Abstract: A modular transmission is provided having a variety of flexible modules. These include very basic speed gearbox and range gearbox modules to which other modules can be added. The other modules can include a front wheel drive module, a supplemental reduction module, and an intermediate module. The intermediate module can include additional ranges and/or a creeper gear. The entire structure is highly flexible, and allows ready construction of a transmission to meet a particular customer's needs out of standard components which can be produced in mass quantities.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for a four wheel drive vehicle is equipped with a planetary gear set for driving the front wheels which can operate in either direct drive or with a speed increase and which is shifted according to the steering angle .beta. sensed at the front pair of wheels. To avoid an excessively high jump in speed during the transition from direct drive to the increased speed mode, the planetary gearset is gradually shifted, i.e., the planetary gear clutch and/or brake are allowed to slip in proportion to the steering angle .beta..

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a support for supporting the load sensing bar of a draft control system. The support includes an L-shaped bracket which is adapted to have one leg attached to a vehicle and the other extending outwardly therefrom. The attached leg has a through opening with a spherical bearing therein through which the load sensing bar passes. A stop is carried on the other end of the outwardly projecting leg to limit bending of the bar. A clip is also carried by the outwardly extending leg and extends to a position where it will prevent the bar from sliding out of the bearing in the attached leg in the event the bar breaks.

Abstract: A vehicle, such as a tractor, has a main change-speed gear with an associated clutch and a load shift gear coupled to a selector rod. The load shift gear can be shifted under load between a normal position and an under-speed position which produces increased tractive effort by reducing the speed by about 20%. This load shift gear can be operated by the same lever as operates the main change speed gear. In order to prevent simultaneous operation of the main gear and the load change gear, with corresponding interference with the synchronization of the main gear, an interlock device is provided. The interlock device includes a bellows which is connected into the hydraulic circuit for the clutch and, when the clutch pedal is depressed, the bellows holds a plunger in interlocking engagement with one of two grooves in the selector rod which is mechanically coupled to the load change gear. In other embodiments, a mechanical linkage between the clutch pedal and the interlock device is provided.

Abstract: A power take-off lever arrangement for a tractor is disclosed which prevents the inadvertent shifting of the PTO lever to an engaged position. The lever arrangement includes a support plate secured to the tractor which has a pin extending outward from it which engages in a slot formed in the manually shiftable lever. Secured to the pin is an arcuate sector which has a recess formed in its arcuate surface. A roller, which is attached to the underside of the lever, will engage the recess when the lever is in a disengaged position and will ride on the arcuate surface when the lever is in an engaged position. The lever arrangement further includes a spring which is attached between the lever and the support plate to urge the roller into the recess when the lever is in the disengaged position.

Abstract: A device detects when both of a pair of selector rods of a transmission are in neutral and actuates a switch part fixed in the top of a housing of the transmission to enable the engine ignition circuit. One of the rods carries a bracket on which is pivotally mounted a lever which has a lower arm which cooperates with a cam track on the other rod. When either selector rod moves in either direction out of neutral, a tip of the lower arm drops into one or the other of two recesses of the cam track and the lever drops. An upper arm of the lever then releases pressure on an operating button of the switch part.