Case Corporation

Marvin A Prickel

George R Vater

George M Butkovich

Kenneth Clayburn

A locking mechanism for releasably fixing an externally splined power take-off shaft to an output shaft of off-highway equipment such as a tractor. The output shaft has a hollow, internally splined hub portion adapted to axially receive the externally splined power take-off shaft to prevent relative rotational movement between the power take-off and output shafts. The locking mechanism includes a locking member supported within a radial opening in the power-take off shaft so as to be radially movable between an outer locking position and an inner unlocking position. In the outer locking position, the locking member is engageable with a recess formed in the hub portion of the output shaft to prevent relative axial movement between the power take-off shaft and the output shaft. In the inner unlocking position, the locking member is disengaged from the recess in the output shaft to permit such relative axial movement. An elongated actuator is positioned within an inner bore of the power take-off shaft and has a cam surface thereon. The actuator is movable between a first position in which the actuator operably maintains the locking member in its locking position, and a second position which permits radial movement of said locking member to its unlocking position. Upon return of the actuator to the first position, the cam surface operably engages the locking member to move the locking member to its locked position.

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Woodridge, IL, United States of America

Marvin A Prickel