Claims
- 1. An engine with an integral actuator for a vehicle, comprising:
a) an engine housing; b) a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said engine housing; c) a pump mounted in said engine housing operably connected to said crank shaft, wherein rotation of said crank shaft produces a flow of fluid from said pump; d) an actuator at least partially within said engine housing including an actuator portion that extends outside the engine housing coupled to said pump; and, e) a valve operably connected to one of said pump and said actuator for selectively communicating fluid pressure to said actuator to selectively move said actuator portion.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein rotation of said crank shaft produces a flow of motor oil from said pump that is selectively communicated to one of said pump and said actuator by said valve.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a spring operably connected to said actuator that biases said actuator to a first position.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said valve is enclosed in said engine housing.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said valve comprises a solenoid valve.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a spring disposed in a housing of said actuator that biases said actuator to a first position.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pump is operably connected to a cam shaft that is operably connected to said crank shaft.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pump is connected directly to said crank shaft.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a gear on said crank shaft coupled to a gear that drives said pump.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a gear on said crank shaft coupled to a gear on a camshaft, said gear on said camshaft coupled to a gear that drives said pump.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a gear on said crank shaft coupled to a gear on a camshaft, said pump being connected directly to said camshaft.
- 12. A method of selectively extending and retracting an integral actuator contained at least partially within an engine housing comprising:
a) rotating a crank shaft of an engine; b) coupling said crank shaft of said engine to a pump positioned within a housing of said engine to create fluid pressure in said pump; and, c) selectively communicating said fluid pressure from the pump to an integral actuator to selectively extend and retract a portion of said actuator that extends from said housing.
- 13. The method of claim 12 wherein oil under pressure is selectively communicated from said pump to said integral actuator.
- 14. The method of claim 12 further comprising biasing said integral actuator to a first position with a spring.
- 15. The method of claim 12 wherein selectively communicating pressure comprises opening a valve to communicate fluid pressure from said pump to said actuator.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein an electric signal is communicated to said valve to open said valve.
- 17. The method of claim 12 wherein said integral actuator is extended by communicating fluid pressure to said integral actuator.
- 18. The method of claim 12 wherein the integral actuator is retracted by communicating fluid pressure to the integral actuator.
- 19. The method of claim 12 wherein coupling said crank shaft to said pump comprises connecting said pump directly to said crank shaft.
- 20. The method of claim 12 wherein coupling said crank shaft to said pump comprises coupling a gear on said crank shaft to a gear that drives said pump.
- 21. The method of claim 12 wherein coupling said crank shaft to said pump comprises coupling a gear on said crank shaft to a gear on said camshaft and coupling said camshaft to said pump.
- 22. The method of claim 12 wherein coupling said crank shaft to said pump comprises coupling a gear on said crank shaft to a gear on a camshaft and coupling said gear on said camshaft to a gear that drives said pump.
- 23. A method of en gaging a PTO shaft comprising:
a) providing a vehicle having a body and an engine with an integral actuator and a PTO shaft; b) selectively communicating fluid pressure to said integral actuator; and, c) engaging the PTO shaft in response to movement of said integral actuator.
- 24. The method of claim 23 wherein said engine oil under pressure is communicated to said integral actuator.
- 25. A control system for controlling a PTO shaft on a riding lawn mower having an engine, comprising:
a) an engine with an integral actuator, said engine including a housing, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a pump in said housing operably connected to said crank shaft, wherein rotation of said crank shaft produces a flow of fluid from said pump, and an actuator at least partially within said housing coupled to said pump; b) a valve operably connected to one of said pump and said actuator for selectively communicating fluid pressure to said actuator to selectively move said actuator from a first position to a second position; and, c) a connector link operably connected to said actuator and said PTO shaft, wherein movement of said actuator from said first position to said second position engages said PTO shaft.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising a spring that biases said actuator to said first position.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said valve is enclosed in a housing.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said valve comprises a solenoid valve.
- 29. An engine with an integral actuator, comprising:
a) an engine housing; b) a crank shaft in said housing; c) a pump in said housing operably connected to said crank shaft, wherein rotation of said shaft produces a flow of motor oil from said pump; d) an actuator supported by said housing coupled to said second pump; and, e) a valve operably connected to one of said pump and said actuator for selectively communicating motor oil under pressure to said actuator to selectively extend and retract said actuator.
- 30. An engine with an integral actuator, comprising:
a) an engine housing; b) a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said housing; c) a first gear on said crank shaft; d) a camshaft rotatably mounted in said housing: e) a second gear on said camshaft coupled to said first gear; f) a pump mounted in said housing; g) a drive gear connected to a pump shaft that drives said pump, said drive gear being coupled to one of said first and second gears; h) an actuator disposed within said housing coupled to said pump, said actuator including an actuator shaft that extends from said housing; i) a first valve selectively coupling a chamber of said actuator to one of an oil pan portion of said housing and said pump; and, j) a second valve selectively coupling said pump to said oil pan.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said first valve is coupled to said oil pan when said second valve is closed.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said first and second valves are included in a 2/3 way valve.
RELATE BACK
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/618,697, filed Jul. 18, 2000, entitled “HYDROSTATIC TRANSMISSION WITH INTEGRAL ACTUATOR,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09618697 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
Child |
10008036 |
Nov 2001 |
US |