Power take off speed interlock

1. A vehicle powertrain comprising:

an electric motor;

a transmission mechanically coupled to the electric motor;

a power take off mechanically coupled to the transmission, the power take off having an output shaft and a coupler;

the coupler having engaged and disengaged states wherein in the engaged state of the coupler the transmission is mechanically linked to the output shaft and in the disengaged state of the coupler the transmission is mechanically free of the output shaft of the power take off;

an actuator for moving the coupler between its engaged and disengaged states;

an angular velocity sensor for the electric traction motor;

a source for requests to supply power to the output shaft of the power take off; and

a controller responsive to a current request to supply power to the output shaft of the power take off when the coupler is in its disengaged state for operating the actuator to move the coupler to its engaged state when the angular velocity of the electric traction motor is with selected limits.

2. The vehicle powertrain of claim 1 , further comprising:

the electric motor is a traction motor/generator in a hybrid-electric drive train;

the hybrid-electric drive train includes an engine; and

a clutch is disposed between the engine and the traction motor/generator for selective mechanical coupling of the engine with the traction motor/generator.

3. The vehicle powertrain of claim 2 , wherein the selected limits include a maximum non-zero upper limit on angular velocity of the traction motor/generator.

4. The vehicle powertrain of claim 3 , wherein the controller is responsive to the traction motor/generator exceeding an upper angular velocity limit with the coupler in its engaged state for operating the actuator to move the coupler to a disengaged state.

5. The vehicle powertrain of claim 3 , wherein the controller is responsive to the traction motor/generator exceeding an upper angular velocity limit with the coupler in its engaged state for operating the actuator to move the coupler to a disengaged state.

6. The vehicle powertrain of claim 2 , wherein the selected limits are programmable by an operator and include a maximum non-zero upper limit on angular velocity of the electric traction motor/generator and a minimum non-zero lower limit on angular velocity of the traction motor/generator.

7. A vehicle powertrain comprising:

an engine;

an electric traction motor/generator;

a clutch disposed for mechanically coupling the engine with the electric traction motor/generator;

a sensor for indicating electric traction motor/generator speed;

a transmission coupled to the electric traction motor/generator and having a driveshaft output;

a power take off attached to the transmission from which the power take off can receive rotational impetus and torque;

an output shaft from the power take off;

a coupler within the power take off which in an engaged state transmits rotational impetus and torque from the transmission to the output shaft;

an actuator for moving the coupler between its engaged state and an unengaged state; and

means for preventing operation of the actuator to move the coupler from its unengaged state to its engaged state when the electric traction motor/generator is turning a greater than a predefined speed.

8. The vehicle powertrain of claim 7 , further comprising:

the means for preventing including a vehicle control system having a body controller for receiving chassis inputs initiating a power take off mode of operation when the vehicle is stationary.

9. The vehicle powertrain of claim 8 , further comprising:

the vehicle control system including means for establishing an electrified power take off mode within the power take off mode in which the clutch is operated to disengage the engine from the electric traction motor/generator.

10. The vehicle powertrain of claim 9 , further comprising:

an electric motor/generator angular velocity sensor; and

the body controller being programmable to limit operation of the actuator for engaging the coupler during electrified power take off mode operation to within defined lower and upper speeds of the electric traction motor/generator.

11. The vehicle powertrain of claim 9 , further comprising:

an electric motor/generator angular velocity sensor; and

the body controller being programmable to limit operation of the actuator for engaging the coupler during electrified power take off mode operation to below an upper maximum speed of the electric traction motor/generator.

12. A method of operating a power take off from a hybrid-electric vehicle powertrain, the hybrid-electric vehicle powertrain including an engine, an electric traction motor/generator, a clutch for mechanically coupling the engine with the electric traction motor/generator, and a transmission coupled to the electric traction motor/generator and having a driveshaft output with the power take off including a coupler and an output shaft with the coupler being operable for engaging the output shaft to the transmission for the transmission of rotational impetus and for disengaging the coupler, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an electrified power take off mode in which the clutch is disengaged and in which the coupler may be operated for engagement of the output shaft with the transmission and disengagement of the output shaft with the transmission;

defining a first set of conditions under which the coupler remains engaged during operation in the electrified power take off mode;

monitoring electric traction motor/generator speed; and

defining a second set of condition which includes all of the first set of conditions and at least a first condition relating to electric traction motor/generator speed under which the coupler is allowed to move to an engaged condition from a disengaged condition during operation in the electrified power take off mode.

13. The method of claim 12 , in which conditions relating to electric traction motor/generator speed include upper and lower limits between which movement of the coupler from a disengaged to an engaged condition are allowed.

14. The method of claim 13 , in which the lower limit is non-movement of the electric traction motor/generator.

15. The method of claim 13 , in which the upper and lower limits are programmable.