Abstract: A weight distributing hitch for towing a trailer behind a vehicle includes a hitch bar for mounting to the vehicle and a ball mount head for mounting on the hitch bar at a selected tilt angle. A pair of spring bars are mounted to the ball mount head. These spring bars distribute the weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle. Each spring bar is substantially L-shaped and includes a turned groove at a proximal end received in a cooperating aperture in the ball mount head. A retainer of spring steel engages in the grooves to hold the spring bars in position. The relative tilt angle of the ball mount head is adjusted by means of an eccentric angle adjusting element in the form of a washer. This washer is fixed to one of the ball mount head or hitch bar and includes a cam surface for engaging the other of the two elements. A method of adjusting the tilt angle is also provided.

Abstract: A vehicle transmission characterized by having a low profile, and a plurality of forward and reverse speeds. The transmission includes a plurality of shafts inclusive of an input shaft, an output shaft, a counter shaft and a plurality of gear shafts. The shafts are rotatably mounted in the transmission casing in a generally triangular transverse cross-sectional configuration. These are in selective gear communication. Selective gear communication is provided in part by hydraulic fluid responsive clutches selectively ported through the casing from a casing manifold.

Abstract: A vehicle frame comprising a forward section adapted to contain an engine and a rear section adapted to contain a steering drive mechanism ahead of and in communication with a transmission, the rear section is formed by a forward wall, top and bottom walls, and opposing sidewalls, and a detachably mounted rear cover to define a housing. The transmission is supported by and slidable along mounting rods, the mounting rods being fixably mounted forwardly in the housing in a cantilevered fashion. The transmission is further mounted detachably to rearwardly located mounting wall within the housing. The transmission communicates with a forwardly located steering drive mechanism in the housing.

Abstract: Right- and left-hand steering clutch and brake control valves each include a valve plunger, brake control spool and clutch control spool arranged in serial order in a valve bore with coil compression springs being interposed between the plunger and brake control spool, between the brake and clutch control spools and between the clutch control spool and an end of the bore. The reacting force on the control spools is a spring and constant hydraulic force while the applied force is by way of springs and hydraulic function pressure.

Abstract: An external band brake control linkage includes a pair of anchor pins which are respectively connected to the opposite ends of a brake band. The linkage being operable between a normal released condition holding the anchor pins spaced apart so as to maintain the band disengaged from the brake drum and an operative condition wherein the anchor pins are moved together from the position they occupy when the linkage is in its released condition wherein the brake band is engaged with the brake drum. For the purpose of compensating brake band wear, the control linkage includes a link having a ratchet wheel-type adjusting nut threaded on a rod-like link thereof, the adjusting nut being advanced so as to change the spacing between the anchor pins. A paw or an adjusting nut operating lever is carried by a link of the control linkage and is operative in response to the link undergoing a predetermined movement, corresponding to brake band wear, to index the adjusting nut so as to compensate for wear.

Abstract: A hydrostatic pump unit is located within a housing which serves also as a hydraulic fluid sump. A displacement control valve for controlling actuators for adjusting the angular position of a swashplate of the pump unit is mounted on the exterior of the housing. Disposed along the axis about which the swashplate is adjustable and joining the swashplate to a shiftable sleeve of the control valve is a feedback shaft which acts to return the valve to a null condition when the swashplate arrives at a commanded new displacement effecting position. The feedback shaft has a passage extending therethrough which acts as a drain connection between the valve and the sump defined by the housing. A check valve is located in the passage for preventing fluid from draining from the housing when the valve is disconnected from the feedback shaft for service.

Abstract: A hydrostatic pump unit is located within a housing which serves also as a hydraulic fluid sump. A displacement control valve for controlling actuators for adjusting the angular position of a swashplate of the pump unit is mounted on the exterior of the housing. Disposed along the axis about which the swashplate is adjustable and joining the swashplate to a shiftable sleeve of the control valve is a feedback shaft which acts to return the valve to a null condition when the swashplate arrives at a commanded new displacement effecting position. The feedback shaft has a passage extending therethrough which acts as a drain connection between the valve and the sump defined by the housing. A check valve is located in the passage for preventing fluid from draining from the housing when the valve is disconnected from the feedback shaft for service.