Power take-off clutch synchronizing system

A gearbox with a power take-off for driving a secondary device comprising:

• an input shaft to receive driving input from a vehicle power source;
• at least one output shaft to transmit driving input to a drive axle;
• a gear assembly that transfers driving input from said input shaft to said output shaft;
• a mechanical clutch comprising a first clutch member coupled to said input shaft and a second clutch member for selective engagement with said first clutch member;
• a secondary device associated with said second clutch member wherein said input shaft drives said secondary device when said first and said second clutch members are engaged, and wherein said secondary device is de-coupled from said input shaft when said first and said second clutch members are disengaged from each other;
• and
• an accumulator in power communication with said secondary device, said accumulator providing power to drive said second clutch member via said secondary device to synchronize speeds of said first and said second clutch members for clutch engagement, and wherein said accumulator is operated hydraulically or pneumatically.

A method of synchronizing a mechanical clutch comprising first and second clutch members for a power-take off clutch comprising the steps:

• (a) storing energy in an accumulator by charging the accumulator with a hydraulic system or a pneumatic system;
• (b) using stored energy accumulated in step (a) to temporarily run a secondary device coupled to one of the first and second clutch members at a desired speed to synchronize with a speed of the other of the first and second clutch members;
• and
• (c) engaging the first and second clutch members when the speeds are properly synchronized in step (b) to run the secondary device with driving input associated with the other of the first and second clutch members.

A gearbox with a power take-off for driving a secondary device comprising:

• a gear housing comprising a transfer case housing;
• a gear assembly enclosed with said gear housing, said gear assembly transferring driving input from an input shaft to at least one output shaft, and wherein said input shaft comprises a transfer case input shaft configured to receive driving input from a vehicle power source and said at least one output shaft is configured to transmit driving input to a drive axle;
• a mechanical clutch comprising a first clutch member coupled to said input shaft and a second clutch member for selective engagement with said first clutch member, and wherein one of said first and said second clutch members comprises a male clutch member and the other of said first and second clutch members comprises a female clutch member configured to engage said male clutch member;
• a secondary device associated with said second clutch member wherein said input shaft drives said secondary device when said first and said second clutch members are engaged, and wherein said secondary device is de-coupled from said input shaft when said first and said second clutch members are disengaged from each other;
• and
• a speed synchronizing control that synchronizes speeds of said first and said second clutch members for clutch engagement, said speed synchronizing control including an accumulator in power communication with said secondary device.

A gearbox with a power take-off for driving a secondary device comprising:

• a gear housing;
• a gear assembly enclosed with said gear housing. said gear assembly transferring driving input from an input shaft to at least one output shaft;
• a mechanical clutch comprising a first clutch member coupled to said input shaft and a second clutch member for selective engagement with said first clutch member;
• a secondary device associated with said second clutch member wherein said input shaft drives said secondary device when said first and said second clutch members are engaged, and wherein said secondary device is de-coupled from said input shaft when said first and said second clutch members are disengaged from each other:
• and
• a speed synchronizing control that synchronizes speeds of said first and said second clutch members for clutch engagement, said speed synchronizing control including an accumulator in power communication with said secondary device, and wherein said accumulator provides power to drive said second clutch member via said secondary device to synchronize speeds of said first and said second clutch members for clutch engagement, and wherein said speed synchronizing control utilizes a hydraulic system or a pneumatic system.