System and method of implementing a soft-start PTO clutch
AssigneeKuhn Knight Inc.
InventorsChris Albright, Claude McFarlane
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A soft start clutch system and method of implementing a soft start clutch system including a soft start clutch configured to drivingly connect to a machinery drive input to an engine transmission, including a transmission PTO attached to the transmission and drivingly connected to the soft start clutch, and a control circuit configured to engage the soft start clutch at a first rate and configured to disengage the soft start clutch at a second rate which is different than the first rate.
Claims32
An agricultural implement system comprising:
- a propelling vehicle with an engine and an automatic transmission;
- a soft start clutch drivingly connected to a rotary machinery drive input of an agricultural implement;
- a transmission PTO attached to said automatic transmission and drivingly connected to the soft start clutch such that no torque converter is connected between the soft start clutch and the engine;
- and
- a control circuit configured to completely engage the soft start clutch, via pressurized fluid, over a time period of at least 0.5 seconds.
A soft start clutch system comprising:
- a propelling vehicle with an engine and a transmission;
- a soft start clutch configured to drivingly connect to a machinery drive input;
- a transmission PTO attached to said transmission and configured to drivingly connect to the soft start clutch;
- and
- a control circuit configured to completely engage the soft start clutch over a time period of at least 0.5 seconds.
A soft start clutch system comprising:
- a propelling vehicle with an engine and a transmission;
- a soft start clutch configured to drivingly connect to a machinery drive input;
- a transmission PTO attached to said transmission and drivingly connected to the soft start clutch;
- and
- means for completely engaging the soft start clutch over a time period of at least 0.5 seconds.
A soft start clutch system comprising:
- a transmission with two rotary outputs;
- a PTO driveshaft connected to a first output;
- a soft start clutch connected to the PTO driveshaft;
- a gear box connected to the soft start clutch;
- a vehicle driveshaft connected to a second output of the transmission and configured to rotate wheels of a vehicle;
- and
- a control circuit configured to completely engage the soft start clutch over a time period such that a start up torque is less than twice a value of an operating torque.
A method of supplying rotational power to an agricultural implement comprising:
- rotating an engine output shaft connected in line with an input of a clutch;
- engaging completely, via a fluid control circuit, the input of the clutch with an output of the clutch gradually over a period of at least 0.5 seconds;
- and
- changing a rotational speed of the output of the clutch via a gear box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.