Gear control system for vibration attenuation
AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation
InventorsJohn W. Burrell, John Loeffler, Brian L. Rang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power take off unit includes an input gear, an output gear, and an intermediary gear that cooperate to transfer power from a rotational power source to an operating target. The power take off unit has a control module that biases the intermediary gear relative to the input gear and the output gear to reduce gear rattle vibrations associated with intermeshed tooth looseness.
Claims14
A control system for attenuating gear vibrations, the control system comprising:
- a control module configured to displace a gear support shaft carrying a first gear that is intermeshed to a second gear such that looseness between the first and second gears is reduced, wherein:
- the control module includes a plunger pin that contacts the gear support shaft and generates a biasing force that displaces the first gear relative to the second gear;
- and
- the control module includes a permanent magnetic and an electromagnet that cooperate to generate a magnetic field that displaces the plunger pin.
A power take off (PTO) unit comprising:
- a housing adapted to be attached to a primary drive component;
- an input gear rotatably supported on the housing and including a portion that extends from the housing and is adapted to be rotatably driven by the primary drive component;
- an output gear connected to an output shaft supported on the housing;
- an intermediary gear supported for rotation on an idler shaft supported on the housing, the intermediary gear connected to the input gear and the output gear for rotational power transfer;
- and
- a control module acting between the housing and the idler shaft, the control module configured to displace the intermediary gear toward at least one of the input gear and the output gear such that looseness between the intermediary gear and the at least one of the input gear and the output gear is reduced, wherein
- the control module is mounted on the idler shaft and includes a spring, the control module having at least one contact point that acts against the housing,
- the at least one contact point is part of a plunger pin, the control module configured to radially displace the plunger pin against the housing to create a biasing force that displaces the idler shaft toward the at least one of the input gear and the output gear, and
- the control module is mounted in a hole formed in the idler shaft.
An intermeshed gear set configured to transfer power from an input gear to an output gear, the intermeshed gear set having an intermediary gear supported for rotation on a shaft, the intermediary gear being in meshed engagement with the input gear and the output gear, and a control module acting against the shaft such that the meshed engagement of the intermediary gear with one of the input gear and the output gear reduces a gear rattle vibration, wherein either:
- the control module is mounted in the shaft and acts against a housing that supports at least one of the input gear, the output gear and the intermediary gear for rotation, the control module having a plunger pin that is biased to generate a biasing force that reduces the gear rattle vibration;
- or
- the control module is in communication with a feedback loop having a sensor configured to monitor at least one parameter of a gear set operational characteristic, the feedback loop controlling a biasing force generated by the control module.
A power take off (PTO) unit comprising:
- a housing adapted to be attached to a primary drive component;
- an input gear rotatably supported on the housing and including a portion that extends from the housing and is adapted to be rotatably driven by the primary drive component;
- an output gear connected to an output shaft supported on the housing;
- an intermediary gear supported for rotation on an idler shaft supported on the housing, the intermediary gear connected to the input gear and the output gear for rotational power transfer;
- and
- a control module acting between the housing and the idler shaft, the control module configured to displace the intermediary gear toward at least one of the input gear and the output gear such that looseness between the intermediary gear and the at least one of the input gear and the output gear is reduced, wherein
- the control module is mounted on the idler shaft and includes a spring, the control module having at least one contact point that acts against the housing, and
- the spring is mounted on a groove formed into the idler shaft.
A power take off (PTO) unit comprising:
- a housing adapted to be attached to a primary drive component;
- an input gear rotatably supported on the housing and including a portion that extends from the housing and is adapted to be rotatably driven by the primary drive component;
- an output gear connected to an output shaft supported on the housing;
- an intermediary gear supported for rotation on an idler shaft supported on the housing, the intermediary gear connected to the input gear and the output gear for rotational power transfer;
- and
- a control module acting between the housing and the idler shaft, the control module configured to displace the intermediary gear toward at least one of the input gear and the output gear such that looseness between the intermediary gear and the at least one of the input gear and the output gear is reduced, wherein
- the control module is mounted on the idler shaft and includes a plunger pin having at least one contact point that acts against the housing, the control module radially displacing the plunger pin against the housing to create a biasing force that displaces the idler shaft toward the at least one of the input gear and the output gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.