Power take-off having reduced gear noise
View Patent ↗A power take-off that significantly reduces the amount of undesirable noise that is transmitted therethrough during operation includes a housing, an input mechanism, and an output mechanism. The input mechanism is disposed within the housing and is adapted to be connected to a source of rotational energy. The output mechanism is also disposed within the housing and is adapted to be connected to a driven device. The output mechanism is adapted to be rotatably driven by the input mechanism. At least one of the input mechanism and the output mechanism includes a shaft having at least one portion that is supported on the housing by a vibration damping material.
1. A power take-off comprising:
a housing;
an input mechanism disposed within the housing and adapted to be connected to the source of rotational energy; and
an output mechanism disposed within the housing and adapted to be connected to a driven device, the output mechanism adapted to be rotatably driven by the input mechanism;
wherein at least one of the input mechanism and the output mechanism includes a shaft having at least one portion that is supported on the housing by a vibration damping material.
2. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the vibration damping material is an elastomeric material.
3. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the vibration damping material is rubber.
4. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft is non-rotatably supported on the housing by the vibration damping material.
5. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft has a groove provided therein, and wherein the vibration damping material is disposed within the groove.
6. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the housing has a groove provided therein, and wherein the vibration damping material is disposed within the groove.
7. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the vibration damping material is generally elliptical in cross sectional shape.
8. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the vibration damping material is generally rectangular in cross sectional shape.
9. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the vibration damping material is generally U-shaped in cross sectional shape.
10. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the vibration damping material is generally cup-shaped in cross sectional shape.
11. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the vibration damping material is generally cup-shaped in cross sectional shape and is disposed about both circumferentially-facing and the axially-facing portions of an end of the shaft.
12. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft is an input shaft that supports an input gear that is adapted to be connected to the source of rotational energy.
13. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft has two portions that are each supported on the housing by respective vibration damping materials.
14. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the vibration damping material maintains a space between the shaft and the housing.
15. The power take-off defined in claim 1 wherein the portion of the shaft is supported on the housing in a non-rotatable and a non-axially movable manner by the vibration damping material.
16. A power take-off comprising:
a housing including a first bore and a second bore;
an input shaft having a first portion that is supported in the first bore of the housing by a vibration damping material and a second portion that is supported in the second bore of the housing;
an input gear rotatably supported on the input shaft and adapted to be connected to the source of rotational energy; and
an output mechanism disposed within the housing and adapted to be connected to a driven device, the output mechanism adapted to be rotatably driven by the input gear.
17. The power take-off defined in claim 16 wherein the input shaft is non-rotatable and non-axially movable relative to the housing.
18. The power take-off defined in claim 15 wherein the vibration damping material is generally elliptical in cross sectional shape.
19. The power take-off defined in claim 15 wherein the vibration damping material is generally U-shaped in cross sectional shape.
20. The power take-off defined in claim 15 wherein the vibration damping material is generally cup-shaped in cross sectional shape.
21. The power take-off defined in claim 15 wherein the vibration damping material is generally cup-shaped in cross sectional shape and is disposed about both circumferentially-facing and the axially-facing portions of an end of the input shaft.