Power take-off unit (PTO) with integral shifter
AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation
InventorsMark Bordwell, Clive Hindle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a power transfer unit, such as a power take-off unit including an input shaft coupled to an input gear for common rotation and axially movable relative to the input gear for engaging a coupling at a first end of the shaft with a drive component, a chamber formed between the input shaft and input gear, and a piston axially movable in the chamber, whereby the piston rotates with the input shaft. Due to the rotation of the piston with the input shaft, a power take-off unit is provided without the need for components to separate the piston from the input shaft.
Claims20
A power transfer unit including:
- a housing;
- an input gear rotationally supported in the housing;
- an input shaft coupled to the input gear for common rotation, the input shaft being axially movable relative to the input gear for engaging a coupling at a first end of the shaft with a drive component;
- and
- a piston axially movable within the input gear and sealed to the input shaft and an inner surface of the input gear, whereby the piston rotates with the input shaft.
A power transfer unit including:
- a housing;
- an input gear rotationally supported in the housing;
- an input shaft coupled to the input gear for common rotation, the input shaft having a coupling at a first end of the shaft configured to engage a driven component;
- and
- a piston rotatable with the input shaft;
- wherein the input shaft and piston are axially movable relative to the input gear, and wherein the input gear has a piston chamber which rotates with the input gear and in which the piston is axially moveable.
A method of coupling an input shaft of a power take-off unit to a drive component, the power take-off unit including a housing, an input gear rotationally supported in the housing, the input shaft coupled to the input gear for common rotation, and a piston rotatable with the input shaft and sealed to the input shaft and an inner surface of the input gear, the method including:
- injecting pressurized fluid into a sealed chamber defined between the backside of the piston and the housing;
- moving the input shaft and piston axially relative to the input gear via the pressure from a first position where the input shaft is disengaged from the drive component to a second position, wherein the piston is axially moved within the input gear;
- and
- engaging a coupling on the input shaft with a coupling of the drive component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.