PTO clutch assembly

An apparatus comprising:

• a clutch arrangement, comprising:
• an input end housing section,
• at least one input bearing located in the input end housing section,
• an output end housing section,
• at least one output bearing located in the output end housing section,
• an intermediate housing section,
• wherein at least a part of the intermediate housing section extends intermediate the input end housing section and the output end housing section,
• wherein the intermediate housing section is configured to hold lubrication fluid,
• a disc pack, a pressure plate, and a backplate located in the intermediate housing section,
• wherein the disc pack is located intermediate the pressure plate and the backplate,
• wherein the disc pack comprises at least one separator disc and at least one friction disc,
• wherein the backplate comprises an annular recess,
• a rotatable input shaft,
• wherein the shaft comprises a shaft input end, a shaft output end, and an axis,
• wherein the shaft axially extends inside both the input end housing section and the intermediate housing section,
• wherein the shaft is rotationally guided by the at least one input bearing,
• wherein the shaft is operatively connected to the at least one separator disc,
• a rotatable drive cup,
• wherein the drive cup is operatively connected to the at least one friction disc,
• wherein the drive cup is rotationally guided by the at least one output bearing,
• an annular piston,
• wherein the piston is at least partly located in the intermediate housing section,
• wherein the piston is movable in a direction of the axis,
• wherein movement of the piston is operative to cause the shaft to impart rotation to the drive cup through engagement between the at least one separator disc and the at least one friction disc,
• a lock operative to hold the shaft output end and the backplate in operative engagement,
• wherein the lock comprises a threaded fastener,
• wherein the threaded fastener comprises a rotatable portion,
• wherein the rotatable portion is rotatable relative to the shaft during threaded fastener tightening,
• wherein the lock comprises an end washer,
• wherein the end washer comprises an axially extending annular projection configured to engage the backplate in the annular recess,
• wherein rotational tightening of the threaded fastener causes the end washer to rotate relative to the backplate.

An apparatus comprising:

• a PTO clutch arrangement, comprising:
• an input end housing section,
• at least one input bearing located in the input end housing section,
• an output end housing section,
• at least one output bearing located in the output end housing section,
• an intermediate housing section,
• wherein at least a part of the intermediate housing section extends intermediate the input end housing section and the output end housing section,
• wherein the intermediate housing section is configured to hold lubrication fluid,
• a disc pack, a pressure plate, and a backplate located in the intermediate housing section,
• wherein the backplate comprises an annular recess,
• wherein the disc pack is located intermediate the pressure plate and the backplate,
• wherein the disc pack comprises a plurality of rotatable separator discs, a plurality of rotatable friction discs, and at least one biasing member,
• a rotatable input shaft angularly operable in the range of 7 to 10 degrees from horizontal as a marine environment propeller drive shaft,
• wherein the shaft comprises a shaft input end, a shaft output end, and an axis,
• wherein the shaft axially extends inside both the input end housing section and the intermediate housing section,
• wherein the shaft is rotationally guided by the at least one input bearing,
• wherein the shaft is operatively connected to the separator discs,
• a rotatable drive cup,
• wherein the drive cup comprises a toothed bore,
• wherein the drive cup is operatively connected to the friction discs,
• wherein the drive cup is rotationally guided by the at least one output bearing,
• a piston,
• wherein the piston is at least partly located in the intermediate housing section,
• wherein the piston is movable in a direction of the axis,
• wherein movement of the piston is operative to cause engagement of separator discs with respective friction discs, causing the shaft to impart rotation to the drive cup,
• wherein the at least one biasing member is operative to provide a force acting against the engagement,
• a lock arrangement operative to hold the shaft output end and the backplate in operative engagement,
• wherein the lock arrangement comprises a threaded fastener,
• wherein the threaded fastener comprises a fastener head that is rotatable relative to the shaft during threaded fastener tightening,
• wherein the lock arrangement comprises an end washer,
• wherein the end washer comprises an axially extending annular projection configured to engage the backplate in the annular recess,
• wherein the lock arrangement comprises a locking washer,
• wherein the locking washer is located axially intermediate the fastener head and the end washer,
• wherein rotational tightening of the fastener head is operative to cause the locking washer to engagingly rotate the end washer relative to the backplate, causing the annular projection in the annular recess to rotate into locking engagement with the backplate,
• wherein the locking engagement enables operational usage of the shaft in both a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction,
• wherein the second rotational direction is opposite the first rotational direction.