Tractor powertrain including plurality of structural casings

Abstract

A hybrid power train for farm tractors, wherein the elements defining at least one of the electric machines are housed in a structural casing formed in one piece. The structural casing forms an integral part of the supporting structure of the tractor in the form of a half-shell open on one side, so as to permit assembly of an insulating element, a stator, and a shaft fitted with a respective rotor to form the electric machine part of the hybrid power train. The diesel engine of the agricultural tractor is mechanically connected to the Power take-off mechanism by routing the PTO shaft through a number of hollow shafts for transmitting power from the diesel engine to and from the two electric machines by means of a conventional epicyclic gear train.

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . A tractor powertrain comprising: 
 a support comprising a divider wall separating a pair of cavities, the divider wall defining an aperture and being adapted to receive a first bearing;    a first structural casing including a closed end and an open end, the closed end (i) being fastened to the support, (ii) defining an aperture, (iii) being adapted to receive a bearing in the aperture and (iv) comprising a raised collar coaxial with the aperture, the raised collar adapted to receive a bearing thereon;    a plate fastened to the open end of the first structural casing, the plate comprising a collar, which defines an aperture and is adapted to receive a pair of bearings in a spaced relationship;    a second structural casing comprising a casing divider wall dividing the second structural casing into first and second cavities, the casing divider wall including a collar adapted to receive a pair of bearings in a spaced relationship, the second structural casing being fastened to the plate; and    a third structural casing including a closed end fastened to the second structural casing, the closed end including a collar adapted to receive a pair of spaced bearings.    
   
   
       11 . A tractor powertrain according to  claim 10 , further comprising a first electrical machine disposed within the first structural casing, an epicyclic gear train disposed within the first cavity of the second structural casing, and a second electrical machine disposed within the second cavity of the second structural casing.  
   
   
       12 . A tractor powertrain according to  claim 10 , further comprising a first bearing disposed in the aperture of the divider wall; a second bearing disposed in the aperture of the first structural casing; a third bearing disposed in the collar of the first structural casing; fourth and fifth bearings disposed in a spaced relationship in the collar of the plate; sixth and seventh bearings disposed in the casing divider wall of the second structural casing; eighth and ninth bearings disposed in the collar of the closed end of the third structural casing.  
   
   
       13 . A tractor powertrain according to  claim 12 , further comprising a first shaft; a second, hollow shaft disposed coaxially with and around the first shaft; and a third, hollow shaft disposed coaxially with and around the first and second shafts, the first shaft being journelled in the first bearing, the second shaft being journelled in the second bearing and the third shaft being journelled in the third and fourth bearings.  
   
   
       14 . A tractor powertrain according to  claim 13 , further comprising a fourth, hollow shaft disposed coaxially with and around the first shaft, the fourth shaft being journelled in the seventh and eighth bearings.  
   
   
       15 . A tractor powertrain according to  claim 14 , further comprising first and second electrical machines, each comprising a stator and a rotor, the rotor of the first electrical machine being fixed to the third shaft and the rotor of the second electrical machine being fixed to the fourth shaft.  
   
   
       16 . A tractor powertrain according to  claim 14 , further comprising a fifth, hollow shaft disposed coaxially with and around the first shaft, the fifth shaft being journelled in the ninth bearing.