Automatic motor vehicle P.T.O. drive control

• US 6,080,081 A
• Filed: 07/08/1999
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Hensinger, Klaus, Sauermann, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, KHOI QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/341,344
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 74/15.84-15.86, 74/11, 477/79, 477/62, 477/80, 180/53.1-53.4
• US Class Current: 477/79
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/28 characterised by arrangement, location, or type of power take-off
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2003/123 using a brake
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/047 by preventing or solving a tooth butt situation upon engagement failure due to misalignment of teeth
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/12 with means for synchronisation not incorporated in the clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/42 Input shaft speed

Abstract

The invention related to a method for engaging power take-offs (28) in automated or partially automated transmissions (6) of commercial vehicles. A signal from the driver corresponding to a wish to engage the power take-off (28) is converted in a control device (34) into a signal for opening an automated clutch (4) between a prime mover (2) and the transmission (6) of the commercial vehicle. Once a predetermined minimum number of revolutions of the input shaft (10) of the transmission (6) is reached, a shifting device (26) is controlled for connecting the power take-off (28) with one transmission shaft (16, 42) that drives the power take-off (28) in order to obtain a closing of said shifting device (26, 52). The clutch (4) is again closed to prevent the teeth (50, 53) of the shifting device (26, 52) from remaining in front of each other. Sensors (32, 36, 40) determine whether the shifting device (26, 52) of the power take-off (28) has fully shifted, whether there is in the power take-off (28) a difference in the number of revolutions between the driving transmission shaft (16, 42) and the driven shaft (30, 72), or whether in the clutch (4) a defined adjustment travel has been exceeded.

Claims

1. A method for engaging power take-offs (28) in commercial vehicles, comprising the steps of:

delivering a signal to engage said power take-off (28);

converting said signal to engage, in a control device (34), into a signal for opening an automated clutch (4) between a prime mover (2) and said transmission (6) of the commercial vehicle;

reaching a predetermined minimum number of revolutions of the input shaft (10) of said transmission (6);

controlling a shifting device (26) for connecting said power take-off (28) with a transmission shaft (16,

     42) which drives said power take-off;

closing said shifting device (26,

     52); and

closing said clutch (4).

2. The method for engaging power take-offs (28) according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

reaching the minimum number of revolutions in said transmission (6) rapidly by using a braking device (24).

3. The method for engaging power take-offs (28) according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining by sensors (36) whether said shifting device (26,

     52) of said power take-off (28) has completely shifted.

4. The method for engaging power take-offs (28) according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining by sensors (33,

     4) whether there exists in said power take-off (28) a difference in the number of revolutions between a driving transmission shaft (16,

     42) and a driven shaft (30,

     72).

5. The method for engaging power take-offs (28) according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining whether a defined clutch adjustment travel has been exceeded in said clutch (4).

6. The method for engaging power take-offs (28) according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

shifting said shifting device when the following conditions have been met;

said prime mover (2) of the vehicle is operating,

the vehicle is stopped,

the transmission (6) is in a neutral position,

no shifting of said transmission (6) is active, and;

no shifting of said transmission has been initiated.

7. The method for engaging power take-offs (28) according to claim 1, wherein said transmission has two countershafts (16), further comprising the step of:

driving said power take-off (28) by one of said two countershafts (16).