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CA-3281582-C - DIGITAL POWER TAKE-OFF

CA3281582CCA 3281582 CCA3281582 CCA 3281582CCA-3281582-C

Abstract

A digital power take-off system includes an input shaft and an output shaft connected to a planetary gear. An actuator is mechanically coupled to the planetary gear to mechanically control a rotational speed of the output shaft. An output shaft sensor detects the output shaft rotational speed. Controller circuitry receives a desired output shaft rotational speed, receives the output shaft rotational speed from the output shaft sensor, and determines a difference between the rotational speeds. The controller circuitry outputs an operating parameter, based on the determined difference, to the actuator such that the actuator modifies a gear ratio of the planetary gear to maintain the desired output shaft rotational speed over a range of input shaft rotational speeds.

Inventors

  • Farid Taghaboni

Assignees

  • PERMCO, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20250730
Priority Date
20250108

Claims (20)

  1. 38 Claims 1. A digital power take-off system, comprising: an input shaft configured to receive mechanical power as an input shaft rotational speed; an output shaft configured to transmit mechanical power as an output shaft rotational speed; a planetary gear comprising: a sun gear located along a central axis; a ring gear located around the sun gear and sharing the central axis with the sun gear, the ring gear removably connected to the input shaft; at least one planet gear located between and engaged with the sun gear and the ring gear for rotation about an offset axis and revolution about the central axis; and a carrier coupled to the at least one planet gear such that revolution of the at least one planet gear urges rotation of the carrier, the carrier removably connected to the output shaft; an actuator mechanically coupled to the sun gear and configured to mechanically control a rotational speed of the sun gear based on a received operating parameter; an output shaft sensor configured to detect the output shaft rotational speed; and a controller circuitry in electrical communication with the output shaft sensor and the actuator, and configured to: receive a desired output shaft rotational speed; receive the output shaft rotational speed from the output shaft sensor; determine a difference between the output shaft rotational speed and the desired output shaft rotational speed; determine the operating parameter based on the determined difference; and output the operating parameter to the actuator, such that the actuator modifies a gear ratio of the planetary gear by modifying the rotational speed of the39 sun gear to maintain the desired output shaft rotational speed over a range of input shaft rotational speeds.
  2. 2. The digital power take-off system of claim 1, wherein the desired output shaft rotational speed describes a preferred range of output shaft rotational speeds.
  3. 3. The digital power take-off system of claim 1 or 2, wherein: the controller circuitry is a programmable logic controller having: a single input comprising the output shaft rotational speed from the output shaft sensor; and a single output comprising the operating parameter.
  4. 4. The digital power take-off system of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a manual control device in electrical communication with the controller circuitry, wherein the manual control device is configured to selectively send an electrical signal to the controller circuitry to modify the desired output shaft rotational speed.
  5. 5. The digital power take-off system of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a primary controller including processor circuitry in electrical communication with the controller circuitry, wherein the primary controller is configured to send an electrical signal to the controller circuitry to modify the desired output shaft rotational speed.
  6. 6. The digital power take-off system of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an input shaft sensor configured to detect the input shaft rotational speed, the input shaft sensor in electrical communication with at least one of the controller circuitry or the primary controller.
  7. 7. The digital power take-off system of claim 6, wherein the primary40 controller is further configured to: receive from the input shaft sensor input shaft rotational speed data; and modify the desired output shaft rotational speed based on the received input shaft rotational speed data.
  8. 8. The digital power take-off system of claim 6 or 7, wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to determine the operating parameter based on the determined difference and the input shaft rotational speed.
  9. 9. A method comprising: providing power to one or more components of a subsystem of a service vehicle, the service vehicle comprising: a chassis supporting a wheel; an engine configured to provide mechanical power to drive the wheel; and a digital power take-off system attached to the chassis, the digital power take-off system comprising: an input shaft configured to receive mechanical power as an input shaft rotational speed; an output shaft configured to transmit mechanical power as an output shaft rotational speed; a planetary gear comprising: a sun gear located along a central axis; a ring gear located around the sun gear and sharing the central axis with the sun gear, the ring gear removably connected to the input shaft; at least one planet gear located between and engaged with the sun gear and the ring gear for rotation about an offset axis and revolution about the central axis; and a carrier coupled to the at least one planet gear such that revolution of the at least one planet gear urges rotation of the carrier, the carrier removably connected to the output shaft;41 an actuator mechanically coupled to the sun gear and configured to mechanically control a rotational speed of the sun gear based on a received operating parameter; an output shaft sensor configured to detect the output shaft rotational speed; a controller circuitry in electrical communication with the output shaft sensor and the actuator, and configured to: receive a desired output shaft rotational speed, receive the output shaft rotational speed from the output shaft sensor, determine a difference between the output shaft rotational speed and the desired output shaft rotational speed, determine the operating parameter based on the determined difference, and output the operating parameter to the actuator such that the actuator modifies a gear ratio of the planetary gear by modifying the rotational speed of the sun gear to maintain the desired output shaft rotational speed over a range of input shaft rotational speeds.
  10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine having a mechanical rotational output transferred to a transmission having a plurality of gearing configurations to provide a plurality of forward driving gears.
  11. 11. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the one or more components of the subsystem of the service vehicle comprises a hydraulic pump, and the desired output shaft rotational speed is within a preferred range of shaft rotational speeds to operate the hydraulic pump.
  12. 12. The method of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to selectively reduce the output shaft rotational speed to zero revolutions per minute.42
  13. 13. The method of any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein providing power to the one or more components of the subsystem of the service vehicle includes providing power to the one or more components of the subsystem of the service vehicle selectively on demand.
  14. 14. The method of any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to output an electrical signal warning indication in response to the output shaft rotational speed being less than a critical operation minimum rotational speed.
  15. 15. The method of any one of claim 9 to 14, wherein the operating parameter informs the actuator to rotate the sun gear at least one of slower or faster to modify the output shaft rotational speed to match the desired output shaft rotational speed.
  16. 16. The method of any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the operating parameter informs the actuator to rotate the sun gear at least one of slower or faster to modify the output shaft rotational speed to be within a range of rotational speeds defined by the desired output shaft rotational speed.
  17. 17. A service vehicle comprising: a chassis supporting a wheel; an engine configured to provide mechanical power to drive the wheel; a digital power take-off system attached to the chassis, the digital power take-off system comprising: an input shaft configured to receive mechanical power as an input shaft rotational speed; an output shaft configured to transmit mechanical power as an output shaft rotational speed; a planetary gear comprising:43 a sun gear located along a central axis; a ring gear located around the sun gear and sharing the central axis with the sun gear, the ring gear removably connected to the input shaft; at least one planet gear located between and engaged with the sun gear and the ring gear for rotation about an offset axis and revolution about the central axis; and a carrier coupled to the at least one planet gear such that revolution of the at least one planet gear urges rotation of the carrier, the carrier removably connected to the output shaft; an actuator mechanically coupled to the sun gear and configured to mechanically control a rotational speed of the sun gear based on a received operating parameter; an output shaft sensor configured to detect the output shaft rotational speed; and a controller circuitry in electrical communication with the output shaft sensor and the actuator, and configured to: receive a desired output shaft rotational speed; receive the output shaft rotational speed from the output shaft sensor; determine a difference between the output shaft rotational speed and the desired output shaft rotational speed; determine the operating parameter based on the determined difference; and output the operating parameter to the actuator, such that the actuator modifies a gear ratio of the planetary gear by modifying the rotational speed of the sun gear to maintain the desired output shaft rotational speed over a range of input shaft rotational speeds.
  18. 18. The service vehicle of claim 17, wherein the service vehicle is a refuse truck.44
  19. 19. The service vehicle of claim 18, further comprising a compactor system configured to compact a quantity of refuse within an enclosed portion of the service vehicle, wherein the compactor system is connected to and receives power from the digital power take-off system.
  20. 20. The service vehicle of claim 18 or 19, further comprising a lifting system to lift a refuse container and tip the refuse container, wherein the lifting system is connected to and receives power from the digital power take-off system.

Description

PECO2PUS01 1 DIGITAL POWER TAKE-OFF Technical Field [0001] The present disclosure relates to power take-off devices for utility vehicles, and more particularly, digital power take-off devices configured to maintain a desired rpm value of an output shaft of the power take-off device when an input shaft RPM value of the power take-off is variable. Summary [0002] Service vehicles (e.g., refuse vehicles) include one or more power generation units such as an engine (e.g., an internal combustion engine). The engine supplies rotational power to at least one wheel of the service vehicle to drive or move the service vehicle. The engine can also be used to supply power to vehicle subsystems, such as a dumpster lift system or a refuse compactor. [0003] Service vehicles can use power take-off devices to direct power developed by the engine to one or more vehicle subsystems. The power take-off device helps reduce the need for service vehicles to support and operate a second power generation unit for the vehicle subsystems. In some particular examples, the power generation unit is an internal combustion engine providing a rotational power output. [0004] The rotational power output is often used as an input to a vehicle transmission to provide rotational power to a service vehicle drive train component over a range of rotational speeds and torque values. For example, the service vehicle may have several numbered forward driving “gears” and a reverse “gear.” Traditionally, the lower numbered forward driving gears are characterized by relatively low drive train rotational speeds and relatively high torque values. The higher numbered forward gears are characterized by relatively high drive train rotational speeds and relatively low torque values. [0005] Variability in the drive train rotational speed and torque value complicates directing drive train power, through the power take-off device, to the service vehicle subsystems. For example, typical use of a refuse vehicle can include directing drivePECO2PUS01 2 train power through a power take-off device to a dumpster lift system or a refuse compactor. The dumpster lift system or the refuse compactor may, in turn, transfer the rotational power from the power take-off device output shaft to a hydraulic pump input shaft to operate a hydraulic power system. However, the hydraulic pump may have a preferred input shaft rotational speed or a preferred range of input shaft rotational speeds for proper operation of the vehicle subsystem. The drive train component(s) of the service vehicle, though, typically provide a relatively wide range of shaft rotational speeds depending upon several factors including, but not limited to, the forward or reverse “driving gear” in which the transmission is positioned and the amount of acceleration applied to the engine at a particular time. [0006] A difference between the drive train component rotational speed and the preferred input shaft rotational speed of the vehicle subsystem can be particularly pronounced when the service vehicle is parked or the service vehicle transmission is in a “neutral” position. Often, the service vehicle is parked or the transmission is located in a neutral position when service vehicle subsystems are called into service. In many cases, when the service vehicle is idling at relatively low RPM, the engine does not provide enough rotational speed to the PTO-driven hydraulic pump to operate efficiently or operate a vehicle subsystem. [0007] Service vehicle processes of dumpster lifting, refuse compacting, service bucket maneuvering, aerial ladder and outrigger operating, etc. often include power provision tasks which could be made more efficient with a power take-off device providing relatively uniform output shaft rotational speed when provided a relatively wide range of input shaft rotational speeds. Additionally, a digital power take-off device can provide a power-on-demand feature to reduce power consumption during times when service vehicle subsystems are not in operation. [0008] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a digital power takeoff system includes an input shaft configured to receive mechanical power as an input shaft rotational speed. The power take-off system also includes an output shaft configured to transmit mechanical power as an output shaft rotational speed. The power take-off system further includes a planetary gear including a sun gearPECO2PUS01 3 located along a central axis. The planetary gear also includes a ring gear located around the sun gear and sharing the central axis with the sun gear. The ring gear is removably connected to the input shaft. The planetary gear further includes at least one planet gear located between and engaged with the sun gear and the ring gear for rotation about an offset axis and revolution about the central axis. The planetary gear still further includes a carrier coupled to the at least one planet gear such that revolution of the at least one planet gea