IP Library › Granted Patent US 12674507
Granted Patent B2
US 12674507 · App. 18/616,821 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Gear control system for vibration attenuation

Inventors: John W. Burrell (Olive Branch, MS); John Loeffler (Sun City Center, FL); Brian L. Rang (Olive Branch, MS)
Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
F16H57/022F16H57/0006F16H57/12F16H2057/0222F16H2057/127Y10T74/19575
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12674507
App. No.
18/616,821
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power take off unit includes an input gear, an output gear, and an intermediary gear that cooperate to transfer power from a rotational power source to an operating target. The power take off unit has a control module that biases the intermediary gear relative to the input gear and the output gear to reduce gear rattle vibrations associated with intermeshed tooth looseness.

Claims (8)

1 . A power take off unit that is adapted to be rotationally driven by a primary drive component and to rotationally drive an auxiliary device, the power take off unit comprising:

a housing that is configured to be attached to a primary drive component;

a first gear that is supported on the housing and includes a portion that extends from the housing and is adapted to be rotationally driven about a first rotational centerline by the primary drive component;

a second gear that is supported on the housing so as to be rotationally driven about a second rotational centerline by the first gear, the second gear adapted to rotationally drive an auxiliary device; and

a biasing mechanism that is responsive to an operating condition of the power take off unit to exert a biasing force that urges one of the first and the second rotational centerlines to move relative to the other of the first and second rotational centerlines such that a positional relationship between the first gear and the second gear is changed to attenuate gear rattle when the power take off unit is operated in a generally unloaded or lightly loaded operating condition.

2 . The power take off unit defined in claim 1 wherein the biasing mechanism includes a control module that is configured to displace the one of the first and the second rotational centerlines relative to the other of the first and second rotational centerlines.

3 . The power take off unit defined in claim 2 wherein the control module includes a spring that exerts a biasing force to displace the one of the first and the second rotational centerlines relative to the other of the first and second rotational centerlines.

4 . The power take off unit defined in claim 1 wherein the first gear is supported on a first shaft, the second gear is supported on a second shaft, and the biasing mechanism is configured to displace one of the first and the second shafts relative to the other of the first and second rotational shafts.