Gear control system for vibration attenuation
AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation
InventorsJohn W. Burrell, John Loeffler, Brian L. Rang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power take off unit includes an input gear, an output gear, and an intermediary gear that cooperate to transfer power from a rotational power source to an operating target. The power take off unit has a control module that biases the intermediary gear relative to the input gear and the output gear to reduce gear rattle vibrations associated with intermeshed tooth looseness.
Claims14
A power take off (PTO) unit that is adapted to be rotationally driven by a primary drive component and to rotationally drive an auxiliary device, the PTO unit comprising:
- a housing that is configured to be attached to a primary drive component;
- an input gear that is supported on the housing and is adapted to be rotationally driven by the primary drive component;
- an intermediary gear supported for rotation on an idler shaft, the intermediary gear connected to the input gear for rotational power transfer;
- an output gear that is supported on the housing so as to be rotationally driven by the intermediary gear, the output gear adapted to rotationally drive an auxiliary device;
- and
- a control module acting between the housing and the idler shaft to displace the intermediary gear toward at least one of the input gear and the output gear, wherein the control module includes a plunger pin disposed in a module housing, wherein the plunger pin seals against an inner surface of the module housing so that pressurized fluid generates a biasing force, and wherein the idler shaft includes a fluid port that delivers fluid to the control module to radially load the plunger pin against the housing.
A power take off (PTO) unit that is adapted to be rotationally driven by a primary drive component and to rotationally drive an auxiliary device, the PTO unit comprising:
- a housing that is configured to be attached to a primary drive component;
- an input gear that is supported on the housing and is adapted to be rotationally driven by the primary drive component;
- an intermediary gear supported for rotation on an idler shaft having eccentric support ends, the intermediary gear connected to the input gear for rotational power transfer;
- and
- an output gear that is supported on the housing so as to be rotationally driven by the intermediary gear, the output gear adapted to rotationally drive an auxiliary device,
- wherein the eccentric support ends are configured as control modules integrated into the idler shaft to provide a biasing force to counteract gear rattle, and wherein eccentricity of the eccentric support ends is oriented toward the input gear and the output gear to direct the biasing force to increase gear mesh interfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.