Agricultural harvester with propulsion load shifting between dual engines

• US 8,087,900 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Mackin, Ryan P., Burke, Daniel J., Coers, Bruce A., Sheidler, Alan D., Pope, Glenn E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fabian-Kovacs, Arpad
• Application Number:
  US12/470,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20100293912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 604/90, 604/87, 606/98, 604/50, 604/33, 607/16, 602/76, 701/50, 701/207, 701/213, 701/208, 701/52, 701/65, 701/68, 123/198.R, 123/41.01, 123/479, 123/406.54, 290/4.A, 290/1.A, 417/286, 417/212, 417/305, 180/65.1, 180/65.21, 180/65.27, 180/165, 180/53.8, 180/65.25, 180/65.285, 180/65.23, 56/102.R, 56/107, 56/118
• US Class Current: 417/212
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/025 Electric hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/08 comprising more than one engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/222 Harvesters
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 73/00 Combinations of two or more engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

An agricultural harvester includes a first power unit which is couplable with a first primary load. The first primary load includes a threshing system load. A second power unit has a threshold power output and is couplable with a second primary load. The second primary load includes a propulsion load. A first motor/generator is mechanically coupled with the first power unit. A second motor/generator is mechanically coupled with the second power unit. The second motor/generator and the first motor/generator are electrically coupled together. At least one electrical processing circuit is coupled with each of the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator. The at least one electrical processing circuit is configured for selectively transferring electrical power from the first motor/generator to the second motor/generator, when the second power unit is at or above the threshold power output.

Claims

1. An agricultural harvester, comprising:

a first power unit which is couplable with a first primary load, said first primary load including a threshing system load;

a second power unit having a threshold power output above zero, said second power unit being couplable with a second primary load, said second primary load including a propulsion load;

a first motor/generator mechanically coupled with said first power unit;

a second motor/generator mechanically coupled with said second power unit, said second motor/generator and said first motor/generator being electrically coupled together; and

at least one electrical processing circuit coupled with each of said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator, said at least one electrical processing circuit being configured for selectively transferring electrical power from said first motor/generator to said second motor/generator, when said second power unit is one of at and above said threshold power output.

2. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein said threshold power output of said second power unit corresponds to a maximum rated output of said second power unit.

3. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein said at least one electrical processing circuit is configured for selective bidirectional transfer of electrical power between said first motor/generator and said second motor/generator.

4. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein said first motor/generator is mechanically interconnected between said first power unit and said first primary load, and said second motor/generator is mechanically interconnected between said second power unit and said second primary load.

5. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein said first power unit includes a first drive train and said second power unit includes a second drive train, said first primary load being driven by said first drive train and said second primary load being driven by said second drive train.

6. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein said second motor/generator is configured to electrically drive at least one external load.

7. The agricultural harvester of claim 6, wherein each said external load corresponds to one of a parasitic load and an auxiliary load.

8. The agricultural harvester of claim 7, wherein each said parasitic load is a non-drivetrain load without operator intervention, and each said auxiliary load is a non-drivetrain load with operator intervention.

9. The agricultural harvester of claim 8, wherein said agricultural harvester is an agricultural combine, and said at least one auxiliary load corresponds to at least one of:

a heating and air conditioning system;

a reel drive;

a cleaning shoe drive;

an air compressor for cleanout function;

a vehicle lighting system;

a clean grain unloading system;

a cleaning fan drive;

a cutterbar/auger drive;

a chaff spreader;

a clean grain elevator; and

an auxiliary electrical power outlet.

10. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein said agricultural harvester is an agricultural combine, and said threshing system load corresponds to at least one of:

a cutting platform;

a header;

a feederhousing;

a rotor;

a separator; and

a residue chopper.

11. The agricultural harvester of claim 1, wherein said first power unit and said second power unit are each an internal combustion (IC) engine.