Power Transmission Technology, Inc.

Pt Tech, LLC

Transmotion Medical, Inc.

Robert E Herchick

David C Heidenreich

Timothy A Clapp

Joseph W Guinter

Richard E Cole, Jr

David A Peterman

Erik L Olson

Michael Maske

David C Heidenrcich

Arthur F Gouker

Zackary D McKee

A selectively powered ambulatory stretcher chair has a bifurcated articulating base of free-wheeling casters at each of the corners thereof, with motor driven wheels on a transaxle interposed therebetween. Articulation of the bifurcated base causes deployment and retraction of the drive wheels to allow use of the stretcher chair in both a manual and power-driven mode, while ensuring stability in both. A u-shaped positionable bar is pivotally connected to a back of the stretcher chair and maintains a control box within a tight range of positions as the chair of the stretcher chair assembly translates between upright and horizontal positions. The back of the stretcher chair is of a radiolucent material, accommodating medical procedures in the stretcher chair in a broad range of positions.

Selectively powered ambulatory stretcher chair

A clutch control system is interposed between an engine and a piece of driven equipment. The clutch control system includes a clutch assembly with input and output speed sensors for providing signals corresponding to the shaft rotational speeds of the engine and the driven equipment, respectively. A pressure sensor is connected to the clutch assembly and provides an output signal corresponding to clutch pressure. A temperature sensor is also associated with the clutch assembly and provides a temperature signal corresponding to the operating temperature of the clutch assembly. Transducers of various types are also employed to sense operating conditions such as shock loads or the like. Also included is a machine control system connected to the driven equipment and an engine control module connected to the engine, both of which are interconnected through an SAE J1939 CAN to the clutch control unit. These signals are passed to a clutch control unit that employs the signals to assess the operating conditions of the system and accordingly adjust the clutch pressure through a pressure control valve. A vast array of operating data is available from the system and is employed by the clutch control unit to ensure optimum operation, by tailoring the clutch pressure to the engine and driven equipment, thus minimizing clutch slippage and avoiding or instantaneously correcting shock load situations.

Clutch control system

A compact dry power takeoff clutch unit is adapted for interconnection with a flywheel of an engine. A housing is adapted for attachment to the engine and has a plurality of interleaved friction and separator disks maintained therein. A drive ring is connected to the friction disks and to the flywheel for driving the friction disks by the engine. An output shaft is interconnected with the separator disks. A pair of anti-friction bearings are received by the housing and provide the sole support for the output shaft. A pressure plate is configured to be nestingly received by a cup-shaped flywheel in order to maintain certain standardized dimensional constraints. Actuation of the clutch is achieved by a rotary union interposed between the pair of support bearings. A quiescent position for the separator disks is achieved by the mounting of the separator disks between the head and spring of shoulder bolts secured to an output hub mounted upon the output shaft. Gland rings are interposed about the output shaft on either side of the rotary union to minimize leakage and the passage of pressurized actuating fluid to the bearings.

Compact dry power takeoff unit

A process for achieving engagement of a power source with a high inertia load by use of a clutch provides for the sequential engagement of the clutch until the speed of the power source drops to a first threshold, at which time the clutch is disengaged until the speed of the power source recovers to a second threshold. The process is repeated until the power source operates above the first threshold for a set period of time. The process may be terminated, leaving the clutch either engaged or disengaged, after a certain number of sequential attempts at engagement and disengagement have been made, or after a certain period of time has elapsed. The invention also relates to a system and associated process by which a microprocessor obtains various data regarding the operational state of a power source, load, and a clutch interposed therebetween. The data includes the speed of the power source and pressure, temperature and filter conditions of the associated clutch. The microprocessor also communicates with an ignition switch for the power source, a clutch engagement switch, and an equipment safety switch associated with the load. The system obtains the effective engagement of the load to the power source and the maintenance of that engagement while monitoring and recording operational data relevant to the effectiveness and efficiency of the system and the operational characteristics of the operator.

Clutch assembly and diagnostic system

A hydraulically actuated power takeoff clutch assembly is rigidly coupled to the flywheel of an engine and has an input hub which serves as a gear to drive auxiliary hydraulic pumps. The input hub is a portion of a wet clutch which is hydraulically actuated through a rotary union connected to an output shaft. The serviceable parts of the clutch are secured to the output shaft and are separably removable from the hydraulic power takeoff assembly for servicing. The clutch is of a multiple disk type. An electronic controller monitors the input and output speeds of the hydraulic power takeoff device and is effective to &ldquo;bump&rdquo; the unit to accomodate high inertia loads and to further monitor the operation of the device, such that the clutch thereof serves as a torque limiter.

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Copley, OH, United States of America

Robert E Herchick