Integrated Power Take-Off and Hydraulic Pump Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combined power take-off and hydraulic pump assemblies have a high overall length, weight, and number of parts, which is undesirable for efficient and compact applications.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an intermediate housing portion that integrates the power take-off and hydraulic pump assemblies, reducing length, weight, and parts through a shared enclosure and rotational orientation flexibility using clamping brackets and annular grooves for secure mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If separate power take-off and hydraulic pump assemblies are used, then operational reliability is maintained, but overall length and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power take-off assembly and hydraulic pump assembly into a single integrated unit. The power take-off housing and hydraulic pump housing are coupled together to form a unified assembly, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets and reducing overall length while maintaining operational reliability through shared structural support and alignment features.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated housing structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for both the power take-off and hydraulic pump components, maintains precise alignment between rotating elements, and eliminates the need for separate mounting mechanisms. This multi-functional design reduces weight and complexity while preserving reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but number of parts and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power take-off housing and hydraulic pump housing into a single integrated assembly. This reduces the total number of parts by eliminating separate mounting brackets, alignment features, and fastening components, while still allowing each component to be manufactured using standard processes.
Solution Approach 2:
While integrating the housings, the patent maintains segmentation of internal components such as the power take-off mechanism, hydraulic pump mechanism, and rotating elements. This allows each subsystem to be manufactured and assembled separately before final integration, preserving ease of manufacture while reducing overall assembly complexity.
3Weight of stationary object
If integrated housing is used, then weight is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated housing design eliminates redundant structural elements and mounting components, directly reducing weight. The unified structure allows for optimized material distribution and removal of unnecessary mass while maintaining structural integrity through carefully designed support features and alignment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing enhanced precision features only where critical for operation, such as at the interfaces between rotating elements and housing, while using standard manufacturing tolerances for non-critical areas. This selective approach to precision reduces overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining weight benefits.
Data Source
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AI summary
A combined power take-off and hydraulic pump assembly includes a power take¬ off including a housing portion having an opened end, an input mechanism that is adapted to be connected to a source of rotational energy, and an output mechanism that is rotatably driven by the input mechanism. The assembly also includes a hydraulic pump including a housing portion having an opened end, a fluid inlet port that is adapted to communicate with a reservoir containing a quantity of relatively low pressure hydraulic fluid, and a pumping mechanism that is rotatably driven by the output mechanism of the power take-off. An intermediate housing has a first opened end that cooperates with the opened end of the housing portion of the power take-off and a second opened end that cooperates with the opened end of the housing portion of the hydraulic pump. The intermediate housing also has a fluid outlet port that communicates with the pumping mechanism and that is adapted to communicate with a hydraulically driven device. The intermediate housing may also support a bearing that, in turn, supports a portion of the output mechanism of the power take-off.