Powertrain with variable vertical drop distance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11091018-B2
Application number	US-201815977242-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2018
Priority date	May 11, 2018
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

A powertrain for a work vehicle includes an engine, a continuously variable power source (CVP), an output shaft, and a transmission. The transmission operably connects the engine and the CVP to the output shaft. The transmission is configured to provide selection between a plurality of transmission modes in which the transmission transmits power from at least one of the engine and the CVP to the output shaft. The transmission includes an input assembly defining an input axis, a variator assembly defining a variator axis, a countershaft assembly defining a countershaft axis, and an output assembly defining an output axis. The input assembly, the variator assembly, the countershaft assembly, and the output assembly are the same in different orientations. A vertical drop distance from the input axis to the output axis varies between the different ones of the plurality of orientations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A powertrain for a work vehicle comprising:
an engine;
a continuously variable power source (CVP);
an output shaft; and
a transmission that operably connects the engine and the CVP to the output shaft, the transmission configured to provide selection between a plurality of transmission modes in which the transmission transmits power from at least one of the engine and the CVP to the output shaft, the transmission including:
an input assembly defining an input axis and having at least one input transmission component that is supported for rotation about the input axis, the engine connected to the input assembly and configured to input engine power thereto for rotating the at least one input transmission component, the CVP connected to the input assembly and configured to input CVP power thereto for rotating the at least one input transmission component;
a variator assembly defining a variator axis, the variator assembly including a variator with at least one variator component that is supported for rotation about the variator axis, the variator assembly in at least one of the plurality of transmission modes configured to receive engine power and CVP power via the input assembly and to output combined power;
a countershaft assembly defining a countershaft axis and including at least one countershaft component that is supported for rotation about the countershaft axis, the countershaft assembly configured to receive combined power from the variator for rotating the at least one countershaft component; and
an output assembly defining an output axis, the output assembly connected to the output shaft, the output assembly configured to receive combined power from the countershaft assembly to drive the output shaft in rotation about the output axis;
wherein the input axis, the variator axis, the countershaft axis, and the output axis are substantially parallel and arranged in a series that extends vertically, the series having a plurality of orientations in which the input assembly, the variator assembly, the countershaft assembly, and the output assembly are alternatively arranged; and
wherein the input assembly, the variator assembly, the countershaft assembly, and the output assembly are the same in different ones of the plurality of orientations and a vertical drop distance from the input axis to the output axis varies between the different ones of the plurality of orientations.

2. The powertrain of claim 1 , wherein the series has a first orientation and a second orientation; and
wherein, in the first orientation, one of the input axis, the variator axis, the countershaft axis, and the output axis is disposed in a first angular position relative to a neighboring one of the input axis, the variator axis, the countershaft axis, and the output axis; and
wherein, in the second orientation, the one is disposed in a second angular position relative to the neighboring one.

3. The powertrain of claim 2 , wherein, in the first orientation, the countershaft axis is disposed at a first vertical side of the output axis; and
wherein, in the second orientation, the countershaft axis is disposed at a second vertical side of the output axis opposite the first vertical side.

4. The powertrain of claim 1 , wherein the transmission is configured is configured for power flow through the transmission along a path from the input assembly, through the variator assembly and the countershaft assembly, to the output assembly; and
wherein, in a projection of the path onto an imaginary vertical plane, the variator axis is a first inflection point of the path and the countershaft axis is a second inflection point of the path.

5. The powertrain of claim 4 , wherein the path is substantially Z-shaped.

6. The powertrain of claim 4 , wherein the path is substantially C-shaped.

7. The powertrain of claim 1 , wherein the input assembly includes a first shaft and a second shaft that are supported for rotation on the input axis;
wherein the engine is connected to the first shaft to provide engine power thereto;
wherein the CVP is connected to the second shaft to provide CVP power thereto.

8. The powertrain of claim 7 , wherein the second shaft surrounds at least part of the first shaft; and
wherein the first and second shaft are coaxial about the input axis.

9. The powertrain of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transmission modes includes a series transmission mode in which:
the transmission is configured to disconnect the engine from the variator;
the variator is configured to receive CVP power from the CVP; and
the variator is configured to output CVP power.

10. The powertrain of claim 9 , wherein the series transmission mode is configured transmit power for providing torque to the output shaft while maintaining the output shaft stationary.

11. The powertrain of claim 9 , wherein the CVP includes a first continuously variable machine (CVM) and a second CVM;
wherein, in the series transmission mode:
the engine provides power to the first CVM to generate power that is supplied to the second CVM;
the second CVM provides power to a first input member of the variator;
the second CVM provides power to a second input member of the variator; and
the variator recombines power from the first and second input members that is output to the countershaft assembly.

12. The powertrain of claim 1 , wherein the input axis and the variator axis are spaced apart at a first horizontal distance and a first vertical distance;
wherein the variator axis and the countershaft axis are spaced apart at a second horizontal distance and a second vertical distance; and
wherein the countershaft axis and the output axis are spaced apart at a third horizontal distance and a third vertical distance.

13. A method of manufacturing a powertrain for a work vehicle, the method comprising:
providing an engine, a continuously variable power source (CVP), and an output shaft;
providing a transmission configured to operably connect the engine and the CVP to the output shaft, the transmission configured to provide selection between a plurality of transmission modes in which the transmission transmits power from at least one of the engine and the CVP to the output shaft, the transmission including:
an input assembly defining an input axis and having at least one input transmission component that is supported for rotation about the input axis, the engine connected to the input assembly and configured to input engine power thereto for rotating the at least one input transmission component, the CVP connected to the input assembly and configured to input CVP power thereto for rotating the at least one input transmission component;
a variator assembly defining a variator axis, the variator assembly including a variator with at least one variator component that is supported for rotation about the variator axis, the variator assembly in at least one of the plurality of transmission modes configured to receive engine power and CVP power via the input assembly and to output combined power;
a countershaft assembly defining a countershaft axis and including at least one countershaft component that is supported for rotation about the countershaft axis, the countershaft assembly configured to receive combined power from the variator for rotating the at least one countershaft component; and
an output assembly defining an output axis, the output assembly connected to the output shaft, the output assembly configured to receive combined power from the countershaft assembly to drive the output shaft in rotation about the output axis;
wherein the input axis, the variator axis, the countersh

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Ore Thomas G
• Mueller David

Classifications

• B60K6/445 Primary

  Differential gearing distribution type · CPC title

• Y02T10/62

  Hybrid vehicles · CPC title

• Y10S903/911

  with two or more gear sets · CPC title

• B60K6/387

  Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means · CPC title

• F16H2037/088

  Power-split transmissions with summing differentials, with the input of the CVT connected or connectable to the input shaft · CPC title