Abstract: A throttle holding device is disclosed that allows an operator to hold open the throttle of the vehicle when the vehicle is not being driven. This increases the amount of available heat to the heating system of the vehicle cab and will allow the vehicle cab to be more quickly and efficiently heated. The throttle hold device of the present invention acts in conjunction with the parking brake and is actuated upon engagement of the parking brake through a pneumatic circuit. Upon actuation a piston is moved against a spring bias and causes the throttle cord of the vehicle to further open the throttle thus raising the idle speed of the vehicle. A shut-off switch is included on the pneumatic circuit to disconnect the system should the operator not desire that the higher idle be obtained. The shut-off switch is particularly useful in the summer months or whenever it is more important to conserve gasoline than to adequately heat the vehicle cab.

Abstract: A lock holds together two masts of a multi-stage forklift truck. A spring-loaded bolt carried by the inner mast is forced into an opening in the outer mast when the carriage is lowered to a position lower than the lowest edge of the inner mast. With the lock engaged the carriage may be raised from its lowest position without forcing the inner mast to rise from its lowest position. Once the carriage has been raised to clear the lower edge of the adjacent mast, the two masts are then unlatched. The latching mechanism allows the amount of travel of a carriage relative to the adjacent mast to be extended without movement of the adjacent mast.

Abstract: A combined foot brake and parking brake mechanism is disclosed which is particularly useful for machines having a hydrostatic transmission, such as a tractor. The combined brake mechanism includes a foot brake for normal braking operation and a parking brake mechanism which is connected to the foot brake. The parking brake mechanism is also functionally connected to the transmission shift arm such that the parking brake cannot be engaged unless the transmission shift arm is in its neutral position, and the parking brake must be released before the hydrostatic transmission can be actuated by the shift arm from neutral into forward or reverse. The parking brake mechanism includes a pivotal lock arm assembly that may be selectively pivoted into locking engagement with the transmission shift arm when the shift arm is in its neutral position only. The lock arm assembly is pivoted at one end by a control lever assembly which has two detent positions.

Abstract: An articulated vehicle having two frame sections interconnected for pivotal movement about a vertical axis as well as a longitudinal axis is disclosed herein. The joint between the two frame sections includes upper and lower spaced pivotal connections between the two frame sections which define a vertical pivot axis and one of the pivotal connections is movable along a plane extending transversely of the frame sections to accommodate pivotal movement of the frame sections about a longitudinal axis.