Deere & Company

Michael J Cliff

Steven R Fliearman

Benjamin K Dollins

Robert Lee Wood, Jr

Robert Lavin Wood

Briton Todd Eastman

Craig R Eike

Marc David Chapman

Poongundran Ganapathi

An intelligent work vehicle filtration system includes a hydraulic subsystem, a controller architecture, and an electric drive subsystem containing a battery pack. A hydraulic subsystem includes, in turn, a fine filter device having a first filter efficiency, a coarse filter device having a second filter efficiency less than the first filter efficiency, a hydraulic circuit in which the fine filter device and the coarse filter device are positioned, and a hydraulic pump controllable to circulate hydraulic fluid about the hydraulic circuit. During operation of the intelligent work vehicle filtration system, the controller architecture selectively places the intelligent work vehicle filtration system in an externally-powered filter mode in which hydraulic flow is directed through the fine filter device, while bypassing the coarse filter device, when the electric drive subsystem is electrically coupled to an external power supply utilized to charge the battery pack.

Intelligent filtration for electric-hydraulic work vehicles

An intelligent work vehicle preheating system includes an electric drive subsystem containing a battery pack, a hydraulic subsystem containing a first hydraulic fluid (HF) heating device, and a first HF temperature sensor. A memory stores a first minimum target temperature at or above which a first hydraulic fluid body contained in the hydraulic subsystem is desirably maintained. A controller architecture selectively places the intelligent work vehicle preheating system in an off-duty preheat mode when the electric drive subsystem is connected to an external power supply utilized to charge the battery pack. The controller architecture further controls the HF heating device to heat the first hydraulic fluid body when (i) the intelligent work vehicle preheating system is placed in the off-duty preheat mode, and (ii) the current temperature of the first hydraulic fluid body is less than the first minimum target temperature.

Preheating intelligence for electric-hydraulic work vehicles

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for operating a machine using energy stored in a compress gas are disclosed. Energy stored in the compressed gas may be used to pressurize a fluid, such as transmission fluid, and the pressurized fluid may be used to effectuate an operation of the machine, such as a transmission, and the operation of the machine may involve shifting of a transmission. The gas may be compressed with another fluid that is different from the fluid used to operate the machine, and the two fluid may be prevented from being mixed together.

Systems and methods for pressurizing transmission charge oil

A hydraulic fluid pressure amplifier system includes a boost cylinder assembly, an energy storage device in fluid communication with the boost cylinder assembly, and a working cylinder assembly. The boost cylinder assembly is configured to selectively receive a plunger member into a boost cylinder, wherein movement of the plunger member received in the boost cylinder compresses a charge fluid within a blind side volume of the boost cylinder from a first fluid pressure to an amplified fluid pressure greater than the first pressure. The working cylinder assembly is selectively operable responsive to receiving a source hydraulic fluid having a nominal fluid pressure less than the amplified fluid pressure for effecting the movement of the plunger member into the boost cylinder. The energy storage device is operable to selectively receive and store a portion of the charge fluid compressed to the amplified fluid pressure.

Fluid pressure boost system and method

A hydraulic fluid pressure amplifier system includes a boost cylinder assembly, an energy storage device in fluid communication with the boost cylinder assembly, and a working cylinder assembly. The boost cylinder assembly includes a boost cylinder and a boost cylinder piston movable relative to the boost cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein movement of the boost cylinder piston from the retraced position to the extended position compresses a hydraulic fluid in a blind side volume of the boost cylinder from a nominal fluid pressure to an amplified high fluid pressure greater than the nominal fluid pressure. The energy storage device receives the hydraulic fluid compressed from the nominal fluid pressure to the amplified high fluid pressure. The working cylinder assembly is operatively connected with the boost cylinder assembly and is selectively operable for effecting the movement of the boost cylinder piston.

A hydraulic device for a work vehicle includes a device body, a plug, and a filler insert. The device body includes a wall structure between surfaces defining internal passages including an access passage having a first diameter extending from an access opening in the device body to a hydraulic fluid passage extending through the wall structure from an entry opening in a first surface to an exit opening in a second surface to deliver hydraulic fluid through the wall structure. A plug is mounted to the device body to close the access opening. A filler insert is proximate the plug and has a shank having a circular cross-section of a second diameter that is less than the first diameter so as to be decoupled from the inner wall surface of the access passage. An annular space around the shank in the access passage allows the hydraulic fluid to encircle at least a part of the shank of the filler insert.

Hydraulic device with decoupled filler insert for hydraulic circuit volume reduction

A hydraulic system for a work vehicle has a first hydraulic circuit at a first nominal pressure and a second hydraulic circuit at a second nominal pressure different than the first nominal pressure. A dual-chamber hydraulic reservoir includes a first tank associated with the first hydraulic circuit and defining a first opening and a second tank associated with the second hydraulic circuit and defining a second opening. An exchange system has a particulate filter disposed within an exchange path between the first opening of the first tank and the second opening of the second tank. The exchange system is configured to resupply the first tank with hydraulic fluid from the second tank.

Work vehicle hydraulic system with fluid exchange reservoir

A hydraulic supply system provides hydraulic power to functional systems of a work vehicle and includes first and second hydraulic circuits. The first hydraulic circuit includes a first fluid pump operable to generate a first hydraulic fluid, a pressure storage reservoir coupled with the first fluid pump, and a first port coupled with the first fluid pump and with the pressure storage reservoir operable to store a reserve hydraulic fluid. The first port delivers a boost hydraulic fluid from the first circuit for use by the work vehicle to operate a first functional system of the work vehicle. The second hydraulic circuit includes a second fluid pump that generates a second hydraulic fluid, and a second port coupled with the second fluid pump delivers the second hydraulic fluid from the second hydraulic circuit for use by the work vehicle to operate a second functional system of the work vehicle.

Efficient hydraulic supply systems and methods for work vehicles

A work equipment transmission includes a gear, a gearbox, and a baffle. The gearbox housing contains the gear within an internal cavity that defines a sump and is defined by a first housing body having a first baffle-retaining surface and an outlet opening and a second housing body having a second baffle-retaining surface. The baffle has a shroud wall defining a peripheral lip for engagement with the first baffle-retaining surface, an annular collar having an annular collar lip for engagement with the second baffle-retaining surface, and an end wall. The baffle is mounted within the gearbox housing, the end wall extending proximate the gear and the shroud wall extending at least partially around the gear. The baffle is mounted by a clamping force between the first housing body and the second housing body.

Work equipment transmission with gear baffle and method of assembly

An efficient lubrication system for wet plate brake assemblies includes a flow control system that passes lubricant for cooling and lubrication through interdigitated wet brake plates when the plates are engaged. When the plates are disengaged, the wet plate assembly is controlled to limit its displacement by means of a pin and spring such that a gap is provided around the brake plates to provide a preferential path for lubricant, thus minimizing parasitic losses.

Simplified cooling circuit for powertrain braking system

A differential axle assembly for a work machine having a differential lock capability. The differential axle has a differential gear housing, which utilizes a sealed housing on the outside thereof and a bleed flow path for pressurized liquid lubricant actuating a differential lock feature to provide adequate cooling flow for the differential gear set and differential lock mechanism under heavy duty circumstances.

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Coffeyville, KS, United States of America

Michael J Cliff