Joints and connections – Interconnected flanges or shoulders – Axially bolted or riveted
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2001-05-01
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Interconnected flanges or shoulders
Axially bolted or riveted
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224289
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to adapters for connection of drive units and driven units and, more particularly, to adapter units for connection of power takeoff units and driven units such as pumps or generators.
There are numerous applications of auxiliary equipment on vehicles such as trucks, tractors and construction and delivery vehicles requiring drive power. So-called power takeoff (PTO) units are commonplace due to several advantages over separate power sources for the auxiliaries. PTO units eliminate the need for separate auxiliary drives such as gasoline or diesel engines, or electric motors and their associated operation and maintenance problems. PTO units are compact and lower in cost to purchase and operate as compared to separate auxiliary power sources. They are also rugged and save time as compared to separate auxiliary drive sources.
Some applications utilizing PTO drive units have experienced problems associated with coupling failures between the PTO unit and the driven unit or accessory. Physical interferences between the driven unit and other equipment or obstructions on the vehicle require less than ideal drive arrangements and drive alignments. High drive loads and severe operating conditions such as temperature extremes, vibration and other loads add to the coupling reliability problems. Coupling failures often lead to failures in the PTO or driven unit itself resulting in costly repairs. Adapters which connect the PTO to the driven unit add mounting flexibility compared to directly connected equipment, but can exacerbate shaft coupling problems.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore an object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for connecting a driven unit to a power takeoff unit which increases reliability and lifetime of the components and overcomes the problems of earlier designs.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for connecting a driven unit to a PTO unit which provides constant lubrication to the shaft coupling between the PTO shaft and the driven unit shaft.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for connecting a driven unit to a PTO unit which provides lubricant seals to fully seal an internal lubricant cavity or sump enclosing the shaft coupling.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for connecting a driven unit to a PTO unit which provides a lubricant sump sufficiently sealed to permit use of a lubricant of low enough viscosity to allow free flow of the lubricant at normal operating temperatures.
The adapter of the present invention comprises a body defining an internal cavity. The body has an open PTO end which is connected to the PTO unit and an open driven unit end connected to the driven unit. The addition of the PTO unit and driven unit at the ends of the adapter form a lubrication sump with the internal cavity of the adapter body. Fastener holes in the PTO end of the adapter are sealable to prevent loss of lubricant from the sump. A seal surface on the driven unit end of the adapter seals the adapter and the driven unit, preventing loss of lubricant from the sump. A shaft seal, held and sealed with the adapter by a receiving surface in the PTO end of the adapter, seals the shaft of the PTO where the shaft enters the PTO end of the adapter.
A plurality of PTO end fastener holes allows the adapter to be rotated with respect to the adapter axis to reduce interferences encountered during mounting of the driven unit to the adapter. In the preferred embodiment, PTO fastener end holes are sealed by a seal surface surrounding the fastener hole which seal to the fastener head on the inside of the adapter body, or a resilient washer inserted over the fastener. The unused PTO fastener holes are sealed either by plugs, or by not through-drilling the holes during the assembly process. A resilient seal such as a gasket or “O”-ring seal seals between the driven end seal surface of the adapter and the driven unit.
A lubricant port and port plug in the body of the adapter allows filling the lubrication sump. At least two lubrication ports allows filling and draining lubricant regardless of the radial installed position of the adapter.
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Redd Kevin D.
Redd Randall H.
Cottingham John R.
Knight Anthony
Watkins, Jr. Kenneth S.
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