PTO control system

• US 8,666,621 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuzaki, Yushi, Umemoto, Susumu, Hiwatashi, Akira, Nagasawa, Shota, Kagawa, Suguru
• Primary Examiner(s): Thein, M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Racic, Milena
• Application Number:
  US12/725,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20110172892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 701/58, 701/51
• US Class Current: 701/58
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/08 fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/131 Protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors means for preventing overturning or tipping of tractors B62D49/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0066 using buttons or a keyboard connected to the on-board processor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/223 Ridable lawn mowers

Abstract

A PTO control system for allowing selection between an independent PTO mode and an interlock PTO mode, comprising a mode-switch command input device 11 for giving an instruction on selection between the independent PTO mode and the interlock PTO mode, a PTO setting device 12 having an engaging position for producing an engaging command and a disengaging position for producing a disengaging command of the PTO clutch, and a PTO control unit for controlling a PTO clutch in response to a pedal operational position of a brake pedal, a mode selected by the mode-switch command input device, and a position selected by the PTO setting device. PTO mode switch implementation processing is suspended when the PTO transmission system is in a power transmittable state, while the PTO mode switch implementation processing is permitted when the PTO transmission system is in the power non-transmittable state.

Claims

1. A Power Take-Off (PTO) control system configured to be mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

a propelling transmission system for transmitting engine output to an axle,

a brake pedal for placing the propelling transmission system from a power transmitting state to a power non-transmitting state in response to an operation thereof by a predetermined operational amount or more, and

a PTO transmission system for transmitting the engine output to a PTO transmission shaft through a PTO clutch,

the vehicle allowing selection between an independent PTO mode in which PTO power is transmitted through the PTO transmission system regardless of whether the propelling transmission system is in the power transmitting state or in the power non-transmitting state, and an interlock PTO mode in which the PTO power is transmitted only when the propelling transmission system is in the power transmitting state,

the PTO control system comprising;

a mode-switch command input device for giving an instruction on selection between the independent PTO mode and the interlock PTO mode;

a PTO setting device having an engaging position for producing an engaging command and a disengaging position for producing a disengaging command of the PTO clutch; and

a PTO control unit for controlling the PTO clutch in response to a pedal operational position of the brake pedal, a mode selected by the mode-switch command input device, and a position selected by the PTO setting device;

wherein PTO mode switch implementation processing by the mode-switch command input device from the interlock PTO mode to the independent PTO mode is suspended when the PTO transmission system is in the power transmitting state, while the PTO mode switch implementation processing by the mode-switch command input device to the independent PTO mode is permitted when the PTO transmission system is placed to the power non-transmitting state.

2. The PTO control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein information concerning suspension of the PTO mode switch implementation processing is provided when the PTO mode switch implementation processing is suspended.

3. The PTO control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the PTO mode switch implementation processing based on the PTO mode switch command provided by the mode-switch command input device is performed after a predetermined delay.

4. The PTO control system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a PTO electric control unit including a PTO clutch control section for producing a control signal of the PTO clutch, and an operational input signal processing section for processing operational input signals from the mode-switch command input device, the PTO setting device and a brake sensor for detecting the pedal operational position, and outputting an implementation command for requesting the PTO clutch control section to produce the control signal,

wherein the operational input signal processing section is provided with a storing section for storing data of the latest state of the PTO setting device and/or data of the latest state concerning power transmission of the PTO transmission system, and

wherein the power transmittable state and the power non-transmittable state of the PTO transmission system is determined based on the data of the latest state stored in the storing section, and the implementation command is outputted based on the data of the latest state stored in the storing section and the operational input signal from the mode-switch command input device.

5. The PTO control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the data of the latest state concerning power transmission of the PTO transmission system is stored based on the control signal produced by the PTO clutch control section.

6. The PTO control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the data of the latest state concerning power transmission of the PTO transmission system is stored based on an operational input signal from a brake sensor for detecting the pedal operational position.

7. The PTO control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suspended PTO mode switch implementation processing to the independent PTO mode is permitted in response to detection of the operation by the brake pedal for placing the propelling transmission system to the power non-transmitting state, or in response to detection of selection of the disengaging position by the PTO setting device.