Abstract: A paving machine for spreading, leveling and finishing concrete having a main frame, center module, bolsters laterally movably, and a crawler track associated with respective aft and forward ends of the bolsters. A bolster swing leg for each crawler track supports an upright jacking column. A worm gear drive permits rotational movements of the crawler track and the jacking column. A hinge bracket is interposed between each swing leg and a surface of the bolsters to enable pivotal movements of the swing leg. A length-adjustable holder engages the pivot pin on the hinge bracket and pivotally engages the swing leg. The holder permits pivotal motions of the swing leg in its length-adjustable configuration and prevents substantially any motion of the swing leg in its fixed-length configuration. A feedback loop cooperates with transducers keeping the crawler tracks position. The paving machine can be reconfigured into a narrowed transport configuration.

Abstract: A paving machine for spreading, leveling and finishing concrete having a main frame, center module, bolsters laterally movably, and a crawler track associated with respective aft and forward ends of the bolsters. A bolster swing leg for each crawler track supports an upright jacking column. A worm gear drive permits rotational movements of the crawler track and the jacking column. A hinge bracket is interposed between each swing leg and a surface of the bolsters to enable pivotal movements of the swing leg. A length-adjustable holder engages the pivot pin on the hinge bracket and pivotally engages the swing leg. The holder permits pivotal motions of the swing leg in its length-adjustable configuration and prevents substantially any motion of the swing leg in its fixed-length configuration. A feedback loop cooperates with transducers keeping the crawler tracks position. The paving machine can be reconfigured into a narrowed transport configuration.

Abstract: A machine for distributing a material through a working unit along a ground surface in a direction established by an external reference includes front and rear devices for moving the machine along the ground surface, a steering control unit that functions to controlling the steering of the front and rear devices and, mounted along one side, first, second, and third steering sensors. The first, second and third steering sensors generate output signals indicative of their position with respect to the external reference. A processor unit utilizes the output signals generated by the first, second, and third steering sensors in a predetermined manner to cause the steering control unit to direct the machine generally in the direction established by the external reference.

Abstract: A temperature sender has a spring biased thermistor located in a temperature probe housing; the housing is adapted to be connected to a female connector cover defining a receptacle for a mating connector; a multiple segment flat element terminal is molded in-situ of the cover and one of the terminal segments is located in the temperature probe housing and has connector means thereon which connect to and align a biasing spring with respect to the thermistor; two of the multiple segments are located in the receptacle with one of them serving the dual function of indexing the mating connector to the female connector cover and defining a probe point for testing electrical continuity between the terminal and thermistor and the second one of the other segments serving to electrically connect the mating connector to the thermistor to complete a sender circuit.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a plug connector body which has a pair of female terminals and a U-shaped, sheet metal shorting clip. The shorting clip is retained in an intermediate cavity and has a pair of cantilevered spring contact arms which engage respective side walls of the female terminals. A mating electrical connector comprises a socket connector body which has a cam which engages one of the spring contact arms of the shorting clip and disengages the shorting clip form the side wall of one female terminal when the socket connector body is connected to the plug connector body. A loose piece shroud which is attached to the plug connector body has a lock arm which engages a lock member of the socket connector body to lock the mated plug and socket connector bodies together.