Automatic locking ball coupler for power take off
AssigneeDeere & Company, a Delaware corporation
InventorsRobert Fox, Brian Clement, Chirstopher Fox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic locking ball coupler for a power take off includes a ball keeper connected to the power take off and having a longitudinal axis and openings in a cylindrical surface thereof. Locking balls are received in the openings and can move radially with respect to the axis of the cylindrical ball keeper. A ball collar is positioned around the cylindrical ball keeper and has a plurality of internal circumferential rings and recesses between each ring. The ball collar can slide axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ball keeper between a coupled position in which the locking balls are on the rings and an uncoupled position in which the locking balls are in the recesses.
Claims20
An automatic locking ball coupler for a power take off comprising:
- a ball keeper connected to the power take off and having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of openings in a cylindrical surface thereof;
- a plurality of locking balls received in the openings and movable radially with respect to the axis of the cylindrical ball keeper;
- and
- a ball collar around the cylindrical ball keeper and having a plurality of internal circumferential rings and recesses between each ring;
- the ball collar slidable axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ball keeper between a coupled position in which the locking balls are on the rings and an uncoupled position in which the locking balls are in the recesses.
A coupler comprising:
- a hollow cylindrical ball keeper having a first end connected to a driveline attached to a tractor power take off, the ball keeper having a plurality of circular openings;
- locking balls slidably received in the circular openings;
- a hollow cylindrical ball collar around the ball keeper, the ball collar having a plurality of internal raised circumferential rings with a circumferential recess between each raised ring;
- the ball collar slidable between an uncoupled position in which the balls are in the recesses and a coupled position in which the balls are on the raised rings and protrude partially through the circular openings in the ball keeper;
- and
- an implement shaft having a plurality of cavities into which the balls extend in the coupled position.
An apparatus for coupling a tractor power take off to an implement shaft comprising:
- a plurality of locking balls received within a plurality of openings in a hollow cylindrical ball keeper;
- and
- a ball collar around the ball keeper and movable between a coupled position in which the locking balls extend radially inwardly partially through the openings into the hollow cylindrical ball keeper, and an uncoupled position in which the locking balls do not extend radially inwardly through the openings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.