hydraulic motor including an output;

a wheel operatively connected the output of the hydraulic motor and to the primary drive system, the wheel configured to be driven by the output of the hydraulic motor;

a belt operatively connected to the wheel and to the primary drive system;

a tensioner disposed adjacently to the belt, the tensioner being configured to tension the belt as the wheel is driven by the hydraulic motor,

wherein the tensioner includes a first tensioner configured to tension the belt at a first location of the belt, and a second tensioner configured to tension the belt at a second location of the belt;

wherein the first tensioner includes a first hydraulic actuator operatively connected to the first connector of the hydraulic fluid pump and to a first port of the hydraulic motor, and a second hydraulic actuator operatively connected to the second connector of the hydraulic fluid pump and to a second port of the hydraulic motor; and

wherein fluid flow from the first connector of the hydraulic fluid pump to the first hydraulic actuator moves the hydraulic actuator to tension the belt at the first location and to move an output of the hydraulic motor in a first direction and wherein fluid flow from the second connector of the hydraulic fluid pump to the second hydraulic actuator moves the hydraulic actuator to tension the belt at the second location and to move the output of the hydraulic motor in a second direction.

17. The drive system of claim 16 wherein the first tensioner includes a first bias element configured to oppose the tension applied to the belt at the first location of the belt and a second bias element configured to oppose the tension applied to the belt at the second location.