Power take-off devices

In an apparatus fitted with a power take-off drive connectable to ancillary equipment and means for actuating and deactuating the power take-off drive, an interlock system comprising:

• sensor means for sensing whether the power take-off drive is operative and producing an output signal representative thereof;
• timer means coupled to the actuating and deactuating means and initiated when the actuating and deactuating means is operated to actuate the power take-off drive;
• and
• means responsive to the sensor output signal and coupled to the timer and operable to deactuate the actuating and deactuating means if the power take-off drive is not operative when the timer times out.

In an apparatus fitted with a power take-off drive drivable by primary drive means for the apparatus and connectable to ancillary equipment, and means for actuating and deactuating the power take-off drive, an interlock system comprising:

• sensor means for sensing whether the power take-off drive is operative and producing an output signal representative thereof;
• timer means coupled to the actuating and deactuating means and initiated when the actuating and deactuating means is operated to deactuate the power take-off drive;
• and
• control means responsive to the sensor output signal and coupled to the timer means and operable to deactuate the primary drive if the power take-off is still operative when the timer times out.

In an apparatus fitted with a power take-off drive drivable by primary drive means for the apparatus and connectable to ancillary equipment, means for actuating and deactuating the power take-off drive and switch means for controlling the actuating and deactuating means, an interlock system comprising:

• first sensor means for sensing whether the primary drive means is operative and producing a first output signal representative thereof;
• second sensor means for sensing whether the power take-off drive is operative and producing a second output signal representative thereof;
• and
• means responsive to the first and second signals and operable to deactuate the power take-off drive via the actuating and deactuating means when the second signal is present and the first signal is absent, which corresponds to the primary drive means being inoperative and the switch means is in an ON position.