DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to power take-off (PTO) assembly in vehicles and more particularly, but not exclusively to system and method for testing power take-off (PTO) assembly based on revolutions per minute (rpm) of PTO shaft in vehicles.

BACKGROUND
[002] Generally, a power take-off (hereinafter PTO) assembly is used in a power transmission system of a vehicle to transmit power from an engine of the vehicle to an attached implement or separate/auxiliary machines such as hydraulic pumps, etc.,. PTO assembly is commonly used in vehicles such as tractors or other similar vehicles and also in some commercial vehicles. In transmission assembly station, the operator/assembler assembles the PTO assembly with a power transmission unit of the vehicle and thereafter the vehicle is moved to pre-dispatch inspection (hereinafter PDI) shop for testing the PTO assembly and other quality inspections of the vehicle is also performed. In PDI shop, testing of the PTO assembly is carried out to check whether the PTO shaft is rotating at desired revolutions per minute (rpm). In case, the PTO shaft is not rotating at desired rpm, then the position of the sensor is adjusted to check whether the PTO shaft rotates at desired rpm and if desired rpm is not achieved, then the vehicle is sent back to transmission assembly station assuming manual error while assembling PTO assembly, where the PTO shaft is not assembled correctly or the PTO sensor is not assembled correctly or the PTO sensor is not working or the PTO shaft is not rotating. Hence, other portions of the vehicle has to be dis-assembled first to access the PTO assembly and then properly assemble the PTO sensor or the PTO shaft or replacing the PTO sensor if the PTO sensor is not working thereby resulting in increased labour cost, increased delivery time and the process is tedious.
[003] Therefore, there exists a need for a system and method for testing power take-off (PTO) assembly of a vehicle, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS
[004] The principle object of the embodiments of this invention is to provide a system for testing a power take-off (hereinafter PTO) assembly of a vehicle, which is installed in a transmission assembly station.
[005] Another object of the embodiments of this invention is to provide a method for testing a PTO assembly of a vehicle in a transmission assembly station.
[006] Yet, another object of the embodiments of this invention is to provide a system for testing PTO assembly of a vehicle, which enables increased productivity.
[007] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[008] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[009] FIG. 1 depicts a photographic view of a system for testing power take-off (PTO) assembly of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0010] FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of the PTO assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0011] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart showing the steps of a method for testing the PTO assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0013] The embodiments herein achieve a system that is installed in a transmission assembly station for precise testing of a power take-off (hereinafter PTO) assembly of a vehicle. Further, embodiments herein achieve a method for testing a PTO assembly of a vehicle in a transmission assembly station. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a photographic view of a system 100 for testing power take-off (PTO) assembly 10 of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the system 100 includes a controller unit 102, a first indicating means 104, a second indicating means 106, an enable switch 108, an emergency switch 110, a panel assembly 112 and a communication cable (not shown). The system 100 is used for testing the power take-off (hereinafter PTO) assembly 10. In an embodiment, the system 100 is installed in a transmission assembly station. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the system 100 to be installed in any other station or any other place for testing the PTO assembly 10. The PTO assembly 10 includes a sensor 12, a power take-off (hereinafter PTO) shaft 14 and may include other standard components as present in standard PTO assembly.
[0015] In general, the testing of the PTO assembly is carried out to check whether the PTO shaft is rotating at desired revolution per minute (hereinafter rpm). The PTO shaft will rotate at desired rpm when the PTO sensor and the PTO shaft are assembled correctly in desired position or the PTO sensor is in a working condition.
[0016] The sensor 12 is adapted to measure the revolution per minute (hereinafter rpm) of the PTO shaft 14 and provide the measured rpm information to the controller unit 102 of the system 100.
[0017] In an embodiment, the controller unit 102 is configured to provide the status of the PTO assembly 10 through the first indicating means 104 and the second indicating means 106. The controller unit 102 is provided in communication with the sensor 12 of the PTO assembly 10 through the communication cable (not shown). The controller unit 102 is configured to receive measured rpm information from the sensor 12 and compares the measured rpm with a reference rpm, where the reference rpm is pre-set in the controller unit 102. The controller unit 102 provides an output signal to the first indicating means 104 when the measured rpm is matching with the reference rpm to indicate the status of the PTO assembly 10, wherein the status of the PTO assembly 10 is the sensor 12 and the PTO shaft 14 are being assembled correctly in desired position. The controller unit 102 provides the output signal to the second indicating means 106 when the measured rpm is not matching with the reference rpm to indicate the status of the PTO assembly 10, wherein the status of the PTO assembly 10 is at least one of the sensor 12 is not assembled correctly, the PTO shaft 14 is not assembled correctly and the sensor 12 is not working. In an embodiment, the controller unit 102 includes an integrated programmable logic circuit (PLC) for controlling the controller unit 102. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the controller unit 102 with a microcontroller or any other means for testing the PTO assembly 10. The controller unit 102 is mounted to a front panel 112p of the panel assembly 112.
[0018] In an embodiment, the first indicating means 104 is used to indicate the status of the PTO assembly 10 on receiving the output signal from the controller unit 102, wherein the status of PTO assembly 10 is the sensor 12 and the PTO shaft 14 are being assembled correctly in desired position. The first indicating means 104 is provided in communication with the controller unit 102. The first indicating means 104 indicates that the sensor 12 and the PTO shaft 12 are assembled correctly in desired position. In an embodiment, the first indicating means 104 is at least one of a light bulb and a buzzer. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the system 100 with any other type of indicating means for indicating the status of the PTO assembly 10. The first indicating means 104 is mounted to the front panel 112p of the panel assembly 112.
[0019] In an embodiment, the second indicating means 106 is used to indicate the status of the PTO assembly 10 on receiving the output signal from the controller unit 102, wherein the status of the PTO assembly 10 is at least one of the sensor 12 is not assembled correctly, the PTO shaft 14 is not assembled correctly and the sensor 12 is not in a working condition. The second indicating means 106 is provided in communication with the controller unit 102. The second indicating means 104 indicates that the sensor 12 is not assembled correctly in desired position or the PTO shaft 12 is not assembled correctly in desired position or the sensor 12 is not working. In an embodiment, the second indicating means 106 is at least one of a light bulb and a buzzer. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the system 100 with any other type of indicating means for indicating the status of the PTO assembly 10. The second indicating means 104 is mounted to the front panel 112p of the panel assembly 112.
[0020] In an embodiment, the enable switch 108 is configured to activate the controller unit 102 for comparing the measured rpm with the reference rpm. The enable switch 108 is mounted to the front panel 112p of the panel assembly 112.
[0021] In an embodiment, the emergency switch 110 is configured to switch off the power supply to the system 100. The emergency switch 110 is mounted to the front panel 112p of the panel assembly 112.
[0022] The panel assembly 112 includes a front panel 112p for mounting the controller unit 102, the first indicating means 104, the second indicating means 106, the enable switch 108 and the emergency switch 110.
[0023] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart showing the steps of a method 200 for testing the PTO assembly 10, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the method 200 for testing the PTO assembly 10 is as follows. In an embodiment, the method 200 comprising, providing a system 100 comprising a controller unit 102 configured to be provided in communication with a sensor 12 of the PTO assembly 10; a first indicating means 104 configured to be provided in communication with the controller unit 102; and a second indicating means 106 configured to be provided in communication with the controller unit 102 (step 202); rotating a PTO shaft 14 of the PTO assembly 10 (step 204); allowing the sensor 12 to measure the rpm of the PTO shaft 14 and provide the measured rpm to the controller unit 102 (step 206); allowing the controller unit 102 to compare the measured rpm with a reference rpm and accordingly provide an output signal to at least one of the first indicating means 104, when the measured rpm is matching with the reference rpm, and the second indicating means 106, when the measured rpm is not matching with the reference rpm (step 208); allowing the first indicating means 104 to indicate the status of the PTO assembly 10 on receiving the output signal from the controller unit 102, wherein the status of PTO assembly 10 is the sensor 12 and the PTO shaft 14 are being assembled correctly (step 210); and allowing the second indicating means 106 to indicate the status of the PTO assembly 10 on receiving the output signal from the controller unit 102, wherein the status of PTO assembly 10 is at least one of the sensor 12 is not assembled correctly, the PTO shaft 14 is not assembled correctly and the sensor 12 is not working (step 212).
[0024] The working of the system 100 in conjunction with the method 200 for testing the PTO assembly 10 is as follows. When the PTO shaft 14 of the PTO assembly 10 is rotating and when the system 100 is switched on, the sensor 12 measures the rpm of the PTO shaft 14 and provides the measured rpm to the controller unit 102. The controller unit 102 compares the measured rpm with the reference rpm and accordingly provides output signal to the first indicating means 104, when the measured rpm is matching with the reference rpm or the second indicating means 106, when the measured rpm is not matching with the reference rpm. The first indicating means 104 indicates that the sensor 12 and the PTO shaft 14 are being assembled correctly in desired position. The second indicating means 106 indicates that the sensor 12 is not assembled correctly or the PTO shaft 14 is not assembled correctly or the sensor 12 is not working. Therefore, a system 100 for precise testing of a PTO assembly 10 is provided.
[0025] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
,CLAIMS:CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A system 100 for testing a power take-off (PTO) assembly 10 of a vehicle, said system 100 comprising:
a controller unit 102 configured to be provided in communication with a sensor 12 of the PTO assembly 10, the sensor 12 adapted to measure the rpm of a PTO shaft 14 of the PTO assembly 10;
a first indicating means 104 configured to be provided in communication with said controller unit 102; and
a second indicating means 106 configured to be provided in communication with said controller unit 102,
wherein
said controller unit 102 is configured to receive measured rpm information from the sensor 12 to compare the measured rpm with a reference rpm and accordingly provides an output signal to at least one of said first indicating means 104, when the measured rpm is matching with the reference rpm, and said second indicating means 106, when the measured rpm is not matching with the reference rpm;
said first indicating means 104 is adapted to indicate the status of the PTO assembly 10 on receiving the output signal from said controller unit 102, wherein the status of the PTO assembly 10 is the sensor 12 and the PTO shaft 14 are being assembled correctly; and
said second indicating means 106 is adapted to indicate the status of the PTO assembly 10, wherein the status of the PTO assembly 10 is at least one of the sensor 12 is not assembled correctly, the PTO shaft 14 is not assembled correctly and the sensor 12 is not working.
2. The system 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first indicating means 104 is at least one of a light bulb and a buzzer.
3. The system 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second indicating means 106 is at least one of a light bulb and a buzzer.
4. The system 100 as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an enable switch 108 configured to activate said controller unit 102.
5. The system 100 as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an emergency switch 110 configured to switch off the power supply to said system 100.
6. The system 100 as claimed in claim 1 is configured to be installed in a transmission assembly station.
7. A method 200 for testing a power take-off (PTO) assembly 10 of a vehicle, said method 200 comprising:
providing a system 100 comprising, a controller unit 102 configured to be provided in communication with a sensor 12 of the PTO assembly 10; a first indicating means 104 configured to be provided in communication with said controller unit 102; and a second indicating means 106 configured to be provided in communication with said controller unit 102;
rotating a PTO shaft 14 of the PTO assembly 10;
allowing the sensor 12 to measure the rpm of the PTO shaft 14 and provide the measured rpm to said controller unit 102;
allowing said controller unit 102 to compare the measured rpm with a reference rpm and accordingly provide an output signal to at least one of said first indicating means 104, when the measured rpm is matching with the reference rpm, and the second indicating means 106, when the measured rpm is not matching with the reference rpm;
allowing said first indicating means 104 to indicate the status of the PTO assembly 10 on receiving the output signal from said controller unit 102, wherein the status of PTO assembly 10 is the sensor 12 and the PTO shaft 14 are being assembled correctly; and
allowing said second indicating means 106 to indicate the status of the PTO assembly 10, wherein the status of PTO assembly 10 is at least one of the sensor 12 is not assembled correctly, the PTO shaft 14 is not assembled correctly and the sensor 12 is not working.