Power Take-Off Shaft Assembly for Transmission Thrust Load Isolation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current transmission designs with a power take-off shaft face early life failure due to significant thrust loads, which are typically supported by less efficient thrust bearings, reducing overall transmission efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a power take-off assembly that includes a cylindrical roller bearing for radial loads and a ball bearing capable of handling both radial and thrust loads, with a spline joint allowing axial displacement to manage thrust loads, thereby isolating the cylindrical roller bearing from thrust loads and maintaining efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a power take-off shaft is coupled to a countershaft with heavy thrust loads, then the transmission can provide power for auxiliary equipment, but the thrust loads cause early life failure of the transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower take-off capabilityVSAvoidtransmission lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing support system is segmented into two distinct bearing types: cylindrical roller bearings for radial loads and ball bearings for thrust loads. This segmentation allows each bearing type to be optimized for its specific load type, preventing the thrust loads from damaging the countershaft and transmission components, thereby extending transmission lifespan while maintaining power take-off capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If thrust bearings are used to support the power take-off shaft, then the thrust load capability is improved, but the overall transmission efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethrust load capabilityVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Different bearing types are applied to different locations based on the specific load requirements: cylindrical roller bearings are used where radial load support is needed, and ball bearings are used specifically where thrust load support is required. This localized application of different bearing qualities optimizes both thrust load capability and transmission efficiency by minimizing frictional losses in each location

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If cylindrical roller bearings are used to support the countershaft, then the transmission efficiency is maintained, but the thrust loads cause early life failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidthrust load resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Ball bearings are introduced as intermediary elements between the power take-off shaft and the countershaft to handle thrust loads. These ball bearings act as mediators that absorb and manage the thrust forces generated by the power take-off shaft, preventing these forces from being transmitted to the cylindrical roller bearings and causing failure, while maintaining the efficiency benefits of the cylindrical roller bearings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enhances the thrust-bearing capabilities of transmissions with a power take-off shaft without compromising overall efficiency, improving the transmission's lifespan and reducing frictional losses.

Implementation Method 1

a first bearing, the cylindrical roller bearing, is coupled to the power take-off shaft and positioned at a first end of the power take-off shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a second bearing, the ball bearing, is coupled to the power take-off shaft and positioned at a second end of the power take-off shaft that is opposite the first end of the power take-off shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBall bearing mechanism: Ball Bearing

Data Source

PatentEP3487723B1Power take-off drive gear thrust load canceling
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 EATON CORP
  • EP3487723B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3487723B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3487723B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A transmission includes a countershaft, an input shaft and a clutch that couples the input shaft to the countershaft, a main transmission assembly having a main shaft and a main transmission clutch, the main shaft coupled to the countershaft via the main transmission clutch, and a range gear assembly. The transmission includes a power take-off shaft coupled to an axial end of the countershaft and colinear therewith, wherein the power take-off shaft and the countershaft are rotationally coupled to one another and axially decoupled from one another.