# US 9,434,250 B2 · Modular power take-off assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,250 B2 - Document ID: US9434250B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/853,384 - Filed: 2015-09-14 - Published: 2016-04-21 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-20 - Assignees: Power Solutions International, Inc. - Applicants: Power Solutions International, Inc. - Inventors: Constantine Xykis; Brian Manning; Patrick Stockwell; Andrew Backus; Gary Winemaster - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434250B2 ## CPC - B60K 17/28: characterised by arrangement, location, or type of power take-off - B60K 25/02: directly from an engine shaft - B60K 25/06: from the transmission power take-off - F16H 7/06: with chains - B60K 2025/022: {by a mechanical transmission} - F02B 67/06: driven by means of chains, belts, or like endless members - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F16H: GEARING - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) ## Abstract A modular PTO assembly and an engine system comprising a modular PTO assembly are disclosed. The modular PTO assembly is configured to be mounted and secured to a crankcase of an engine, and includes a front cover positioned on a base plate so as to define a housing. The modular PTO assembly also comprises a power input sprocket mechanically coupled to a power output sprocket via a chain. The power input sprocket is coupled to a nose of a crankshaft and is configured to rotate at an approximately same speed as the crankshaft. The power output sprocket is configured to be coupled to a shaft of an auxiliary component and to rotate at an approximately same speed as the shaft, thereby transferring power from the engine to the auxiliary component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular power take-off assembly configured to be mounted and secured to a crankcase of an engine, the modular power take-off assembly comprising: a front cover and a base plate, wherein the front cover is positioned on the base plate so as to define a housing that is separated from the crankcase; a power input sprocket that is configured to be coupled to a nose of a crankshaft through a first bore through the housing and is configured to rotate at an approximately same speed as the crankshaft; a power output sprocket configured to be coupled to a shaft of an auxiliary component through a second bore through the housing and is configured to rotate at an approximately same speed as the shaft; and a chain that mechanically couples the power input sprocket to the power output sprocket, wherein the power input sprocket, the power output sprocket, and the chain are located inside the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular power take-off assembly of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder bolt that passes through the a portion of the front cover and a portion of the base plate, wherein the shoulder bolt is configured to at least partially secure the modular power take-off assembly to the crankcase and is positioned so as to align the power input sprocket with the crankshaft when mounting the modular power take-off assembly to the crankcase. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The modular power take-off assembly of claim 2, wherein the power input sprocket comprises (i) a first hub that extends out from a first side of the power input socket and through the first bore and (ii) a second hub that extends out from a second side of the power input sprocket through a third bore in the housing, and the modular power take-off assembly further comprises: a first mounting ring positioned around the first hub so as to provide support for the first hub in the first bore and a second mounting ring positioned around the second hub so as to provide support for the second hub in the third bore, wherein the first mounting ring and the second mounting ring substantially center the power input sprocket in the first bore and in the third bore; and a lubrication bath in the housing, wherein the lubrication bath comprising a lubricant through which at least a portion of the chain passes, wherein the first mounting ring further seals the housing so as to separate the lubrication bath from fluids in the crankcase. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The modular power take-off assembly of claim 2, wherein the power input sprocket comprises (i) a first hub that extends out from a first side of the power input socket and through the first bore and (ii) a second hub that extends out from a second side of the power input sprocket through a third bore in the housing, and the modular power take-off assembly further comprises a first mounting ring positioned around the first hub so as to provide support for the first hub in the first bore and a second mounting ring positioned around the second hub so as to provide support for the second hub in the third bore, wherein the first mounting ring and the second mounting ring substantially center the power input sprocket in the first bore and in the third bore, and wherein the first mounting ring and the second mounting ring are made at least in part of a low-friction polymer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular power take-off assembly of claim 1, wherein the power input subassembly further comprises a timing sprocket, wherein the timing sprocket is coupled to the power input sprocket and is configured to be mounted on the nose of the crankshaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The modular power take-off assembly of claim 5, wherein the timing sprocket is coupled to the input power sprocket by one or more bolts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The modular power take-off assembly of claim 5, wherein the power input sprocket is coupled to the timing sprocket via one of interference fitting or slip fitting. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The modular power take-off assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a lubrication bath in the housing, wherein the lubrication bath comprising a lubricant through which at least a portion of the chain passes; and at least one sensor configured to provide an output signal indicative of at least one of a temperature of the lubrication bath or a level of the lubrication bath. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The modular power take-off assembly of claim 1, wherein the modular power take-off assembly is configured to provide an output of at least 70 horsepower at approximately 3000 RPM of the shaft of the auxiliary component. ### Claim 10 An engine system comprising: an engine comprising a crankcase, a crankshaft, and a timing sprocket, wherein the timing sprocket is mounted on a nose of the crankshaft, the nose of the crankshaft being at a forward end of the engine; and a modular power take-off assembly mounted to the forward end of the engine, the modular power take-off assembly comprising: a front cover and a base plate, wherein the front cover is positioned on the base plate so as to define a housing that is separated from the crankcase: a power input sprocket coupled to the timing sprocket through a first bore in the housing and configured to rotate at a substantially equivalent speed as the crankshaft; a power output sprocket configured to be coupled to a shaft of an auxiliary component and to rotate an approximately same speed as the shaft; and a chain that mechanically couples the power input sprocket to the power output sprocket, wherein the power input sprocket, the power output sprocket, and the chain are located inside the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The engine system of claim 10, wherein a shoulder bolt passes through a portion of the front cover and a portion of the base plate and interfaces with threads in the crankcase, thereby at least partially securing the modular power take-off assembly to the crankcase and aligning the power input sprocket with the timing sprocket when coupling the power input sprocket to the timing sprocket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The engine system of claim 11, wherein the power input sprocket comprises (i) a first hub that extends out from a first side of the power input socket and through the first bore and (ii) a second hub that extends out from a second side of the power input sprocket through a third bore in the housing, and the modular power take-off assembly further comprises: a first mounting ring positioned around the first hub so as to provide support for the first hub in the first bore and a second mounting ring positioned around the second hub so as to provide support for the second hub in the third bore, wherein the first mounting ring and the second mounting ring substantially center the power input sprocket in the first bore and in the third bore, and wherein the first mounting ring and the second mounting ring are made at least in part of a low-friction polymer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The engine system of claim 11, wherein the power input sprocket comprises (i) a first hub that extends out from a first side of the power input socket and through the first bore and (ii) a second hub that extends out from a second side of the power input sprocket through a third bore in the housing, and the modular power take-off assembly further comprises: a first mounting ring positioned around the first hub so as to provide support for the first hub in the first bore and a second mounting ring positioned around the second hub so as to provide support for the second hub in the third bore, wherein the first mounting ring and the second mounting ring substantially center the power input sprocket in the first bore and in the third bore; and a lubrication bath in the housing, wherein the lubrication bath comprises a lubricant through which at least a portion of the chain passes, wherein the first mounting ring further seals the housing so as to separate the lubrication bath from fluids in the crankcase. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The engine system of claim 10, wherein the modular power take-off assembly further comprises: a lubrication bath in the housing, wherein the lubrication bath comprising a lubricant through which at least a portion of the chain passes; and at least one sensor configured to provide an output signal indicative of at least one of a temperature of the lubrication bath or a level of the lubrication bath. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The engine system of claim 10, wherein the modular power take-off assembly is configured to provide an output of at least 70 horsepower at approximately 3000 RPM of the shaft of the auxiliary component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The engine system of claim 10, further comprising a hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulic pump is the auxiliary component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The engine system of claim 10, wherein the power input sprocket is coupled to the timing sprocket via one or more bolts. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The engine system of claim 10, wherein the power input sprocket is coupled to the timing sprocket via one of interference fitting or slip fitting.