Warner Electric Technology, Inc.

Atwood Mobile Products, Inc.

Dura Global Technologies, Inc.

George Patrick Gill

James A Pardee

Brian K Holmbeck

Michael Humy

David Leonard Swanson

Charles F Magers

Damon Dirk Shaw

Rodney Lee Peterson

Rodney R Laisure

Pankaj C Modi

Gary R Haasch

A power take-off includes bell housing disposed about an axis and configured for coupling to a housing of an engine or other driving device at a first axial end and to a housing of a driven device at a second axial end. The bell housing defines an air inlet port and an air outlet port between the first and second axial ends. A clutch is disposed within the bell housing and configured to transfer torque from an input member coupled to the engine to an output member coupled to the driven device. A fan is configured for rotation with the input member to draw air into the bell housing through the air inlet port, move air through the bell housing from the air inlet port to the air outlet port in a substantially radial direction across the clutch and exhaust air from the bell housing through the air outlet port.

Power take-off with bell housing cooling system

A rotational coupling includes a coupling disc configured to be disposed about a shaft having a rotational axis. An electromagnet assembly on one side of the coupling disc includes a housing and a conductor within the housing. An armature is disposed on an opposite side of the coupling disc opposite the conductor and the coupling disc, electromagnet assembly and armature form an electromagnetic circuit when current is supplied to the conductor to urge the armature towards engagement with the coupling disc. An anti-rotation mechanism for the electromagnet assembly includes one or more coupling permanent magnets and one or more fixed permanent magnets configured to be mounted to an outer surface of the housing of the electromagnet assembly and a fixed support structure, respectively. The coupling and fixed permanent magnets are arranged to inhibit movement of the coupling permanent magnets and electromagnet assembly in either rotational direction about the rotational axis.

Rotational coupling device with non-contact anti-rotation mechanism

A rotational coupling device is provided with an integrated rotor and brake disc to simplify design of the device and remove liquids from the device when used in a wet environment. The rotor is configured for rotation about a rotating hub and includes a first member defining one pole of the rotor and a second member defining a second pole of the rotor and a braking surface. The second member is coupled to the first member, but axially movable relative to the first member. During clutch engagement, an electromagnetic circuit used to engage the clutch urges the second member into engagement with the first member for rotation. When the clutch is disengaged, the second member disengages from the first member to create a fluid flow path between the members and engages a brake plate to halt rotation of the rotor.

Rotational coupling device with integrated rotor and brake disc

A rotational coupling device is configured for vertical orientation. The device includes a hub disposed about a rotational axis. A rotor is supported on, and configured for rotation about, the hub and defines a radially extending wall. An armature is supported on the hub for rotation therewith and axially spaced from the wall. Clutch plates are disposed between the rotor wall and armature and rotatably coupled to the rotor or armature. A field shell is disposed on an opposite side of the rotor wall from the armature and houses a conductor. The armature and clutch plates move in a first axial direction towards the rotor wall when the conductor is energized and in a second axial direction when the conductor is subsequently deenergized. At least one of the hub and rotor defines means for limiting movement of a corresponding one of the clutch plates in the second axial direction.

Rotational coupling device configured for vertical orientation

A rotational coupling device having a self-contained wet clutch pack and fluid isolated field shell is provided. The device includes a hub disposed about a rotational axis. A rotor is supported on, and configured for rotation about, the hub and defines a radially extending wall and a chamber on one side of the wall surrounding said hub and defining a sump containing a fluid. An armature is supported on the hub for rotation therewith within the chamber and axially spaced from the wall. A field shell is disposed on an opposite side of the rotor wall from the armature and houses a conductor. The field shell is isolated from the fluid in the chamber. Energization of the conductor urges the armature in a first axial direction towards the radially extending wall of said rotor to couple the rotor to the hub for rotation therewith.

Rotational coupling device with self-contained wet clutch pack

A rotational coupling device having improved lubrication is provided. The device includes a hub disposed about a rotational axis. A rotor is supported on, and configured for rotation about, the hub and defines a radially extending wall and a chamber on one side of the wall surrounding said hub and defining a sump containing a fluid. An armature is supported on the hub for rotation therewith within the chamber and axially spaced from the wall. Clutch plates are disposed between the rotor wall and armature and rotatably coupled to the rotor or armature. A field shell is disposed on an opposite side of the rotor wall from the armature and houses a conductor. One or more tubes have an end submerged in the fluid and extend through apertures in the armature. Rotation of said armature draws fluid through the tubes and onto the clutch plates.

Rotational coupling device with improved lubrication

A rotational coupling device for use as a clutch, a brake, or a combination clutch and brake is provided having structure to compensate for wear on braking surfaces. The device includes an armature coupled to an output member and movable between positions of engagement with a rotor and a brake plate. The brake plate is coupled to a stationary field shell that houses a conductor on one side of the rotor opposite the armature and brake plate. The brake plate is axially spaced from the field shell and a removable shim or adjustable spacer is disposed between the brake plate and the field shell. Removal of the shim or adjustment of the spacer permit movement of the brake plate towards the field shell to compensate for wear in any of the clutch or brake engagement surfaces of the device.

Rotational coupling device with wear compensation structure

A trailer jack system includes an electric linear actuator having an electric motor, a source of electric power, and a controller that supplies a first voltage to the electric motor when the electric linear actuator is loaded and a second voltage to the electric motor when the electric linear actuator is unloaded. The electric linear actuator also includes a cylindrically shaped housing, a leg coaxially extending and retracting from the housing, and a support foot at a free end of the leg. The controller supplies the first voltage to the electric motor when a motor current of the electric motor is below a predetermined threshold value and supplies the second voltage to the electric motor when the motor current is above the predetermined threshold value. Preferably, the first voltage is about 24 volts and the second voltage is about 12 volts.

Speed control for an electric linear actuator such as a trailer jack and the like

A trailer brake system includes a control sensor adapted to provide a signal when the braking system of the tow vehicle is actuated, at least one trailer brake actuated by pressurized brake fluid, a brake fluid reservoir, a brake fluid pump receiving fluid from the brake fluid reservoir, and a first solenoid valve connected to the brake fluid pump and directly connected to the trailer brake. A brake fluid accumulator receives pressurized brake fluid from the brake fluid pump and is connected to the first solenoid valve to quickly provide pressurized brake fluid to the trailer brake to increase the braking force. A second solenoid valve connects the trailer brake and the brake fluid reservoir so that brake fluid can be returned to the reservoir to reduce to reduce the fluid pressure and resulting braking force. A feedback pressure sensor is capable of generating a signal that represents braking force applied to the trailer brake. A controller is in communication with the control sensor, the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve, and the feed back sensor and is adapted to selectively open the first valve to increase braking force applied to the trailer brake and to open the second solenoid valve to decrease braking force to the trailer brake. The controller automatically provides a predetermined braking force to the trailer brake by selectively opening and closing the first and second valves as required to maintain the predetermined pressure. When the control sensor indicates the degree to which the braking system of the tow vehicle is actuated, the controller is can automatically provide different braking forces depending on the degree to which the braking system of the tow vehicle is actuated.

Electro-hydraulic brake actuating device for a trailer

A gooseneck trailer coupler is disclosed which secures a first structure such as a towing vehicle to a second structure such as a trailer. The coupler is provided with a mounting element extending from the first structure, a chuck having a top end and a base at a bottom end opposite the top end, with the chuck attached to the mounting element at the top end and adapted to receive a ball mounted to the second structure. A locking assembly is adapted to releasably secure the ball and the chuck, and comprises a ring gear mounted around the chuck and movable from a locking position where the chuck is secured with the ball and an unlocking position where the chuck is unlocked from the ball, wherein the ring gear translates from the base toward the top end of the chuck as the ring gear moves from the locking position to the unlocking position. The locking assembly can also comprise at least one jaw mounted in the chuck for engaging the ball when the ring gear is in the locked position. A novel release lever assembly is also disclosed which moves the ring gear.

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Caledonia, IL, United States of America

George Patrick Gill