Abstract: A control means for an agricultural tractor is disclosed which has a switching element carrier arranged in proximity to the leading end region of an arm rest of a driver's seat. The control means has a large number of switches for controlling various vehicle units and the carrier has a hand rest (3, 4) provided with a spherical surface for the palm of the vehicle driver's hand. An adjustment wheel (14, 19) is provided for controlling a switching element (12, 24), the adjustment wheel having a setting rim (14a, 19a) which extends from the switching element carrier in a region which can be reached by the fingers of the hand resting on the hand rest (3, 4). Preferably the control means is provided with two adjustment wheels (14, 19) one above the other, each adjustment wheel having a setting rim (14a,19a) which can be reached by the fingers of a hand resting on the hand rest.

Abstract: Described is a utility vehicle, in particular an agricultural tractor, with a front axle (3), which can be driven by a drive element of a first multi-disc clutch (11), connected in a driven manner to the drive train (2) and a power take-off shaft (4) which can be driven by the drive train (2) at speed proportionately to the speed of the vehicle over the ground (ground speed power take-off). In order to keep expenditure low on the control of the disc clutch (11) and the power take-off shaft (4), it is proposed that the power take-off shaft can be driven at a speed proportional to the speed of the vehicle over the ground by a second multi-disc clutch (12) which has a drive element connected in a driven manner to the drive train (2), and that both multi-disc clutches (11, 12) are actuated in common.

Abstract: A trailer coupling for tractive vehicles, in particular agricultural tractors, consisting of two vertical guidance cheeks (7), fitted with lateral spacing to the rear of the vehicle, the guidance cheeks including vertical slots (7a) and a bearing member (11) held detachably at the lower end region of the guidance cheeks, on which a coupling member (12) is arranged for attaching an implement. In the case of a prior art trailer coupling, all forces transmitted from the attached implement to the coupling member used, a ball coupling (12) for example, are conducted via the bearing member (11) into the guidance cheeks (7). Thus this involves the undesirable necessity of having to dimension the guidance cheeks in a robust manner, which in turn leads to space problems within the tail end region of the vehicle. Therefore a trailer coupling is to be created which reduces the load on the guidance cheeks (7), when the forces of the attached implement are conducted into the rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention concerns a vibration-decoupling device for a hydraulic circuit and in particular concerns a vibration-decoupling device for a hydraulic circuit used in an agricultural vehicle. The device has a fluid transfer element (3) able to be connected at one end (4) to a high pressure outlet of a hydraulic pump (1) and to transport fluid expelled from the pump. The another end (5) of the fluid transfer element (3) is moveably connected with a fixed element (11) such as a gear assembly housing so that the fluid can be passed to a hydraulic consumer. A support element (9) is moveably connected with the fixed element (11) and the fluid transfer element (3) and acts so that a force is exerted on the fluid transfer element (3) in one direction while the other end (5) of the fluid transfer element (3) and the fixed element (11) remain securely connected together.

Abstract: A warning plate assembly for indicating the excess width of a tractor, in particular an agricultural tractor. The assembly comprises a holder having a fixing part (1) attached to the vehicle and a deployable arm (3) carrying the warning plate (9). The deployable arm (3) is swivellable about a vertical swivel axis (2a) of the fixing part between a lockable deployed position, in which the deployable arm and the warning plate are disposed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a lockable retracted position in which the deployable arm is disposed substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The length of the deployable arm (3) is adjustable (6,7) to cater for different widths of vehicle. The warning plate may be in two halves (10,11) hinged about a vertical axis so that the halves can be folded one over the over for storage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydraulic system for utility vehicles, in particular agricultural tractors, for supplying primary and/or auxiliary pressure medium consumers with pressure medium, comprising a pump, sucking from a pressure medium tank, the pump being controlled as a function of the load pressure of the pressure medium consumers and supplying a pump pressure exceeding the load pressure by a predetermined control pressure differential. The hydraulic system produces a first control pressure differential for operating a primary pressure medium consumer and a second higher control pressure differential for operating an auxiliary pressure medium consumer. The hydraulic system obtains rapid response of an actuated primary pressure medium consumer and prevents, under certain conditions due to thermal expansion, pressure medium from flowing to the pressure and flow controller of the pump and possibly causing unwanted restriction of the pump.

Abstract: A folding seat (10) having a support structure (13), a backrest (11) and a seat base (12) is provided wherein the seat base is pivotally mounted on the support structure for pivoting between a seating position with the seat base extending generally horizontal and the backrest generally vertically, a stored position with the base and backrest both extending generally vertical, and a table position with base and backrest both extending generally horizontally. The seat further comprises first over-centre spring means (19) acting on the seat base to bias the seat base towards its generally horizontal position or its generally vertical position depending on which side of the first spring means over-centre position the base is located. Also, second over-centre spring means (28) are provided which act on the backrest to bias the backrest towards its generally vertical position or its generally horizontal position depending on which side of the second spring means over-centre position the backrest is located.

Abstract: The invention relates to a utility vehicle (1) with a hinged cover element (12) which covers a fuel tank (15) and at least part (24) of an ascent region when the cover element is in a covering position. The cover element (12) can be pivoted from the covering position to an open position. A safeguarding element (11) is non-rotatably coupled to the cover element (12), so that the cover element (12) and the safeguarding element (11) have the same pivot axis and are both moved to the open position simultaneously.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting element (1), for example for a heat exchanger (3). The connecting element (1), which has an inlet line (13) and an outlet line (14), is rotatably arranged around an inlet element (35) projecting from a housing (34) of the heat exchanger. The connecting element (1) is also connected to a support (2) which is pivotally mounted at its end remote from the connecting element (1) on a bearing (21) carried by the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A filter installation has a pivotably mounted flap (13), a filter head (15) mounted on the flap, a filter cartridge (16) mounted on the filter head. Flexible piping (18,19) is provided for supplying fluid to be filtered to the filter head and removing filtered fluid from the filter head. The flexible piping allows the flap (13) to be pivoted to an access position in which the cartridge is readily accessible for installation or removal. The installation is particularly suitable to be used on a vehicle such as a tractor in which the pivotable flap is the door on a battery box or other compartment of the vehicle. The filter cartridge can be used to filter bio-fuel for an engine of the tractor or to filter hydraulic fluid or transmission fluid.

Abstract: An air guide is disclosed for a bonnet-covered engine bay of a goods vehicles, in particular agricultural tractors, where under the bonnet are located a combustion engine (1), components under high thermal load and low thermal load, and a fan which generates an air flow which is directed through air guide ducts past the combustion engine into the open. As the air flow from the fan heats up greatly on the combustion engine, there is a risk of a deterioration in the functioning of heat-sensitive components exposed to the air flow.

Abstract: A radiator module for commercial motor vehicles, in particular for agricultural tractors, has a support plate fixed to the chassis and at least one coolant radiator fixed to the support plate. The radiator has a radiator block and two coolant tanks oriented at opposite ends of the block with one tank adjacent the support plate and one spaced away form the support plate. In order to increase the cooling performance of the radiator module despite keeping the installation space above the support plate constant it is proposed that the coolant tank near the plate is constructed from two mutually complementing tank parts. The first tank part is assigned to the radiator block and has an encircling flange for pressure sealed attachment of the coolant radiator on the support plate. A second tank part is assigned to the support plate. By dividing the coolant tank into two parts, one on the radiator block and one on the support plate the effective heat sink area of the coolant radiator can be substantially increased.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle control device data transfer system and process. In particular, it relates to such a system and process for the transfer of data, subject to the risk of tampering, from a central data-processing device (12) at the motor vehicle manufacturer's to a motor vehicle data-processing device (5), such as an electronic drive engine control device, in which tamper-free data transfer is guaranteed. In this connection, an authentication enquiry value is generated by the vehicle data-processing device (5) and transferred to the central data-processing device (12) by means of a mobile data-processing device (9). This generates an authentication response value, which is transferred back by the same route with release data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive system for vehicles with at least two drivable vehicle axles (V, H), in particular for utility vehicles and farm tractors. The drive system has an infinitely variable transmission with no intermediate axle differential comprising at least a first (11) and a second (12) motor. The first motor (11) in this case is propulsively connected to a first vehicle axle (H) and the second motor (12) is propulsively connected to a second vehicle axle (V). Furthermore the drive system has a clutch (20), by which a propulsive connection can be made between at least the first (H) and the second (V) vehicle axle, wherein the position of the clutch is adjustable (20) in a range between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and a control unit (30), which actuates the clutch (20) in such a manner that its torque transmission capacity is adjusted as a function of a driving state of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive arrangement for vehicles with at least two drivable vehicle axles (V, H). The drive arrangement is particularly suitable for utility vehicles and agricultural tractors. It has at least one first motor (11), which is propulsively connected to a first vehicle axle (H), and a second motor (12), which is propulsively connected to a second vehicle axle (V). At least one of the motors is a de-connectable motor (12), which can be disconnected from the propulsive connection to the associated vehicle axle (V). Regardless of whether the de-connectable motor (12) is propulsively connected to the associated vehicle axle (V) or is propulsively disconnected therefrom, a propulsive connection can be selectively made and broken between the first and the second vehicle axle (V, H).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an upper link (32) for a utility vehicle, in particular for an agricultural tractor. The upper link (32) has a hydraulic cylinder (34) for adjusting the upper link (32). Furthermore at least one fluid tank (36), to which the hydraulic cylinder (34) can be coupled, is provided so that in the coupled condition hydraulic fluid limited to a pre-determined volume can be exchanged between the hydraulic cylinder (34) and the fluid tank (36) and so that a piston (40) of the hydraulic cylinder (34) can move in floating fashion by a distance (ls) corresponding to the pre-determined volume in the hydraulic cylinder (34). Furthermore the present invention relates to a front-end as well as to a back-end three-point hitch of a utility vehicle with two pivotally connected lower links and an upper link with such a fluid tank.

Abstract: The control data stored in an engine control device of an agricultural utility vehicle are stored in a further control device in a redundant manner as reference data. At system initialization and in operation, a comparison is made between the control data and the reference data. If irregular deviations are determined between control data and reference data, then, as a basis for processing of the control signals, instead of the control data, the reference data or a fraction of it is used, or the control data is changed in the engine control device.

Abstract: The invention discloses a utility vehicle, in particular an agricultural tractor, with a steering system having single-wheel-suspended steering wheels, which are mounted on a respective wheel carrier (11). Each wheel carrier (11) may be swivelled about the axis of at least one rigidly connected bolt (18) and is connected via a ball-and-socket joint (9) on the at least one bolt, to a transverse steering element (1) that is articulated to the vehicle body. Associated with the ball-and-socket joint (9) is a steering angle sensor (22) comprising a rotatable input member (23), which is located at least approximately in the extension of the axis of the swivel bolt (18). The rotatable input member (23) is connected to the bolt via an entrainment element (25) that transmits the swivel motion of the bolt in an angularly precise manner to detect the current swivel position of the wheel carrier (11).

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydraulic system for utility vehicles, in particular agricultural tractors, for supplying primary and/or auxiliary pressure medium consumers (6, 11, 12) with pressure medium, comprising a pump (1), whose pressure and flow are controlled as a function of the load pressure of the pressure medium consumers by a pressure and flow controller (13) to which whenever auxiliary pressure medium consumers (11, 12) are operating, a higher load pressure compared to the actual load pressure is reported through an amplifier device. In order to obtain rapid response of an actuated auxiliary pressure medium consumer it is proposed that the amplifier device (29) consists of a proportionally controllable pressure reducing valve (39).

Abstract: A trailer coupling for tractive vehicles, in particular agricultural tractors, consisting of two vertical guidance cheeks (7), fitted with lateral spacing to the rear of the vehicle, the guidance cheeks including vertical slots (7a) and a bearing member (11) held detachably at the lower end region of the guidance cheeks, on which a coupling member (12) is arranged for attaching an implement. In the case of a prior art trailer coupling, all forces transmitted from the attached implement to the coupling member used, a ball coupling (12) for example, are conducted via the bearing member (11) into the guidance cheeks (7). Thus this involves the undesirable necessity of having to dimension the guidance cheeks in a robust manner, which in turn leads to space problems within the tailend region of the vehicle. Therefore a trailer coupling is to be created which reduces the load on the guidance cheeks (7), when the forces of the attached implement are conducted into the rear of the vehicle.