The present invention relates to a Power Take Off (PTO) coupler and to a vehicle hitch equipped therewith, and more particularly to a PTO coupler adapted for self-adjustment.
Vehicles are used with various types of implements. Implements are typically affixed to the vehicle by means of a hitch. A first part of a hitch is affixed to the vehicle, and a complementary part is affixed to the implement. The part of the hitch on the vehicle may further be designed so as to assist in lifting the implement from a resting position.
In addition to the hitch for allowing lifting and securing of the implement to the vehicle, certain implements require power to function. Power from the vehicle is generally provided to the implement by means of a Power Take Off (PTO) coupler, which is adapted for engaging a power coupler of the implement.
However, precise positioning of the PTO coupler with respect to the power coupler of the implement is not always possible. When the PTO coupler is not precisely aligned with the power coupler of the implement, alignment may not be automatically performed, and/or premature wear is imposed on engagement mechanisms of the PTO coupler and of the power coupler of the implement. Furthermore, during operation of the implement, impact may cause relative movement of the implement with respect to the hitch of the vehicle, resulting in an impact on the engagement mechanisms of the PTO coupler and of the power coupler of the implement, and even disengagement of the PTO coupler.
There is therefore a need for a PTO coupler that alleviates the aforementioned problems.
The present provides a Power Take Off (PTO) coupler adapted for performing self-adjustment. The PTO coupler comprises a power transmission coupler and a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism fixedly secures an extremity of the power transmission coupler to a hitch. The securing mechanism comprises a position adjustment mechanism for allowing planar movement of the power transmission coupler within the securing mechanism.
In another aspect, the present provides a Power Take Off (PTO) capable of performing self-adjustment. The PTO coupler comprises a power transmission coupler and a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism fixedly secures an extremity of the power transmission coupler to a hitch. The securing mechanism comprises a position adjustment mechanism and a compression adjustment mechanism. The position adjustment mechanism is adapted for allowing planar movement of the power transmission coupler within the securing mechanism. The compression adjustment mechanism is adapted for adjusting pressure and axial movement received by the power transmission coupler.
In yet another aspect, the present relates to a vehicle hitch. The vehicle hitch comprises a frame, a power transmission coupler and a securing mechanism. The frame is adapted to connect with a corresponding hitch of an implement. The power transmission coupler has a first extremity adapted to be affixed to a vehicle shaft, and a second extremity adapted to engage a power mechanism of the implement. The securing mechanism fixedly secures an extremity of the power transmission coupler to the frame, the securing mechanism comprises a position adjustment mechanism for allowing planar movement of the power transmission coupler within the securing mechanism.
In the following description, the following drawings are used to describe and exemplify the present invention:
The industry of vehicles adapted to receive implements, and implements themselves is quite vast. It goes from residential to commercial and industrial applications. Examples of vehicles adapted to receive implements include tractors, trucks, all terrain vehicles and heavy machinery. The variety of implements is very wide; each implement corresponding to a particular task to be performed by the vehicle. Some of those implements require power provided by the vehicle to function. Various types of power may be required by the implement: hydraulic power, pneumatic power, electrical power and motion generated by an engine of the vehicle.
To convey motion generated by the engine of the vehicle, many applications use a Power Take Off (PTO) coupler. The PTO coupler conveys the motion generated by the engine by means of a shaft, to the implement. PTO couplers are sometimes connected to the implement automatically, which oftentimes imposes additional stress to the PTO coupler. Furthermore, during operation, the implement may encounter resistance, which may result in impact on the implement and on the PTO coupler to which it is affixed. The impact may be sufficient to damage the PTO coupler, to disengage the PTO coupler, or to partially disengage the PTO coupler. Thus impact on the implement often results in premature wear of the PTO coupler.
To alleviate these problems, the present provides a PTO coupler capable of self-adjustment. The present PTO coupler is adapted to be installed on a vehicle hitch.
Reference is now made to
As can be appreciated, the vehicle hitch 10 is provided with a frame 14 adapted to be affixed to the implement hitch 12. Upon connection of the vehicle hitch 10 to the implement hitch 12, precise alignment of a PTO coupler (not shown on
Reference is now made to
Reference is now made to
Reference is now made concurrently to
Reference is now made to
In a particular aspect, the taper of the male connection 60 and of the female connection 62 may be proportional to the planar adjustment of the position adjustment mechanism 40. More particularly, the following proportions were implemented and successfully tested on a prototype:
radius of the female connection≧(2*planar adjustment+tolerance).
Other proportions could alternatively be used without departing from the scope of the presently claimed PTO coupler.
Reference is now made to
The securing mechanism 22 is adapted to be fixedly secured to the frame 14 of the vehicle hitch 10 by means of an affixing structure composed of one or several affixing members 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d and 32e. Each of the affixing members 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d and 32e is adapted to be secured by means of screws 34, lock washers 36 and nuts 38 to the frame 14. The securing mechanism 22 is fixed to the frame 14 of the vehicle hitch 10, and receives the second extremity 24 of the power transmission coupler 20.
The affixing members 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d and 32e of the securing mechanism 22 define a perimeter 42 of an aperture. Furthermore, as shown on
The position adjustment mechanism 40 allows planar movement of the second extremity 24 of the power transmission coupler 20 within the securing mechanism 22. For doing so, the position adjustment mechanism 40 is installed in the slot defined by the affixing members 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d and 32e. The position adjustment mechanism 40 has a perimeter defining a shape similar to but smaller than the perimeter of the affixing member 32c. Furthermore, to ensure that the position adjustment mechanism remains within the securing mechanism, its perimeter is larger than the perimeter of the affixing members 32a, 32b, 32d and 32e.
Thus the position adjustment mechanism 40 moves in plane defined by the affixing members in the aperture 42 of the affixing member 32c, while being retained in the securing mechanism 22 by the other affixing members 32a, 32b, 32d and 32e. The position adjustment mechanism 40 may be a plate as shown on
The position adjustment mechanism 40 surrounds the second extremity 24 of the power transmission coupler 20. To reduce friction, the second extremity 24 is inserted in one or several annular bearings 44, which are then inserted in the position adjustment mechanism 40.
Although shown shaped as a disk, the position adjustment mechanism 40 could have various shapes, and not necessarily be flat. The position adjustment mechanism could be made of metal, plastic, brass, composite material, aluminum, or any other material adapted to support the mechanical constraints encountered by the position adjustment mechanism during operation.
Reference is now made to
In a particular aspect, the present compression adjustment mechanism 70 is adapted for allowing movement of the power transmission coupler 20 in the securing mechanism 22 in a direction perpendicular to the planar movement provided by the position adjustment mechanism 40. For smooth operation, the compression adjustment mechanism provides movement over a distance D, equal to the compression length of the springs, which may also be made slightly greater than a length of the teeth 26. Additionally, the pressure exerted by the compression adjustment mechanism 70 on the power transmission coupler 20 is preferably sufficient to assist in engaging the power transmission coupler 20 to the power mechanism 16 of the implement, but should not be greater than a predetermined security threshold.
The present PTO coupler has been described by way of preferred embodiments. It should be clear to those skilled in the art that the described preferred embodiments are for exemplary purposes only, and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the present PTO coupler. The scope of the present PTO coupler should be defined by reference to the appended claims, which clearly delimit the protection sought.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110290570 A1 | Dec 2011 | US |