Drive system

A drive system for an agricultural or industrial vehicle comprising:

• an engine providing mechanical power to a drive shaft;
• a first electrical generator having a first rotor and a first stator, the first rotor being rotationally fixed to the drive shaft and configured to rotate with respect to a first stator;
• a first electrical machine having a second rotor and a second stator, the second rotor being rotationally fixed downstream of the first rotor to a first hollow shaft and configured to rotate with respect to the second stator, wherein the first hollow shaft coaxially surrounds, at least in part, the drive shaft, and is fixed to a first drive gear, the first drive gear being meshed with a first transmission gear included in a mechanical transmission;
• a first clutch configured to rotationally fix the first hollow shaft to a second drive gear, the second drive gear being meshed with a second transmission gear included in the mechanical transmission;
• a second electrical generator having a third rotor and a third stator, the third rotor being rotationally fixed to the drive shaft and configured to rotate with respect to the third stator, the second electrical generator being located downstream of the first electrical generator and upstream of the first electrical machine;
• and
• a second electrical machine having a fourth rotor and a fourth stator, the fourth rotor being rotationally fixed downstream of the first electrical machine to a second hollow shaft, wherein the second hollow shaft coaxially surrounds, at least in part, the first hollow shaft, and is fixed to the second drive gear.

A drive system for an agricultural or industrial vehicle comprising:

• an engine, at least one drive axle, first and second electric generators, first and second electrical machines, and a mechanical interface in the form of a power take-off shaft, wherein the first and second electric generators can be driven by a torque generated by the engine, wherein at least one of the first and the second electrical machines can be driven by electrical energy produced by the first and second electric generators, wherein mechanical torque generated by at least one of the first and the second electrical machines can be transmitted to the at least one drive axle of the vehicle for its locomotion, and wherein mechanical torque can be transmitted to a mechanically drivable implement via the mechanical interface only from one or more of the first and the second electrical machines;
• wherein the first electric generator includes a first stator and a first rotor, the first rotor being rotationally fixed to and capable of being driven by a first input shaft, and the second generator includes a second stator and a second rotor, the second rotor being rotationally fixed to and capable of being driven by a second input shaft, and wherein the first input shaft and the second input shaft are part of a single input shaft or are distinct input shafts arranged substantially coaxial to one another;
• wherein the first and second rotors always co-rotate when the engine is running, and can be electrically activated or deactivated;
• wherein the first electric machine has a first output shaft, the first output shaft being fixed to a first drive gear, the first drive gear being meshed with a first transmission gear included in a multi-stage mechanical transmission;
• wherein the second electric machine has a second output shaft, the second output shaft being fixed to a second drive gear, the second drive gear being meshed with a second transmission gear included in the multi-stage mechanical transmission;
• and
• wherein the second output shaft of the second electrical machine includes a hollow shaft that is arranged coaxially to the first output shaft of the first electrical machine.