Direct drive aspiration system

Systems for harvesting machines, transmissions for harvesting machines, and methods of operating systems for harvesting machines are disclosed herein. A system includes a drive unit, a cleaner unit, an aspirator, and a transmission. The drive unit is configured to produce rotational power in use of the system. The cleaner unit is fluidly coupled to the drive unit and configured to separate debris from air so that the air becomes cleaned air and provide the cleaned air to the drive unit in use of the system. The aspirator is fluidly coupled to the cleaner unit and configured to draw debris away from the cleaner unit and exhaust the debris in use of the system. The transmission is coupled to the drive unit and the aspirator.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates, generally, to drive systems, and, more specifically, to drive systems incorporating aspirators.

BACKGROUND

In some cases, an aspirating device may be used to draw matter away from one or more components that are included in, or otherwise coupled to, a drive system. Some aspirating devices include induction systems that may be associated with undesirable pressure and/or heat transfer characteristics. Other aspirating devices may be associated with excessive cost, require space that may be occupied or limited by other devices, necessitate a design specific for a particular engine configuration, and/or demand undesirable maintenance and servicing. Provision of an aspirating device that avoids the aforementioned drawbacks, as well as a mechanism to drive operation of such a device, remains an area of interest.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for a harvesting machine may include a drive unit, a cleaner unit, an aspirator, and a transmission. The drive unit may be configured to produce rotational power in use of the system. The cleaner unit may be fluidly coupled to the drive unit and configured to separate debris from air so that the air becomes cleaned air and provide the cleaned air to the drive unit in use of the system. The aspirator may be fluidly coupled to the cleaner unit and configured to draw debris away from the cleaner unit and exhaust the debris in use of the system. The transmission may be coupled to the drive unit and the aspirator to receive rotational power produced by the drive unit and provide the rotational power to the aspirator. The transmission may include an aspirator driver configured to drive operation of the aspirator at a fixed speed ratio in use of the system.

In some embodiments, the aspirator may include a shaft that extends along a central axis and a rotor supported on the shaft and configured for rotation about the central axis to draw the debris away from the cleaner unit, and the aspirator driver may include an aspirator gear coupled to the shaft to drive rotation of the rotor about the central axis in use of the system. The transmission may include an input shaft coupled to the drive unit to receive rotational power produced by the drive unit, a first gear supported on the input shaft, and a second gear arranged between the first gear and the aspirator gear. The aspirator gear may be intermeshed with the second gear. The second gear may be intermeshed with the first gear. The system may be operable in a first operating mode in which rotation of the first gear drives rotation of the aspirator gear through the second gear to cause rotation of the rotor about the central axis. The system may be operable in a second operating mode in which the aspirator gear does not drive rotation of the rotor about the central axis.

In some embodiments, the system may include a main housing that houses the transmission, the aspirator may include a case and an exhaust duct integrally formed with the case, and the case may be directly attached to the main housing to facilitate exhaustion of the debris through the exhaust duct away from the main housing in use of the system. The case may be directly attached to the main housing to minimize physical interference between the aspirator and one or more auxiliary components that may be driven by the drive unit.

In some embodiments, the aspirator driver may be beltless. The aspirator driver may be configured to drive operation of the aspirator at a fixed speed ratio in use of the system without one or more auxiliary pads.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a transmission for a harvesting machine may include an input shaft, an output shaft, a first gear, a second gear, and a third gear. The input shaft may be configured to receive rotational power produced by a drive unit, and the input shaft may be configured for rotation about an input axis in use of the transmission. The output shaft may be configured to transmit rotational power received by the input shaft to an aspirator to drive rotation thereof, the output shaft may be configured for rotation about an output axis in use of the transmission, and the output axis may be spaced from the input axis. The first gear may be supported on the input shaft and configured for rotation about the input axis in use of the transmission. The second gear may be configured for rotation about a second axis in use of the transmission, and the second axis may be spaced from the input axis and the output axis. The third gear may be supported on the output shaft and configured for rotation about the output axis to drive rotation of the aspirator in use of the transmission.

In some embodiments, the second gear and the third gear may be intermeshed. The first gear and the second gear may be intermeshed. The transmission may be operable in a first operating mode in which rotation of the first gear about the input axis drives rotation of the third gear about the output axis through the second gear to drive rotation of the aspirator. The transmission may be operable in a second operating mode in which the third gear does not drive rotation of the aspirator. The first operating mode may be a runtime operating mode of the transmission, and the second operating mode may be a startup operating mode of the transmission.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating a system for a harvesting machine that includes a drive unit configured to produce rotational power, a cleaner unit fluidly coupled to the drive unit and configured to separate debris from air so that the air becomes cleaned air and provide the cleaned air to the drive unit, an aspirator fluidly coupled to the cleaner unit and configured to draw debris away from the cleaner unit and exhaust the debris, and a transmission coupled to the drive unit and the aspirator to receive rotational power produced by the drive unit and provide the rotational power to the aspirator may include operating the system in a startup mode and operating the system in a runtime mode after operating the system in the startup mode. Operating the system in the runtime mode may include driving operation of the aspirator by an aspirator gear of the transmission at a fixed speed ratio.

In some embodiments, the transmission may include a first gear supported on an input shaft, the aspirator gear supported on an output shaft that is spaced from the input shaft, and a second gear arranged between the first gear and the aspirator gear, and operating the system in the runtime mode may include operating the system such that the first gear drives rotation of the aspirator gear through the second gear to drive operation of the aspirator. Operating the system in the startup mode may include operating the system such that the aspirator gear does not drive operation of the aspirator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof. Embodiments of the disclosure implemented in a computer system may include one or more bus-based interconnects or links between components and/or one or more point-to-point interconnects between components. Embodiments of the disclosure may also be implemented as instructions carried by or stored on a transitory or non-transitory machine-readable medium, which may be read and executed by one or more processors. A machine-readable medium may be embodied as any device, mechanism, or physical structure for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computing device). For example, a machine-readable medium may be embodied as read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; mini- or micro-SD cards, memory sticks, electrical signals, and others.

In the drawings, some structural or method features, such as those representing devices, modules, instructions blocks and data elements, may be shown in specific arrangements and/or orderings for ease of description. However, it should be appreciated that such specific arrangements and/or orderings may not be required. Rather, in some embodiments, such features may be arranged in a different manner and/or order than shown in the illustrative figures. Additionally, the inclusion of a structural or method feature in a particular figure is not meant to imply that such feature is required in all embodiments and, in some embodiments, may not be included or may be combined with other features.

In general, schematic elements used to represent instruction blocks may be implemented using any suitable form of machine-readable instruction, such as software or firmware applications, programs, functions, modules, routines, processes, procedures, plug-ins, applets, widgets, code fragments and/or others, and that each such instruction may be implemented using any suitable programming language, library, application programming interface (API), and/or other software development tools. For example, some embodiments may be implemented using Java, C++, and/or other programming languages. Similarly, schematic elements used to represent data or information may be implemented using any suitable electronic arrangement or structure, such as a register, data store, table, record, array, index, hash, map, tree, list, graph, file (of any file type), folder, directory, database, and/or others.

Referring now toFIG. 1, an illustrative drive system100is included in, or otherwise adapted for use with, a harvesting machine. The drive system100is embodied as, or otherwise includes, a collection of devices cooperatively configured to drive operation of one or more components of the harvesting machine. In the illustrative embodiment, the drive system100includes a drive unit110, a cleaner unit120fluidly coupled to the drive unit110, an aspirator or fan130fluidly coupled to the cleaner unit120, and a transmission140coupled to the drive unit110and the aspirator130.

The illustrative drive unit110is configured to produce rotational power in use of the drive system100. The illustrative cleaner unit120is configured to separate debris from air so that the air becomes cleaned air CA and provide the cleaned air CA to the drive unit110in use of the drive system100. The illustrative aspirator130is configured to draw accumulated debris AD away from the cleaner unit120and the exhaust the accumulated debris AD in use of the drive system100. The illustrative transmission140, which is coupled to the drive unit110and the aspirator130to receive rotational power produced by the drive unit110and provide the rotational power to the aspirator130, includes an aspirator driver142configured to drive operation of the aspirator130at a fixed speed ratio in use of the drive system100. As described in greater detail below, the aspirator driver142includes an aspirator gear442(seeFIG. 4) configured to drive rotation of at least one rotor132of the aspirator130at a fixed speed ratio in use of the drive system100.

As will be apparent from the discussion that follows, the transmission140may be configured to drive operation of the aspirator130at a fixed speed ratio in use of the illustrative drive system100without a belt, chain, or auxiliary pad. Consequently, the illustrative transmission140may avoid the tensioning and servicing complications associated with configurations incorporating one or more belts and/or chains, as well as the cost associated with configurations incorporating one or more auxiliary pads having speed-up mechanisms. Because the illustrative transmission140may be configured to drive operation of the aspirator130without an auxiliary pad, one or more auxiliary pads may be dedicated to other applications, such as driving one or more pumps, compressors, or the like, for example.

In addition, the illustrative transmission140(or at least the aspirator driver142) may be capable of driving operation of the aspirator130at a fixed speed ratio regardless of the size and/or emission tier level of the drive unit110. The transmission140may therefore be adapted for use over a wide range of engine platforms. As a result, the illustrative transmission140may provide, or otherwise be associated with, a greater degree of simplicity during manufacturing and/or assembly operations than other configurations.

In use of the illustrative drive system100, due to the step-up in speed ratio that may be achieved by, or may otherwise be associated with, the transmission140, relatively-low power and high speed demands of the aspirator130may be met in a cost effective and efficient fashion. The step-up in speed ratio achieved by, or otherwise associated with, the transmission140may be adequate to operate the rotor132of the aspirator130at speeds in excess of 6000 rpm, at least in some cases. In such cases, other transmission configurations (e.g., configurations incorporating one or more belts, chains, and/or auxiliary pads instead of the illustrative driver142) may not achieve the step-up in speed ratio needed to operate the aspirator130. Even in situations of relatively-low speed rotational power output by the drive unit110, the step-up ratio achieved by, or otherwise associated with, the transmission140may be adequate to operate the aspirator130to attain acceptable removal of accumulated debris AD from the cleaner unit120.

In the illustrative embodiment, the drive system100is included in, or otherwise adapted for use with, a cotton harvesting machine such as the CP690 Cotton Picker or the CS690 Cotton Stripper manufactured by John Deere, for example. Of course, it should be appreciated that the illustrative drive system100is not limited to agriculture applications and may be used in lawn and garden, construction, landscaping and ground care, golf and sports turf, forestry, engine and drivetrain, and government and military applications, for example. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the drive system100of the present disclosure may be included in, or otherwise adapted for use with, tractors, front end loaders, scraper systems, cutters and shredders, hay and forage equipment, planting equipment, seeding equipment, sprayers and applicators, tillage equipment, utility vehicles, mowers, dump trucks, backhoes, track loaders, crawler loaders, dozers, excavators, motor graders, skid steers, tractor loaders, wheel loaders, rakes, aerators, skidders, bunchers, forwarders, harvesters, swing machines, knuckleboom loaders, diesel engines, axles, planetary gear drives, pump drives, transmissions, generators, and marine engines, among other suitable equipment.

The illustrative drive unit110is embodied as, or otherwise includes, any device or collection of devices capable of producing rotational power in use thereof. In some embodiments, the drive unit110may be embodied as, or otherwise include, a 13.5 liter diesel engine compliant with Tier 4 emission standards. In any case, among other things, the drive unit110includes an intake112, an exhaust114, and a drive unit output shaft116. The intake112is fluidly coupled to the cleaner unit120and configured to receive cleaned air CA therefrom. The exhaust114is fluidly coupled to the intake112and configured to expel exhaust products EP from the drive unit110. The drive unit output shaft116outputs rotational power produced by the drive unit110during each operational cycle. Of course, it should be appreciated that each operational cycle of the drive unit110may include a number of distinct operating phases, such as intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust, for example.

The illustrative cleaner unit120is embodied as, or otherwise includes, any device or collection of devices capable of separating debris from air supplied thereto so that the air becomes cleaned air CA and providing the cleaned air CA to the intake112of the drive unit110in use thereof. Air is illustratively supplied to the cleaner unit120by an air source102. In some embodiments, the air source102may be embodied as, or otherwise include, an ambient air source capable of supplying ambient air to the cleaner unit120. In any case, the cleaner unit120includes a vane arrangement122(e.g., a collection of rotatable vanes) operable to remove debris, particulates, and/or contaminates from air supplied by the air source102by vortex or cyclonic separation such that the debris, particulates, and/or contaminates may be expelled from the cleaner unit120as expelled matter EM. That being said, it should be appreciated that during operation of the cleaner unit120, debris not expelled from the cleaner unit120may build up therein as accumulated debris AD.

The illustrative aspirator130is embodied as, or otherwise includes, any device or collection of devices capable of drawing accumulated debris AD away from the cleaner unit120and exhausting the accumulated debris AD in use thereof. In the illustrative embodiment, the aspirator130is embodied as, or otherwise includes, a centrifugal fan or blower. In other embodiments, however, the aspirator130may be embodied as, or otherwise include, another suitable device. In any case, the aspirator130includes one or more rotors or impellers132, an exhaust134fluidly coupled to the one or more rotors132, and an aspirator input shaft136coupled to the transmission140that supports the one or more rotors132. As further discussed below, the one or more rotors132are configured for rotation to draw accumulated debris AD to the exhaust134for exhaustion thereby.

In some embodiments, such as embodiments in which the one or more rotors132include multiple rotors supported on the aspirator input shaft136, for example, the multiple rotors may be spaced from one another and arranged in separate chambers (not shown) of the aspirator130. In such embodiments, baffles, partitions, dividers, separators, or the like may cooperate with one another and/or a housing of the aspirator130to define the separate chambers. Additionally, in such embodiments, the exhaust134may include a manifold, distribution chamber, plenum, collection of ducts, or the like that is fluidly coupled to the chambers and configured to exhaust accumulated debris AD drawn into the chambers by the rotors132.

The illustrative transmission140is embodied as, or otherwise includes, any device or collection of devices capable of transmitting rotational power produced by the drive unit110to the aspirator130to drive operation thereof. In the illustrative embodiment, the transmission140includes one or more aspirator drivers142, a transmission input shaft146, one or more clutches148, gear train150, and a transmission output shaft152, among other things as described in greater detail below. The transmission input shaft146is coupled to the drive unit output shaft116to receive rotational power output by the drive unit output shaft116. The one or more clutches148are selectively engageable and disengageable to rotationally couple or de-couple the transmission input shaft146to or from one or more components of the gear train150(the rotational coupling, or lack thereof, between the aspirator driver(s)142, the one or more clutches148, and the gear train150is depicted in phantom inFIG. 1). The one or more aspirator drivers142are coupled to the aspirator input shaft136to provide rotational power thereto to drive operation of the aspirator130, as further discussed below.

In some embodiments, such as embodiments in which the one or more rotors132include multiple rotors supported on the aspirator input shaft136, for example, the aspirator driver142may include multiple aspirator drivers. In such embodiments, each aspirator driver142may be configured to drive operation of one corresponding rotor132at a fixed speed ratio. Additionally, in such embodiments, the aspirator drivers142may be configured to drive operation of the corresponding rotors132independently of one another at fixed speed ratios distinct from one another.

In the illustrative embodiment, the transmission140is configured to transmit rotational power produced by the drive unit110to one or more blowers162coupled thereto to drive operation of the one or more blowers162in use of the drive system100. To that end, the transmission140is coupled to the one or more blowers162via an output shaft262(seeFIG. 2). The one or more blowers162are illustratively embodied as, or otherwise include, fans included in a cotton harvester such as a cotton picker or a cotton stripper, for example. Of course, in other embodiments, it should be appreciated that the one or more blowers162may be embodied as, or otherwise include, another suitable device or collection of devices.

In some embodiments, one or more auxiliary devices160may be coupled to the drive unit output shaft116and driven by the drive unit110. The one or more auxiliary devices160may each be embodied as, or otherwise include, any device separate from the transmission140and the aspirator130that may be driven by the drive unit110. For example, the one or more auxiliary devices160may be embodied as, or otherwise include, one or more pumps, power take-off (PTO) gears, drives, or systems, accessory drives, implement drives, cranks, shafts, belts, pulleys, or the like. In any case, it should be appreciated that in some embodiments, the one or more auxiliary devices160may be omitted (as indicated by the depiction of the coupling, or lack thereof, between the shaft116and the device(s)160in phantom).

Referring now toFIG. 2, the illustrative drive system100includes a main housing242that houses various components included in the transmission140. The illustrative aspirator130includes a case232that houses various components included in the aspirator130and an exhaust duct234integrally formed with the case232that is shaped to conduct accumulated debris AD therethrough for exhaustion in use of the aspirator130. The exhaust134is illustratively embodied as, or otherwise includes, the exhaust duct234. In the illustrative embodiment, the case232is directly attached to a planar outer face244of the main housing242so that the exhaust duct234extends away from the main housing242to facilitate exhaustion of accumulated debris AD through the exhaust duct234away from the main housing232in use of the drive system100.

In the illustrative embodiment, the aspirator case232is attached to the transmission main housing242such that the aspirator130is spaced from the output shaft262, an interface250that corresponds to, or is otherwise associated with, the one or more auxiliary devices160, the intake112, and the exhaust114(note that the drive unit110is positioned in front of the main housing242such that the intake112and the exhaust114are obscured by the main housing242). As such, the aspirator130does not physically interfere with output shaft262, the interface250, the intake112, or the exhaust114. Put another way, the case232is directly attached to the main housing242to minimize physical interference between the aspirator130and the one or more blowers162, the one or more auxiliary devices160, the intake112, and the exhaust114.

In the illustrative embodiment, attachment of the aspirator case232to the transmission main housing242facilitates lubrication of various components of the aspirator130using lubricant stored and circulated within the main housing242. That is, internal splash lubrication mechanisms provided by the main housing242may be used to supply lubricant to components of the aspirator130as needed during operation of the drive system100.

Referring now toFIG. 3, portions of the main housing242and the case232are made transparent to show the components housed thereby. The gear train150of the transmission140is illustratively housed by the main housing242. The one or more rotors132of the aspirator130are illustratively housed by the case232. In the illustrative embodiment, the one or more rotors132include only one rotor332. Additionally, in the illustrative embodiment, the one or more aspirator drivers142include only one aspirator driver342configured to drive rotation of the one rotor332in use of the drive system100.

Referring now toFIGS. 4 and 5, the illustrative gear train150includes a central or input gear452, a gear458intermeshed with the central gear452and the aspirator gear442included in the one aspirator driver342, a gear464intermeshed with the central gear452and a gear470, a gear476, a gear482intermeshed with the gear476, and a gear488intermeshed with the gear482. In the illustrative embodiment, each of the gears452,458,442,464,470,476,482,488is embodied as, or otherwise includes, a spur or straight-cut gear. However, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, each of the gears452,458,442,464,470,476,482,488may be embodied as, or otherwise include, another suitable gear.

The central gear452is illustratively supported on the transmission input shaft146. Like the transmission input shaft146, the central gear452is configured for rotation about an input axis546A. In some embodiments, the central gear452may be configured for common rotation with the transmission input shaft146about the input axis546A. In other embodiments, however, the central gear452may be supported for rotation about the input axis546A relative to the transmission input shaft146by a bearing.

The gear458is illustratively supported on a shaft460. Like the shaft460, the gear458is configured for rotation about an axis560A that is spaced from the input axis546A. The gear458is supported for rotation about the axis560A relative to the shaft460by a bearing462. In other embodiments, however, the gear458may be configured for common rotation with the shaft460about the axis560A. In any case, the gear458is arranged between the central gear452and the aspirator gear442.

The aspirator gear442is illustratively supported on the aspirator input shaft136. Like the aspirator input shaft136, the aspirator gear442is configured for rotation about an axis536A that is spaced from the axis560A and the input axis546A. The aspirator gear442is supported for rotation about the axis536A by a bearing446. In other embodiments, however, the aspirator gear442may be configured for common rotation with the aspirator input shaft136about the axis536A. In any case, rotation of the aspirator gear442in use of the transmission140drives rotation of the aspirator input shaft136. Because the rotor132is supported on the aspirator input shaft136for rotation therewith, rotation of the input shaft136drives rotation of the rotor132about the axis536A to draw accumulated debris AD away from the cleaner unit120in use of the drive system100.

The gear464is illustratively supported on a shaft466. Like the shaft466, the gear464is configured for rotation about an axis566A that is spaced from the input axis546A, the axis560A, and the axis536A. The gear464is supported for rotation about the axis566A relative to the shaft466by a bearing468. In other embodiments, however, the gear464may be configured for common rotation with the shaft466about the axis566A. In any case, the gear464is arranged between the central gear452and the gear470.

The gear470is illustratively supported on a shaft472. Like the shaft472, the gear470is configured for rotation about an axis572A that is spaced from the input axis546A, the axis560A, the axis536A, and the axis566A. The gear470is supported for rotation about the axis572A relative to the shaft472by a bearing assembly474. In other embodiments, however, the gear470may be configured for common rotation with the shaft472about the axis572A.

The gear476is illustratively supported on the transmission input shaft146and configured for rotation about the input axis546A. The gear476is spaced from the central gear452along the input axis546A. In some embodiments, the gear476may be configured for common rotation with the transmission input shaft146about the input axis546A. In other embodiments, however, the gear476may be supported for rotation about the input axis546A relative to the transmission input shaft146by a bearing.

The gear482is illustratively supported on a shaft484. Like the shaft484, the gear482is configured for rotation about an axis584A that is spaced from the input axis546A, the axis560A, the axis536A, the axis566A, and the axis572A. The gear482is supported for rotation about the axis584A relative to the shaft484by a bearing assembly486. In other embodiments, however, the gear482may be configured for common rotation with the shaft484about the axis584A. In any case, the gear482is arranged between the gear476and the gear488.

The gear488is illustratively supported on a shaft490. Like the shaft490, the gear488is configured for rotation about an axis590A that is spaced from the input axis546A, the axis560A, the axis536A, the axis566A, the axis572A, and the axis584A. The gear488is supported for rotation about the axis590A relative to the shaft490by a bearing492. In other embodiments, however, the gear488may be configured for common rotation with the shaft490about the axis590A.

In the illustrative embodiment, the one or more clutches148include a clutch assembly548that extends around the input axis546A. When the drive system100and the transmission140are in one operating mode, the clutch assembly548is engageable (i.e., in an engaged state) such that rotation of the central gear452about the input axis546A drives rotation of the aspirator gear442about the axis536A through the gear458to cause rotation of the rotor132about the axis536A. As further explained below with reference toFIG. 9, the one operating mode may correspond to, or otherwise be associated with, a runtime mode of the illustrative drive system100. When the drive system100and the transmission140are in another operating mode, the clutch assembly548is disengageable (i.e., in a disengaged state) such that the aspirator gear442does not drive rotation of the rotor132about the axis536A. As further explained below with reference toFIG. 9, the another operating mode may correspond to, or otherwise be associated with, a startup mode of the illustrative drive system100.

Referring now toFIG. 6, a supply port632formed in the case232of the aspirator130is fluidly coupled to the cleaner unit120(not shown inFIG. 6) by a hose640. In use of the drive system100, rotation of the rotor132draws accumulated debris AD away from the cleaner unit120and into the aspirator130through the hose640. Accumulated debris AD drawn into the aspirator130is exhausted via the exhaust duct234as described below with reference toFIG. 7. It should be appreciated that the hose640may be embodied as, or otherwise include, one or more pipes, tubes, conduits, distribution chambers, manifolds, plenums, or the like. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that in lieu of the hose640, another suitable device may be used to fluidly couple the cleaner unit120to the aspirator130.

Referring now toFIG. 7, the exhaust duct234of the aspirator130illustratively includes a mount734that is received by, and secured to, a stationary component740positioned outside of the drive system100. As such, in use of the drive system100, accumulated debris AD drawn into the aspirator130in response to rotation of the rotor132is exhausted through exhaust ports736,738of the exhaust duct234outside of the drive system100. It should be appreciated that air exhausted via the exhaust duct234in use of the drive system100may be used for a variety of purposes, such as cleaning or blowing-off surfaces of equipment located outside of the drive system100, for example.

Referring now toFIG. 8, an illustrative control system800is configured to control operation of the drive system100. As described below, the control system800includes controllers810,820,840that are configured to control operation of the drive unit110, the cleaner unit120, and the transmission140, respectively. However, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the control system800may include a single controller that controls operation of the drive unit110, the cleaner unit120, and the transmission140. In the illustrative embodiment, the control system800does not include a controller for the aspirator130. However, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the control system800may include a controller dedicated to the aspirator130.

In the illustrative embodiment, the control system800includes the controller810that is configured to control operation of the drive unit110. The illustrative controller810is communicatively coupled to each of the controllers820,840. The controller810includes memory812and one or more processors814coupled to the memory812.

In the illustrative embodiment, the control system800includes the controller820that is configured to control operation of the cleaner unit120. The illustrative controller820is communicatively coupled to each of the controllers810,840. The controller820includes memory822and one or more processors824coupled to the memory822.

In the illustrative embodiment, the control system800includes the controller840that is configured to control operation of the transmission140. The illustrative controller840is communicatively coupled to each of the controllers810,820. The controller840includes memory842and one or more processors844coupled to the memory842.

In the illustrative embodiment, each of the memory812,822,842includes one or more memory devices. Each memory device812,822,842may be embodied as any type of volatile (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM), etc.) or non-volatile memory capable of storing data therein. Volatile memory may be embodied as a storage medium that requires power to maintain the state of data stored by the medium. Non-limiting examples of volatile memory may include various types of random access memory (RAM), such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or static random access memory (SRAM). In some embodiments, each memory device812,822,842may be embodied as a block addressable memory, such as those based on NAND or NOR technologies. Each memory device812,822,842may also include future generation nonvolatile devices or other byte addressable write-in-place nonvolatile memory devices. Additionally, in some embodiments, each memory device812,822,842may be embodied, or otherwise include, a memory device that uses chalcogenide glass, multi-threshold level NAND flash memory, NOR flash memory, single or multi-level Phase Change Memory (PCM), a resistive memory, nanowire memory, ferroelectric transistor random access memory (FeTRAM), anti-ferroelectric memory, magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) memory that incorporates memristor technology, resistive memory including the metal oxide base, the oxygen vacancy base and the conductive bridge Random Access Memory (CB-RAM), or spin transfer torque (STT)-MRAM, a spintronic magnetic junction memory based device, a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) based device, a DW (Domain Wall) and SOT (Spin Orbit Transfer) based device, a thyristor based memory device, or a combination of any of the above, or other memory. Each memory device812,822,842may refer to the die itself and/or to a packaged memory product. In some embodiments still, 3D crosspoint memory may comprise a transistor-less stackable cross point architecture in which memory cells sit at the intersection of word lines and bit lines and are individually addressable and in which bit storage is based on a change in bulk resistance. In some embodiments yet still, all or a portion of each memory device812,822,842may be integrated into the respective processor(s)814,824,844. Regardless, each memory device812,822,842may store various software and data used during operation such as task request data, kernel map data, telemetry data, applications, programs, libraries, and drivers.

In the illustrative embodiment, the processor(s)814,824,844may each include one or more processors. Each processor814,824,844may be embodied as any type of processor or other compute circuit capable of performing various tasks such as compute functions and/or controlling the respective functions of the drive unit110, the cleaner unit120, and the transmission140depending on, for example, the type or intended functionality of the drive unit110, the cleaner unit120, and the transmission140. In some embodiments, each processor814,824,844may be embodied as a single or multi-core processor, a microcontroller, or other processing/controlling circuit. Additionally, in some embodiments, each processor814,824,844may be embodied as, include, or be coupled to an FPGA, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), reconfigurable hardware or hardware circuitry, or other specialized hardware to facilitate performance of the functions described herein. In some embodiments still, each processor814,824,844may be embodied as a high-power processor, an accelerator co-processor, an FPGA, or a storage controller.

Referring now toFIG. 9, in the illustrative embodiment, the control system800may be configured to execute a method900for operating the drive system100. In doing so, the controllers810,820,840may cooperate with one another to perform various tasks and/or control various functions of the drive system100. It should be appreciated that the blocks of the method900described below may be embodied as, or otherwise included in, instructions stored in one or more of the memory812,822,842that are executable by one or more of the processors814,824,844. Moreover, although the method900is described below with regard to the illustrativeFIG. 9in which the blocks of the method900are shown in an illustrative format and sequence, it should be appreciated that the method900is not limited to the particular sequence of blocks illustrated inFIG. 9. Additionally, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, some of the blocks of the method900may be performed in parallel, or otherwise contemporaneously with, other blocks and/or performed in an alternative sequence. Finally, it should be appreciated that the method900may incorporate blocks in addition to those illustrated inFIG. 9.

The illustrative method900begins with block902. In block902, the control system800operates the drive system100in a startup mode. The startup mode may be embodied as, or otherwise include, an operating mode in which one or more components of the drive system100are powered on or activated after being powered down or inactivated for a period of time. Additionally, the startup mode may be associated with, or otherwise characterized by, one or more operational parameters of the drive unit110, the cleaner unit120, and the transmission140, such as one or more speed ratios, output torque values, rotational speed values, mass flow rates, volumetric flow rates, accumulated debris AD quantities, time periods of operation, or the like, for example. In any case, to perform block902, the control system800performs block904. In block904, the control system800operates the one or more clutches148(i.e., the clutch assembly548) in a disengaged state such that the aspirator gear442does not drive rotation of the rotor132about the axis536A, as indicated above. Consequently, when the drive system100is in the startup mode in block902, the drive unit110does not drive operation of the aspirator130through the transmission140, which may reduce the parasitic starting load experienced by the drive unit110compared to other configurations, at least in some embodiments. The method900subsequently proceeds from block904to block906.

In block906of the illustrative method900, the control system800determines whether the drive system100is ready for operation in the runtime mode. The runtime mode may be embodied as, or otherwise include, an operating mode subsequent to the startup mode in which one or more components of the drive system100have been activated for a reference period of time. Additionally, the runtime mode may be associated with, or otherwise characterized by, one or more reference thresholds of the drive unit110, the cleaner unit120, and the transmission140, such as references thresholds for one or more speed ratios, output torque values, rotational speed values, mass flow rates, volumetric flow rates, accumulated debris AD quantities, time periods of operation, or the like, for example. Therefore, to determine whether the drive system100is ready for operation in the runtime mode in block906, the control system800may compare one or measured operational parameters of the drive unit110, the cleaner unit120, and the transmission140to one or more reference thresholds corresponding to, or otherwise associated with, the runtime operating mode. In any case, if the control system800determines that the drive system100is ready for operation in the runtime mode, the method900subsequently proceeds to block908.

In block908of the illustrative method900, the control system800operates the system100in runtime mode. To do so, the control system800performs block910. In block910, the control system800operates the one or more clutches148(i.e., the clutch assembly548) in an engaged state such that rotation of the central gear452about the input axis546A drives rotation of the aspirator gear442about the axis536A through the gear458to cause rotation of the rotor132about the axis536A, as indicated above. Consequently, when the drive system100is in the runtime mode in block908, the drive unit110drives operation of the aspirator130through the transmission140. In some embodiments, performance of the block908corresponds to, or is otherwise associated one, performance of one iteration of the illustrative method900.

Returning to block906of the illustrative method900, if the control system800determines that the drive system100is not ready for operation in the runtime mode, the method900proceeds to block902.