Drive system control for a mobile machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10791670-B2
Application number	US-201815940155-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2018
Priority date	Sep 25, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

A mobile machine is described. In one example, the machine includes a first subsystem comprising propulsion components configured to propel the mobile machine, a second subsystem, a first drive mechanism, a second drive mechanism, a coupling mechanism, and a controller configured to actuate the coupling mechanism to selectively couple one of the first or second drive mechanisms to drive one or more components of the second subsystem with variable speed and direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile machine comprising:
a first subsystem comprising propulsion components configured to propel the mobile machine;
a second subsystem;
a first drive mechanism;
a second drive mechanism;
a coupling mechanism movable between a first position in which the first drive mechanism is operably coupled to the second subsystem and a second position in which the second drive mechanism is operably coupled to the second subsystem; and
a controller configured to actuate the coupling mechanism to selectively couple one of the first or second drive mechanisms to drive one or more components of the second subsystem with variable speed and direction.

2. The mobile machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components comprise a rotating component having a shaft, and the coupling mechanism is movable between the first position in which the first drive mechanism is operably coupled to the shaft and the second position in which the second drive mechanism is operably coupled to the shaft.

3. The mobile machine of claim 1 , wherein the mobile machine comprises an agricultural harvesting machine, and the second subsystem comprises at least one of:
a front-end subsystem comprising a header; or
a feed subsystem having a teed mechanism.

4. The mobile machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises an actuation component configured to actuate the coupling mechanism between the first and second positions, the actuation component actuating the coupling mechanism at least one of hydraulically, pneumatically, or electronically.

5. The mobile machine of claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a collar shift having a set of teeth configured to engage corresponding sets of teeth associated with the first drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism, and the feed mechanism.

6. The mobile machine of claim 5 , wherein the first drive mechanism comprises a first rotatable coupler rotatably driven by a first motor; and the second drive mechanism comprises a second rotatable coupler rotatably driven by a second motor.

7. The mobile machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate the coupling mechanism between first and second positions.

8. The mobile machine of claim 7 , wherein the one or more components comprise a rotatable component, and wherein
when in the first position, the coupling mechanism operably couples the rotatable component to the first drive mechanism to rotate the rotatable component in a first direction; and
when in the second position, the coupling mechanism operably couples the rotatable component to the second drive mechanism to rotate the rotatable component in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

9. The mobile machine of claim 8 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a collar shift having a set of teeth configured to engage corresponding sets of teeth associated with the first drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism, and the rotatable component.

10. The mobile machine of claim 8 , wherein the rotatable component is configured to feed material along a conveyance path in a conveyance direction, and wherein the rotatable component is configured to rotate about an axis that is orientated in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction.

11. The mobile machine of claim 8 , wherein the controller configured to control the coupling mechanism based on a received sensor signal indicative of at least one of:
a rotational speed of the rotatable component; or
a torque applied to the rotatable component.

12. A mobile machine comprising:
a first subsystem comprising propulsion components configured to propel the mobile machine;
a second subsystem;
a first drive mechanism associated with a first motor;
a second drive mechanism associated with a second motor and configured to operate independently of the first drive mechanism;
a coupling mechanism; and
a controller configured to actuate the coupling mechanism to selectively couple one of the first or second drive mechanisms to drive one or more components of the second subsystem with variable speed and direction.

13. The mobile machine of claim 12 , wherein the first and second motors comprise different types of motors.

14. The mobile machine of claim 13 , wherein the first drive mechanism comprises an internal combustion engine and the second drive mechanism comprises an electric motor.

15. A mobile machine comprising:
a first subsystem comprising propulsion components configured to propel the mobile machine;
a second subsystem;
a first drive mechanism;
a second drive mechanism;
a coupling mechanism; and
a controller configured to actuate the coupling mechanism to selectively couple one of the first or second drive mechanisms to drive one or more components of the second subsystem with variable speed and direction, wherein the controller is configured to control the second drive mechanism to oscillate the one or more components.

16. A mobile machine comprising:
a first subsystem comprising propulsion components configured to propel the mobile machine over a terrain;
a second subsystem;
a first drive mechanism associated with a first motor;
a second drive mechanism associated with a second motor and configured to operate independently of the first drive mechanism; and
a transmission system comprising a controller configured to actuate a coupling mechanism between first and second positions to selectively couple one of the first or second drive mechanisms to drive a component of the second subsystem with variable speed and direction, wherein,
when in the first position, the coupling mechanism operably couples the component of the second subsystem to the first drive mechanism to rotate the component in a first direction; and
when in the second position, the coupling mechanism operably couples the component to the second drive mechanism to rotate the component in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

17. The mobile machine of claim 16 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a collar shift having a set of teeth configured to engage corresponding sets of teeth associated with the first drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism, and the component of the second subsystem.

18. The mobile machine of claim 16 , wherein the component is configured to feed material along a conveyance path in a conveyance direction, and wherein the component of the second subsystem is configured to rotate about an axis that is orientated in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction.

19. The mobile machine of claim 16 , wherein the controller configured to control the coupling mechanism based on a received sensor signal indicative of at least one of:
a rotational speed of the component of the second subsystem; or
a torque applied to the component of the second subsystem.

20. The mobile machine of claim 16 , wherein the first and second motors comprise different types of motors.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Gonzalez-Mohino Pedro

Classifications

• A01F2012/188

  Rethreshing devices · CPC title

• A01F12/40

  Arrangements of straw crushers or cutters · CPC title

• A01F12/18

  Threshing devices · CPC title

• A01D41/142 Primary

  Header drives · CPC title

• A01D69/025

  Electric hybrid systems · CPC title