What does PTO stand for ?

[kevman]

I've seen this term many times, but not sure what it exactly means or stands for.

[yepyep14u2know]

Power Take-Off. It's used in farm equipment, semi-trucks, etc. Basically it takes power from the engine to power attachments.

[Dans lego]

Hello, "PTO" stands for "power take off" , The PTO is like a secondary output used to power other machinery or accessories for example , a tractor with a lawn mowing attachment . hope that helps explain what a PTO is

[eurotrash]

On a Tractor it's an additional axle (normally at the rear) that you can attach your brush-hogging device, or as we call it in Missouri 'the whirling blades of death'.

[rumpletump]

I work in kitchen cabinet manufacturing and it stands for Push To Open, But I am sure that has nothing to do wit it

[DrJB]

You see this a lot in engines and transmissions. PTO's are additional outputs used to power accessories. For example, on many construction and farm equipment, the engine has a toothed flywheel attached to the crankshaft. While the crankshaft goes to the transmission to power e.g. the tires, several accessories can be placed and gear with the flywheel. Such accessories are for example an alternator, a hydraulic pump, ... Etc. So, as some have said above, a PTO is an auxiliary output from typically an engine or a transmission.

Edited December 20, 2013 by DrJB

[kevman]

Thanks all. This clears it up quite a bit.

[MrNumbskull13]

Please Turn Over? xD

[Tamas Juhasz]

It's good to be curious, but it took me 3 seconds with google: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_take-off