US 10,435,026 B2Granted

Twin engine power uniter

AssigneeOshkosh Corporation

InventorsJason Shively, Martin Schimke, Andrew Kotloski, Seth Newlin, David Kay, Chad Hartfiel

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A vehicle includes a chassis, a driveline and an accessory coupled to the chassis and configured to receive rotational mechanical energy, a first driver and a second driver coupled to the chassis and configured to provide rotational mechanical energy, and a power transmission device. The power transmission device includes a housing coupled to the chassis, a first input shaft configured to receive the rotational mechanical energy from the first driver, a second input shaft configured to receive the rotational mechanical energy from the second driver, a primary output interface coupled to the driveline, a power takeoff shaft radially aligned with the first input shaft and coupled to the accessory, a first clutch configured to selectively rotationally couple the first input shaft to the primary output interface, and a second clutch configured to selectively rotationally couple the first input shaft to the power takeoff shaft.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A vehicle, comprising:

a chassis;
a driveline coupled to the chassis, the driveline including a plurality of tractive elements, wherein the driveline is configured to receive rotational mechanical energy and propel the vehicle;
an accessory coupled to the chassis and configured to receive rotational mechanical energy;
a first driver and a second driver each coupled to the chassis and configured to provide a rotational mechanical energy;
a power transmission device comprising:
a housing coupled to the chassis;
a first input shaft rotatably coupled to the housing and configured to receive the rotational mechanical energy from the first driver;
a second input shaft rotatably coupled to the housing and configured to receive the rotational mechanical energy from the second driver;
a primary output interface rotatably coupled to the housing and coupled to the driveline;
a power takeoff shaft rotatably coupled to the housing, radially aligned with the first input shaft, and coupled to the accessory;
a first clutch configured to selectively rotationally couple the first input shaft to the primary output interface such that at least a portion of the rotational mechanical energy from the first driver passes through the first clutch and the primary output interface to the driveline when the first clutch is engaged;
and
a second clutch configured to selectively rotationally couple the first input shaft to the power takeoff shaft such that at least a portion of the rotational mechanical energy from the first driver passes through the second clutch and the power takeoff shaft to the accessory when the second clutch is engaged;
wherein at least one of:
(a) the power takeoff shaft includes a power takeoff interface coupled to the accessory, and the power takeoff interface and the primary output interface are positioned along a first side of the housing;
(b) the vehicle further comprises:
a first gear at least selectively coupled to the first input shaft;
and
a second gear coupled to the second input shaft;
wherein the first gear and the second gear are rotationally coupled with one another, wherein the first input shaft extends on a first side of the first gear, wherein the power takeoff shaft is disposed on a second side of the first gear, and wherein the second side of the first gear is opposite the first side of the first gear;
(c) the accessory is a pump that is coupled to the power takeoff shaft and configured to provide a flow of fluid in response to a rotation of the power takeoff shaft;
or
(d) the primary output interface is part of a primary output shaft, the primary output shaft is radially offset a first distance from the first input shaft, the second input shaft is radially offset a second distance from the first input shaft, and the second distance is larger than the first distance.

20 more elements

A power transmission device, comprising:

a housing;
a first input shaft and a second input shaft each rotatably coupled to the housing;
a primary output interface rotatably coupled to the housing;
a power takeoff shaft rotatably coupled to the housing;
a first clutch configured to selectively rotationally couple the first input shaft to the primary output interface such that at least a portion of a rotational mechanical energy input received by the first input shaft passes through the first clutch to the primary output interface when the first clutch is engaged;
and
a second clutch configured to selectively rotationally couple the first input shaft to the power takeoff shaft such that at least a portion of the rotational mechanical energy input received by the first input shaft passes through the second clutch to the power takeoff shaft when the second clutch is engaged;
wherein the primary output interface is directly rotationally coupled to the second input shaft such that at least a portion of a rotational mechanical energy input received by the second input shaft passes to the primary output interface;
and
wherein at least one of:
(a) the second clutch is directly coupled to both the first input shaft and the power takeoff shaft, and the first input shaft, the power takeoff shaft, and the second clutch are radially aligned;
(b) the power takeoff shaft includes a power takeoff interface configured to be coupled to an accessory, and the power takeoff interface and the primary output interface are positioned along a first side of the housing;
(c) the power transmission device further comprises:
a first gear at least selectively coupled to the first input shaft;
and
a second gear coupled to the second input shaft;
wherein the first gear and the second gear are rotationally coupled with one another, wherein the first input shaft extends on a first side of the first gear, and wherein the power takeoff shaft extends on a second side of the first gear opposite the first side;
or
(d) the primary output interface is part of a primary output shaft that is radially offset from the second input shaft, and the primary output interface is directly rotationally coupled to the second input shaft through a plurality of gears.

16 more elements

A vehicle, comprising:

a chassis;
a driveline coupled to the chassis, the driveline including a plurality of tractive elements, wherein the driveline is configured to receive mechanical energy and propel the vehicle;
a first driver and a second driver each coupled to the chassis;
a power transmission device configured to receive mechanical energy from the first driver and the second driver, the power transmission device comprising:
a first input interface coupled to the first driver;
a second input interface coupled to the second driver;
a primary output interface coupled to the driveline;
a power takeoff interface;
a first clutch configured to selectively rotationally couple the first input interface to the primary output interface;
and
a second clutch configured to selectively rotationally couple the first input interface to the power takeoff interface;
and
a controller configured to selectively reconfigure the vehicle between a plurality of different modes of operation, wherein the second input interface is rotationally coupled to the primary output interface in all of the modes of operation;
wherein in a first one of the modes of operation, the controller is configured to engage the first clutch and disengage the second clutch, thereby configuring the power transmission device to transfer mechanical energy from the first driver to the driveline;
wherein in a second one of the modes of operation, the controller is configured to engage the second clutch and disengage the first clutch, thereby configuring the power transmission device to transfer mechanical energy from the first driver to the power takeoff interface;
and
wherein at least one of:
(a) during the first one of the modes of operation, the controller is configured to receive a user input relating to a desired acceleration of the vehicle and control both the first driver and the second driver to output a torque corresponding to the user input;
or
(b) the vehicle further comprises a pump coupled to the power takeoff interface and configured to use mechanical energy and provide a flow of fluid, and during the second one of the modes of operation, the controller is configured to control a speed of the first driver to reach a target speed such that the pump supplies fluid at a desired flow rate.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/890,692Filed 7 Feb 2018 · us provisional application
Priority: 8 Feb 2017
Published: US 2018/0222484 A19 Aug 2018
Granted: 8 Oct 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification26 codes

B60W 30/1888
Controlling power supply to auxiliary devices: control of power take off [PTO]
A62C 27/00
Fire-fighting land vehicles
B60K 5/08
Arrangement or mounting of internal-combustion or jet-propulsion units: comprising more than one engine
B60K 6/08
Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric…