Deere snaps up sole gold medal at Agritechnica
Electro-mechanical gearbox takes out highest innovation accolade at international farm machinery trade showJohn Deere has taken out the only gold medal awarded for innovation this year at Agritechnica for its eAutoPower gearbox electro-mechanical power split transmission that makes tractor-implement electrification possible.
Judges of the awards said the system is the first such technology in the agricultural industry and will improve gearbox efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.
Stepless transmissions with a hydrostatic-mechanical power split have been used in agricultural tractors for over 20 years. Up until now, additional generators for electric drives with a higher power requirement were installed on tractors (fan, compressed-air/air conditioner compressor etc) or on implements.
In the eAutoPower gearbox, two electric motors are used as a continuously variable actuator. The electric motors have been specified so they not only supply the drive, but can also provide up to 100kW of electric power for external consumption.
The resulting tractor-implement electrification has been demonstrated with a system solution for spreading manure developed together with Joskin, where two axles on a tridem spreader are electrically driven.
On the tractor side, this electrical integration results in improved gearbox efficiencies and reduced maintenance costs, Deere said.
In addition, the surplus power flows occurring at certain operating points can be "tapped" when utilising electric power for external electrical components, which further improves overall efficiency.
Used in combination with an axle drive on a manure spreader, the results in practical use include higher traction, reduced slip and improved track guidance on side slopes, Deere said.
In addition to the coveted gold medal, John Deere also took home three silver innovation medals for an intelligent vibration damping technology for large square balers; a proactive throughput controller for combines and an efficiency package for large combine harvesters.
There were a total of one gold and 39 silver medals for innovation awarded at the world’s largest farm machinery trade show which took place in Hanover, Germany from November 10 to 16, 2019. Some of the other innovative technologies awarded with silver medals at Agritechnica include AGCO’s IDEALDrive which completely eliminates the steering wheel and column in the IDEAL combine, making it the first self-propelled agricultural machine completely operated with a joystick.
CLAAS's APS Synflow hybrid threshing and separating system which has recently been given an upgrade also took home a silver medal.
For the full list of innovation medallists at Agritechnica, visit agritechnica.com
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