Abstract: A vehicle includes a variable speed hydrostatic transmission which drives through a gear transmission, having selectable gear ratios, to provide propulsion power to a pair of drive wheels. The hydrostatic transmission is used as a brake to supplement the braking ability of the vehicle. The gear transmission is provided with a positioning plate which is mounted for pivoting between respective positions corresponding to different transmission gear ratios in response to a gear shift lever being moved between corresponding positions. Provided for ensuring that the gear transmission is not shifted to neutral while the vehicle is in motion, and the consequent loss of the ability of the hydrostatic transmission to provide braking, is a blocking arrangement, including a vehicle motion responsive sensor, that operates to prevent the movement of the positioning plate, so long as the vehicle is in motion.

Abstract: A harvesting machine with a slope equalizing arrangement having a gearbox housing that is pivotally mounted to a pivot bearing. The gearbox housing having a sleeve that is pivotally received in a bushing formed in the pivot bearing. The gearbox housing is also provided with a mandrel to which is coupled one end of a hydraulic cylinder. The other end of the hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the pivot bearing. The gearbox housing has first and second parts. The first and second parts (66, 68) are assembled at a vertical interface surface that extends in the direction of travel. The mandrel being mounted to the second part.

Abstract: A vehicle (10) intended for operation on level ground is equipped with a chassis (22) and a wheel carrier (50) on which a wheel (12) is supported. In order to operate the vehicle (10) on an incline, a pivoting arrangement (44) is inserted between the wheel carrier (50) and the chassis (22). The pivoting arrangement comprises a mount (52), a pivot arm (54) mounted therein and an actuating arrangement (56) to move the pivot arm (54). The attachment points on the chassis (22) or on a support (46) spaced at a distance thereto and on the wheel carrier (50) are configured in such a way that the wheel carrier (50) can be directly attached to the chassis (22) or to the pivoting arrangement (44).

Abstract: A change speed gearbox for a combine or the like has a main clutch on its input shaft and a shift collar shiftable into alternate positions from a neutral position to establish different driving ratios in the gearbox. An electro-magnetic brake is engageable with the input shaft and is actuated only when the shift collar is in its neutral position and the clutch is disengaged. The brake circuit includes a relay switch that automatically opens a predetermined time after it closes, so that power is supplied to the brake only for a limited period when the clutch is disengaged and the gearbox is in neutral.