AID"

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an electrical aid apparatus for animal-drawn vehicle or machine, including human traction, to be applied for example in agricultural processing, in particular an apparatus capable of aiding animal traction by integrating the traction with an electric motor whose action is regulated through the use of dedicated sensors so to keep the traction load on the animal constantly below a stress threshold.

Description of the prior art

At present many devices are known and designed to operate an electrical aid for horse-drawn vehicle or machine.

Among many inventions, in ITB020080674 is described an apparatus to integrate electric traction to relieve the strain on the horse while drawing a carriage capable of carrying a wide number of people.

The invention describes a system in which two electric motors, powered by a rechargeable battery pack, operate on the rear wheels to integrate the power supplied by the horse to the vehicle.

These motors are regulated, while operating, by sensors located in a rotating joint on the front steering axle so to read the steering angle of the vehicle.

The two motors operate synchronously in straight motion, while in bends the motors operate at different speed so to compensate the different tangential speeds of inner and outer wheels, driving on two different radii.

An electronic controlled mechanical differential scheme is replicated.

As far as can be understood from the description of the invention, the electrical aid integration is exclusively actuated by the operator.

The differential function, apart from the horse traction aid, is then the only purpose of the invention.

The different operating conditions, such as uphill or downhill in both forward and reverse motion, are not considered in the invention.

In these operating conditions the weight of the towed vehicle or machine is highly relevant in relation to the horse stress.

Uphill the horse has to sustain a significant greater stress, while downhill the horse has to bear the overall weight of the towed vehicle or machine, resulting this in an enormous amount of stress.

Moreover, when operating on agricultural grounds, further peaks of stress may occur due to the composition, conditions and irregularity of the ground itself. According to the invention, the operating conditions are managed by the operator himself not according to an optimal algorithm that ensure the horse is constantly below a stress threshold.

Furthermore, the motors are always operating, even when the motors action is not needed, thus resulting in a non-optimal energetic configuration.

The use of two electric motors, controlled by a control system and sensors to detect the vehicle's steering angle instead of a mechanical differential is also a complication of an efficient and proven system, resulting in added cost and weight to the towed.

In KR20100107560 what stated above, so the need of a different uphill and downhill behavior of the system, is partially considered.

In this invention also, two electric motors connected to a battery pack are used. The motors are connected to the drive wheels by means of a clutch that is operated according to the operating conditions.

The motors integrate power to the drawn vehicle when uphill or on flat ground, the power transmission is then decoupled from the electric motors, using them as generators to recharge the battery pack, when going downhill or in general when not required.

Though, in this invention, attempts are made to solve the problem of different operating conditions, the implemented solution is managed in a non-optimal way, with the adoption of two motors and various joints resulting in a complex, expensive and heavy inefficient architecture.

In US5540296, an auxiliary device comprehending two engines that exerts a boost when the power demand is high and an energy recovery when the power demand is low or negative, is described.

A measurement of the primary motive power by reading the deformation of the frame is implemented in the device, as well as a control that increases or decreases the torque generated by reducing or increasing the regenerative braking torque when a threshold value of the primary motive power is, respectively, exceeded or not reached.

The systems so far known in the state of the art are affected by numerous inefficiencies due to the lack of response to the need, in particular felt in agricultural applications, to keep the traction load on the animal constantly below a stress threshold, at varying of both the power required and the operating conditions, such as uphill or downhill, forward and backward and ground conditions.

Object of the invention

Is therefore felt the need for an electrical aid apparatus for an animal-drawn vehicle or agricultural machinery that solves the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the invention

These purposes have been achieved with an apparatus according to one or more of the attached claims.

A first advantage consists in the fact that the apparatus provides traction assistance to the animal by integrating traction with an electric motor whose action is regulated using appropriate sensors so to avoid tiredness of the animal, preferably a horse, by keeping it constantly below a stress threshold.

A further advantage consists in the fact that the apparatus automatically adjust the electric motor power to the different operating conditions, such as uphill or downhill in both forward and reverse, on typically uneven grounds and operating with more or less heavy farm implements according to an algorithm that ensures that the animal, preferably a horse, is kept below a stress threshold and therefore avoiding the animal tiredness.

A further advantage consists in the fact that the apparatus converts the electric motor into a generator for battery recharge, according to the different operating conditions, in particular any time the animal is below a stress threshold or downhill when the stress on the animal must be relieved by slowing down and braking the vehicle.

A further advantage, in particular in agricultural operations, is that the apparatus allows the operating speed to be automatically regulated, thus ensuring not only that the animal, preferably a horse, is kept below a stress threshold but also those agricultural operations are carried out in the best possible way.

These and other advantages will be better understood by anyone skilled in the art from the description which follows and from the accompanying drawings given as non-limiting example, in which:

- Fig.1 shows a perspective view of an animal-drawn vehicle for the implementation of the method;

- Fig.2 shows a detail view of the movable part of the animal's attachment to the vehicle in fig.1 , where the animal is preferably a horse;

- Fig.3 shows a detail view of the connection of the mobile fastening part to the vehicle chassis, including a force reading sensor;

- Fig.4 shows a detail view of the rear of the vehicle;

- Fig.5 shows a detail of a vehicle drive wheel;

- Fig.6 shows a perspective view of the rear of a vehicle or agricultural machine for implementing the method, in a use configuration;

- Fig.7 shows a detail of the manual control of the method;

- Fig.8 shows the descriptive diagram of the method's operating logic;

- Fig.9 shows the possible system states and corresponding actions of the vehicle's electric motor on flat ground;

- Fig.10 shows the possible system states and corresponding actions of the vehicle's electric motor uphill;

- Fig.11 shows the possible system states and corresponding actions of the vehicle's electric motor downhill;

- Fig. 12 shows a vehicle with highlighted schematically the functional components for implementing the method.

With reference to the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of an aid apparatus for animal-drawn vehicle or machine, including human traction, to be applied for example in agricultural processing, in particular an apparatus capable of aiding animal traction by integrating the traction with an electric motor whose action is regulated using dedicated sensors so to keep the traction load on the animal constantly below a stress threshold

The apparatus 1 is advantageously implemented in combination with a vehicle comprising a first frame 7, preferably comprising two or more end parts 10 shaped so as to have a prismatic guide function, on said guides a movable frame 3 can slide longitudinally, thanks to the action of several skids 9.

The movable frame 3 and the first frame 7 are connected to each other by a joint 11 comprising a system for measuring the tensile stresses, positive or negative, between the frames 3 and 7, which in a preferred but not exclusive configuration is provided with a load cell.

An adjustable animal attachment system 8, comprising fasteners 2 for securing the animal's vestments to the system in accordance with conventional methods and without causing harm or discomfort to the animal, is also attached to the movable frame 3, which is mounted on the pin 20.

The vehicle may also include operator stands in either front position 5 or rear position 17 depending on the desired configuration of the system.

The apparatus 1 is implemented by means of a central control unit 6, batteries are provided for operating the motor 12, rigidly connected to the first frame 7 and preferably connected to a management unit 4 for adjusting and managing the traction aid parameters.

The control unit 4, in a preferred configuration, consists of a touch screen and electromechanical controls for the selection of parameters and control functions and is located close to the operator stands in either the front 5 or rear 17 position.

A plurality of wheels are connected to the first frame 7, which may have the function of pulling motion and/or detecting the state of motion of the vehicle.

In the preferred case described, there are four traction wheels 21 connected to arms 22 attached to the frame 7 by means of a pin 24 and connected to it by means 23 suitable to exert a compression and traction action such as to keep the wheels in the desired position or in contact with the ground.

However, it is understood that one or more wheels may be provided for the implementation of the method, one or more of which may be used as a motion sensing and/or traction wheel.

The motor 12, including a brake, is connected to a differential coupling 13 rigidly connected to the first frame 7 and via axle shafts 14 to the wheels 21 on the drive axle, in a preferred configuration the rear axle.

The axle shafts 14 are connected to the wheels 21 and to the differential joint 13 by means suitable for transmitting the motion also in the operating condition, such means may preferably but not exclusively include key couplings, elastic collar couplings, spline shaft and cardan joints.

The wheels 21 further comprise sensors capable of reading the motion of the wheel, comprising in the preferred case described a disc 16 with rigidly attached magnets 25 attached to the wheel 21 and a sensor 15, preferably a magnetic sensor, for example a Reed sensor, rigidly attached to the corresponding arm 22 to detect the passage of the magnets 25 during the rotation of the wheel 21.

A command 19, in a preferred configuration a foot pedal, connected to the central control unit 6, is rigidly attached to the operator stand, whether front 5 or rear 17, for the operation of the system in manual mode.

The first frame 7 also includes means for the quick attachment of a tool holder 18 for attaching soil and plant working tools to it, to be operated in agricultural works.

The first frame 7 further comprises a removable part 26 which is replaceable with a similar part of different dimensions to be able to adapt to the mounting of further tools on the system so as to be able to install further tools for processing or transporting materials, rigidly fixed to the first frame 7 by means of the appropriately configured removable part 21.

In the implementation example described, the animal is connected to the system via the means 2 of attachment of the vestments rigidly connected, but adjustable as desired, to the mobile frame 3.

The operator, from the front position 5 or rear position 17, acting on the controls located on the control unit 4, gives consent to maneuver the system by releasing the motor brake 12 and selecting the direction, forward or backward, by means of a selector and the operating mode, automatic or manual. In manual mode the operator acts on drive 19 to adjust the action of motor 12, with the pedal raised the motor 12 remains in a stationary position performing a braking action, pressing the pedal the motor 12 increases its action in a linear manner.

The manual mode can also be selected and used without an animal connected to the system, at a speed limited to man's pace, in order to carry out operations such as garaging.

In manual mode, for safety purpose, the control conditions remain operative.

In automatic mode, the load measurement system included in the coupling 11 continuously reads the load stress on the animal and communicates it to the central control unit 6, at the same time the sensors 15 read the magnets 25 passage, with said magnets 25 fixed on the disc 16 rigidly connected to and arranged on each traction wheel 21 and communicate the passage to the central control unit 6 independently for each traction wheel 21.

In a preferred configuration, in addition to the information collected by the sensors 15 on the motion of the system, data on the positioning of the system itself and its motion is collected by a GPS sensor to provide both a geolocation of the vehicle and a verification of its motion.

In addition to this data, the central control unit 6 also receives data on the charge of the traction batteries and other data considered relevant by the user to be displayed on the control unit 4 of the control 6, such as, for example, the operation and status of the working implements.

As shown in the diagram in FIG.8, the data are processed by the central control unit by means of a PID system, proportional integrative derivative, in order to control the motor drive according to the operating condition in which it is located and guarantee the correct traction aid action.

The stress load measured by the sensor included in the coupling 11 provides information on the real-time state of stress load on the animal, while the independent motion reading on the traction wheels 21 provides information on both the speed and consequently the motion inertia of the system and the direction of motion, considering the motion direction selected by the operator on the management unit 4. The collected data makes possible to identify in which traction and motion condition the system is, for example, among the cases schematically shown in FIG.9, 10 and 11 , and therefore to operate the consequent action on the motor 12, in consideration as well of the information relative to the speed of the system and of the inertia of the vehicle and therefore intervening with a smaller or greater action.

FIG.9, 10 and 11 show some examples of possible conditions of use of the vehicle, e.g. flat ground, downhill and uphill, of the different values of the speed parameters (Vm speed of the vehicle, Vc speed of the animal) and of the forward or reverse conditions M+ / M - of the motor.

Some of the possible operating conditions can also be summarized as follows: forward motion set by the operator, tensile stress, effective forward motion of the vehicle, if the stress load on the animal is below a predetermined fatigue threshold, no action is taken. If the stress load on the animal is above the threshold, a positive electric traction aid is used; forward motion set by the operator, tensile stress, effective reverse motion of the vehicle, the motion has reversed, the system is exerting an excessive force in the opposite direction to the intended motion than the animal can do, typically a condition that can occur on a steep slope, the motor 12 must help the animal with forward traction and if that is not possible by braking the system; forward motion set by the operator, compression stress, effective forward motion of the vehicle, the system is exerting a force on the animal, typically a condition that can occur on a downhill gradient, motor 12 must intervene to help the animal by slowing down the system and if this is not possible by braking the system; forward motion set by the operator, compression stress (so negative tensile stress) and effective reverse motion of the vehicle, the animal is pushing in the opposite direction to the desired motion, the engine 12 must intervene with forward motion or breaking in opposition to the movement of the animal; reverse motion set by the operator, tensile stress, effective forward motion of the vehicle, the animal is pushing in the opposite direction to the desired motion, the engine 12 must intervene with forward motion or breaking in opposition to the movement of the animal; reverse motion set by the operator, tensile stress, effective reverse motion of the vehicle, the system is exerting a force on the animal, typically a condition that can occur uphill, the motor 12 must help the animal with forward traction and if that is not possible by braking the system; reverse motion set by the operator, compression stress, effective forward motion of the vehicle, the motion has reversed, the system is exerting an excessive force in the opposite direction to the intended motion than the animal can do, typically a condition that can occur on a steep downhill, the motor 12 must help the animal with reverse traction and if that is not possible by braking the system; reverse motion set by the operator, compression stress (so negative tensile stress) and effective reverse motion of the vehicle, if the stress load on the animal is below a predetermined fatigue threshold, no action is taken. If the stress load on the animal is above the threshold, a positive electric traction aid is used;

All operating states are referred to management unit 4 and are displayed on the touch screen, but the operator does not have to perform any operation as the system is fully automated.

In a preferred embodiment, operating data is also made available remotely via data modems for transmitting and receiving data both in and out of the central control unit 6.

In operating states where the motor 12 has no function and is therefore driven by the system, the motor 12 is used as a generator for batteries recharge.

The apparatus and method as a whole thus ensures not only that the animal is constantly kept below the level of maximum stress and aided in its action, but also that intervention and the resulting energy consumption is optimized to ensure maximum energy efficiency.

In addition, the described system only needs to read the traction/compression of the chassis regardless of the steering condition as it only needs to manage one motor. In addition, the system described in this invention provides for reading the speed of the wheels independently with an encoder and an algorithm that receives data from the load cell and encoder, as well as from the control unit, to understand and adapt and progressively and optimally integrate the motor 12 power according to the identified operating states.

In this way, by reading the force, direction and speed of the movement, the system is able to understand what state it is in (uphill, downhill, excessive effort, below threshold, etc.) and integrate the animal traction correctly.

The invention therefore achieves important advantages in the implementation of an electrical aid for animal or human traction in vehicles and machines, in particular for agricultural processing, since it allows to continuously read the tensile or compression stress on the animal and the movement of the vehicle and to communicate to a central control unit information on both the dynamics and the speed and direction of the movement in such a way that from the combination of this information it is possible to identify which of the possible operating conditions is occurring and to act accordingly, also automatically.

The present invention has been described according to preferred embodiments, various modification in design can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.