Abstract: An environmental control system for an enclosed cab of an off-the-road vehicle such as a tractor includes a pressurization blower for pressurizing the cab to a positive pressure with respect to atmospheric pressure outside the cab, and a recirculation blower for recirculating air within the cab. The system includes a fresh air intake for taking in air from outside the cab, a recirculation air intake for taking in air from within the cab, and outlets through which the air from the blowers enters the cab. An air precleaner and a fresh air filter are provided between the pressurization blower and the fresh air intake. A control circuit automatically provides a speed control signal to the pressurization blower, and a manually selected speed control signal is provided to the recirculation blower. A speed sensor senses the speed of the pressurization blower, which varies for a given speed control signal as a function of air pressure within the cab and the condition of the fresh air filter.

Abstract: A method for heating intake air and a carburetor of a dead, cold internal combustion engine of a first vehicle which uses an apparatus that heats the cold engine with energy supplied by a second vehicle having a running internal combustion engine. The apparatus is placed within the air filter housing above the carburetor of the cold engine. The apparatus includes a housing configured to be positioned within the air filter housing of the cold engine. The apparatus housing includes a source of heat such as a plurality of fin tubes that are fluidly connected to the cooling system of the running engine. The tubes transfer heat from the heated coolant to air surrounding the fin tubes. In a modified form of the invention, electrical heating wires are used to heat the air. The heated air is then mixed with fuel in the carburetor and used to start the cold engine.

Abstract: An electrical control provides output signals to a group of solenoid valves which control the gear ratio selected by a transmission. The electrical control receives input signals from a mode select lever, an upshift/downshift pulser lever, an engine RPM sensor, a ground speed sensor, a clutch position sensor switch, and a throttle control lever. The mode select lever has a neutral (N) position, a reverse (R) position, a forward manual (FM) position, and a forward automatic (FA) position. Movement of the mode select lever from N to FM causes the electronic control to actuate solenoid valves which select a first forward gear. Similarly, movement of the lever from N to R causes the control to actuate solenoid valves which provide a first reverse gear. Higher/lower gears are obtained by moving the upshift/downshift pulser lever from its normal position to either an upshift position or a downshift position.

Abstract: An overhead instrument console for use in a tractor includes a panel spanning the driver's compartment. A hinge pivotally connects the panel to the ceiling such that the panel pivots to a down position permitting full access to the rear of instruments mounted on the panel and to such devices as windshield wiper motors, and pivots to an up position hiding from view the rear of the instruments mounted thereon. A latching mechanism is provided to keep the panel in the up position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heating a dead, cold, fluid cooled internal combustion engine which includes the use of another internal combustion engine with a cooling system having heated coolant circulated by a circulation pump and transferring the heated coolant to the cold engine cooling system. The apparatus includes three male quick couplings communicating with the cooling system and rigidly attached to each engine and a pair of coolant transfer conduits with female quick couplings at both ends. The male quick couplings are connected by the transfer for conduits and the heated coolant is transferred to the cold, dead engine and back to the hot service engine to be warmed up again. Either engine may be used as the hot service engine or can receive heated coolant from a hot service engine.

Abstract: A wheel rim mounting device for variable wheel spacing in combination with a conventional wheel hub attached to an axle of a tractor includes a cylindrical sleeve with an inner flange attached to the flange of the wheel hub. A plurality of circumferentially spaced rigid bars are rigidly attached to the outer surface of the cylindrical sleeve with the bars having a plurality of outwardly facing threaded apertures. Circumferentially spaced U-shaped brackets are rigidly attached to the inner surface of a wheel rim and slidably engage the bars attached to the cylindrical sleeve. The U-shaped brackets include a plurality of apertures, two of which are alignable with two of the threaded apertures of the bar. Cap screws engage the apertures of the U-shaped bracket and the threaded apertures of the bar securing the wheel rim to the cylindrical sleeve.

Abstract: A tractor having a hydraulically driven power takeoff shaft in which manipulation of a control handle in the forward direction causes the speed of the shaft to be varied in accordance with the position of the handle and also in accordance with engine speed. When, however, the control handle is moved to the extreme forward position, the power takeoff shaft is operated at either of two selected constant speeds regardless of engine speed as long as the engine speed is adequate to maintain such constant speed. When the control handle is moved in the opposite direction towards reverse position, the power takeoff shaft is driven at a variable speed, dependent on the position of the handle and on the engine speed. This speed is relatively low as compared with that of the forward speeds.The tractor is provided with a manually operated energy shutoff control adjacent the power takeoff shaft, in the form of a push button switch which can be actuated whenever a sudden termination of the shaft operation is desired.

Abstract: An articulated tractor in which there is a front first tractor vehicle and rear second and third tractor vehicles, each of the tractors having an engine for driving the wheels of the tractor and the first tractor having an operator's compartment, the second and third tractors being connected to the first tractor through a cross bar pivotally secured adjacent its longitudinal midpoint to the rear of the first tractor for pivotal movement both about a generally vertical axis and a generally horizontal axis. The rear second and third tractors are secured to the cross bar by pivotal connections at points equally spaced from the first pivotal means so that the longitudinal axis of the second and third tractors are normally substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: A throttle control system for a tractor having at least three tractor vehicles each of which has its own engine and wheels driven by the engine, in which there is means responsive to change in angular relationship of the vehicles to change the relative settings of the throttles of the vehicles in the rear so that the engine of the vehicle on the inside of the turn tends to operate at a slower speed than the engine of the vehicle on the outside of the turn. There are cables running from a throttle control in the operator's compartment of the lead vehicle to the throttles of all three vehicles, the angle responsive means being effective, when the throttles are in advanced position, to override the action of the main throttle lever and move one of the throttles towards throttle retard position without disturbing the position of the main throttle control.

Abstract: A yieldable door latch for holding open the door of a tractor cab in which the fender adjacent the door is of a width comparable to the width of the door, the door latch being mounted adjacent the outer edge of the fender so as to engage the under side of the door at a point close to the outer edge of the door. The door latch has biasing means located beneath the fender for biasing the door latch upwardly and has two inclined surfaces inclined upwardly from the outer and inner ends of the latching member to a central notch which is designed to receive the lower edge of the door. This biasing means is located beneath the fender and has an adjustable stop for limiting the upward movement of the latching member so that the outer end of the latching member always lies beneath the path of the lower edge of the door.

Abstract: A tractor having a driver's cab, an accessory compartment in the fender immediately adjacent the door to the driver's cab, the accessory compartment having a cover forming part of the fender and which projects below the edge of the cab door so that when the cab door is closed, it is impossible to raise the cover of the accessory compartment. In this way, when the door is locked, the accessory compartment is also automatically locked. The accessory compartment may hold a battery or tools or both. In the particular form shown, there is a battery compartment and tool compartments adjacent to the battery compartment. The invention is particularly applicable to the type of tractor which is sufficiently large that steps are required to reach the door of the driver's cab. In such case, the cover for the compartment may also include a downwardly extending part of the fender and one of the steps may be secured to this downwardly extending part.

Abstract: Air conditioning apparatus for a tractor cab in which filter and air inlets are disposed in a portion of the roof projecting rearwardly beyond the cab, the air inlet being downwardly disposed so that foreign matter accumulating in the exterior of the filter is free to fall off of the filter and out through the air inlet. The heat exchange means for removing heat from the air is located behind and beneath the cab seat with the air outlet opening into the cab so as to direct cool air into the cab behind and beneath the operator. The cab may have one or more rear corner posts which are hollow and the air passing through the filter is passed through at least one of these hollow corner posts to the heat exchange means. The filter preferably extends transversely with respect to the cab. Two filters may be employed, these filters being spaced apart with a booster fan located between the filters and directing air passing through the filters downwardly to the heat exchange device.

Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle having an enclosed operator cab in which the air intake pipe and the exhaust stack are mounted diagonally in line with one of the front corner posts of the cab so that although both the air intake pipe and the exhaust stack are close to the engine, they present a minimum of obstruction to the view of the operator. The portions of the intake pipe and exhaust stack visible to the operator are painted in the same dark color as the cab, in contrast to a lighter color employed on the rest of the vehicle. The vehicle may be provided with a hood which extends inwardly of the intake pipe and exhaust stack and is hinged to the vehicle at the front so that it can be tilted forward. The vehicle may be of the type which is articulated and in which the rear of the cab overhangs the rear section of the vehicle.