POWER TAKE OFF ENGAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEM

摘要

An apparatus and method is disclosed for controlling engagement of a power take-off (PTO) shaft (33) on a vehicle. The apparatus includes a clutch (18) including an input shaft (19) coupled to a power source (14) and an output shaft (32) coupled to the PTO shaft (33). The apparatus also includes an input sensor (56) for sensing a quantity related to the angular velocity of the input shaft (19), an output shaft speed sensor (56) for sensing angular velocity of the output shaft, and a clutch controller (20) for adjusting pressure of hydraulic fluid applied to the clutch (18) in response to control signals. Torque transmitted between the input shaft (19) and output shafts (32) is responsive to the control signals. The apparatus also includes a control circuit coupled to the speed sensors (56) and the clutch controller (20). The control circuit is configured to receive signals from the speed sensors (56) and to provide the control signals in response thereto. During engagement of the PTO shaft (33), the control circuit continuously determines an actual acceleration of the PTO shaft (33) based upon the output shaft velocity, and generates the control signals using a desired acceleration and the actual acceleration.