Abstract: A velocity control mechanism is operable to control a vehicle at a maximum forward velocity setting and a maximum rearward velocity setting. The velocity control mechanism includes a processor configured to receive a first signal from an actuator selectively positionable in a velocity control mode in which the vehicle operates at a maximum limited forward velocity less than the maximum forward velocity setting and a maximum limited rearward velocity less than the maximum rearward velocity setting. The first signal represents a desired vehicle forward velocity. The processor also configured to control a velocity of the vehicle in the forward direction based on the first signal and receive a second signal from the actuator. The second signal represents a desired vehicle rearward velocity. The processor further configured to control a velocity of the vehicle in the rearward direction based on the second signal.

Abstract: A velocity control mechanism is operable to control a vehicle at a maximum forward velocity setting and a maximum rearward velocity setting. The velocity control mechanism includes a processor configured to receive a first signal from an actuator selectively positionable in a velocity control mode in which the vehicle operates at a maximum limited forward velocity less than the maximum forward velocity setting and a maximum limited rearward velocity less than the maximum rearward velocity setting. The first signal represents a desired vehicle forward velocity. The processor also configured to control a velocity of the vehicle in the forward direction based on the first signal and receive a second signal from the actuator. The second signal represents a desired vehicle rearward velocity. The processor further configured to control a velocity of the vehicle in the rearward direction based on the second signal.

Abstract: A velocity control mechanism for a vehicle operable to move in a forward direction and a rearward direction. The velocity control mechanism includes an acceleration control mode operable to accelerate the vehicle in one of the forward direction and the rearward direction, a velocity control mode operable to control a velocity of the vehicle in one of the forward and the rearward direction, and an intermediate control mode positioned between the acceleration control mode and the velocity control mode. An actuator is moveable between the acceleration control mode and the velocity control mode and is biased into the intermediate control mode.

Abstract: A velocity control mechanism for a vehicle operable to move in a forward direction and a rearward direction. The velocity control mechanism includes an acceleration control mode operable to accelerate the vehicle in one of the forward direction and the rearward direction, a velocity control mode operable to control a velocity of the vehicle in one of the forward and the rearward direction, and an intermediate control mode positioned between the acceleration control mode and the velocity control mode. An actuator is moveable between the acceleration control mode and the velocity control mode and is biased into the intermediate control mode.

Abstract: A wheel weight assembly mounts to a vehicle wheel disk section. The wheel weight assembly includes an annular starter weight mounted to the wheel disk section. The starter weight has mounting bores extending therethrough and centering taps projecting therefrom. The assembly also includes threaded members, nut members, an outer weight and attaching bolts. The starter weight includes a plurality of depressions. Each depression receives and prevents rotation of a nut member. Each threaded member extends through a corresponding one of the mounting bores and into a corresponding one of the nut members. The outer weight has attaching bores and centering recesses which receives the centering tabs. Each attaching bolt extends through a corresponding one of the attaching bores and is threadably received by a corresponding one of the nut members.

Abstract: A wheel weight assembly mounts to a vehicle wheel disk section. The wheel weight assembly includes an annular starter weight mounted to the wheel disk section. The starter weight has mounting bores extending therethrough and centering taps projecting therefrom. The assembly also includes threaded members, nut members, an outer weight and attaching bolts. The starter weight includes a plurality of depressions. Each depression receives and prevents rotation of a nut member. Each threaded member extends through a corresponding one of the mounting bores and into a corresponding one of the nut members. The outer weight has attaching bores and centering recesses which receives the centering tabs. Each attaching bolt extends through a corresponding one of the attaching bores and is threadably received by a corresponding one of the nut members.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for use in a control system, such as a steering control system, for validating quadrature signals. A system makes a determination of validity based on the timing of detected state changes in the quadrature signals. To accomplish this, the amount of time that elapses between successive transitions is compared to the amount of time that elapses in an adjacent time period. If the two time periods are close enough, the signals are considered valid.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for use in a control system, such as a steering control system, for validating quadrature signals. A system makes a determination of validity based on the timing of detected state changes in the quadrature signals. To accomplish this, the amount of time that elapses between successive transitions is compared to the amount of time that elapses in an adjacent time period. If the two time periods are close enough, the signals are considered valid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining plant population, plant spacing, plant spacing variability, and other information regarding row-planted crops. The apparatus senses the presence of a plant. The sensing can be adjusted to ignore such things as leaves, weeds, or other irrelevant items. The apparatus also concurrently measures the distance between each sensed plant. The information regarding location and distance between plants is used to derive plant population and plant spacing data. The method senses the location and distance between plants for a given area to derive the population and spacing data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining plant population, plant spacing, plant spacing variability, and other information regarding row-planted crops. The apparatus senses the presence of a plant. The sensing can be adjusted to ignore such things as leaves, weeds, or other irrelevant items. The apparatus also concurrently measures the distance between each sensed plant. The information regarding location and distance between plants is used to derive plant population and plant spacing data. The method senses the location and distance between plants for a given area to derive the population and spacing data.

Abstract: A lever assembly includes a lever pivotally coupled to a housing for movement in a fore-and-aft direction and in a transverse direction. A guide plate is fixed to an end of the housing and has a guide slot which receives the lever. The guide slot has a fore-and-aft extending main slot. The guide slot also has first, second and third fore-and-aft extending sub-slots spaced apart from the main slot. Each of the sub-slots is connected with the main slot by a transverse extending connecting slot. A sector member is pivotally mounted between the housing and the lever. A first magnet is mounted on the lever. A second magnet is mounted on the sector member. Hall effect sensors are mounted on the housing. The sector member, the magnets and the Hall effect sensors cooperate so that signals are generated representing the position of the lever within the guide slot. A lever return spring is biased to urge the lever towards an aft end of the main slot.

Abstract: A control switch assembly includes a housing having a base with an opening and a pair of side walls on opposite sides of the opening. An actuator member is rotatably mounted in the opening and has a body which forms a pocket. The pocket is open at one end and has a partially cylindrical bottom surface. A lever includes a body at least partially received by the pocket, an arm projecting from the body and an abutment surface. The body has a slot extending therethrough parallel to the pivot pin. The slot is elongated along an plane which is perpendicular to the pivot pin axis so that the pivot pin is slidably and rotatably received by the slot. The lever is slidable with respect to the pivot pin from a raised position wherein the body of the lever is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the pocket to a depressed position wherein the body of the lever engages the bottom surface of the pocket. A pair of springs are biassed to urge the lever to its raised position.

Abstract: A lever assembly includes a housing having a pivot slot formed in one end thereof. A lever has a pivot pin slidably and pivotally received in the slot and is pivotal from a centered position to displaced positions. An end of the lever carries a roller. The pivot slot is elongated in a direction which is tilted at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the lever when the lever is in its centered position. A lever spring is biassed to urge the lever to its centered position. The housing also forms a stop which is engagable with the lever to prevent pivoting of the lever into a first displaced position unless the pivot pin slides within the slot and towards the stop. The housing also forms a detent device which engages the roller and releasably holds the lever in a displaced position. Portions of the housing integrally form the stop and the detent device. The detent device is formed in part by a movable member which projects from a central portion of the housing.

Abstract: A tilt steering wheel assembly includes a bracket member which supports an upper part of a steering column for pivotal movement about a pivot axis. A sector member has a set of adjustment teeth on one side and a pair of spaced apart detent recesses on the other side. A manually operable pawl member pivots with the bracket member, is slidable towards and away from the sector member has a teeth which are engageable and disengageable with the sector member teeth to releasably hold the bracket member and steering column upper part in a plurality of fine adjustment positions. A manually operable rod is movable towards and away from the sector member and is engageable and disengageable with the detent recesses to allow the sector member's, pawl, bracket member and steering column upper part to pivot together as a unit to a limit position and back to the particular position they occupied just before they were moved to the limit position.

Abstract: A hitch control system includes various sensors, an operator command lever, a spring-centered three position raise/lower switch, a control unit which generates control signals as a function thereof and an actuator which moves the hitch in response to the control signals. The control system permits the operator to move the hitch to a working position via manipulation of the command and a single manipulation of the raise/lower switch. The control system ignores switch manipulation unless the manipulation persists for at least a certain time period, or if the switch is manipulated in a different manner within a certain time of the earlier manipulation. In a failure mode the control system permits the hitch to be moved to a working position via manipulation of the raise/lower switch when the command lever cannot be so used.

Abstract: Two flat radiators are arranged in a V, with a gap at the base of the V. The ends of the radiators preferably are closed off to form a plenum chamber between the radiators. A fan, preferably of the transverse flow type, is provided at the top of the radiators to pressurize the plenum chamber, which causes air to pass out through the radiator cores. The fan also directs air from the top of the V towards the gap so that debris is directed out the gap. The radiators may have a significantly higher fin density than in the conventional radiator since debris need not pass through the radiator cores. In an alternative embodiment, four radiators are arranged in a nested double V, with a gap at the base of the outermost V. Two fans, again preferably of the transverse flow type, are provided to direct air into the top of the V. Operation is similar to the single V structure, except that in low cooling requirement conditions, one of the fans may be turned off.

Abstract: A heat exchange tube retainer includes a substantially flat base from one side of which project two tube-gripping parts. One part has a tube-receiving opening which opens away from the base. The other part has a tube-receiving opening which opens away from the one part.

Abstract: A pivot pin assembly is disclosed which eliminates the need for a high pre-load torque to be applied in order to fix a friction-reducing element relative to the pivot pin. The pivot pin assembly includes a pivot pin having a shoulder formed on a central cylindrical portion thereof which is received in the bores of a forked member and in the bore of an intermediate member located therebetween. The pivot pin, has a conical surface at one end and is held fast in the bore of the other forked member by a collet which also has a tapered surface. The tapered surfaces of both the pin and the collet are mateable with the surfaces of the bores in the forked members as the collet is physically bolted to the pivot pin.