Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Caterpillar Inc.

Craig W Riediger

David M Fee

Gerald P Simmons

Alan R Coutant

James Elmer Winzeler

James E Gee

Edward J Ohms

Ervin E Mangus

James G Starling

Leslie C Morris

Alvin L Kuhfuss, Jr

George F Alexander

Jeffery W Menke

Jay J Wait

Anthony J Knock

The invention relates to a prelubrication system for an engine. It is desirable to prelubricate relatively large engines to prevent possible damage of certain components such as the crankshaft and camshaft bearings. Engines that must be started in a matter of seconds are provided with prelube pumps that run continually. During long periods of continuous prelube lubrication fluid being pumped upward into the upper rocker arm area may find its way into combustion chambers and result in damage of engine components. The present system provides a fluid level control device that prevents lubrication fluid from reaching the upper rocker arm area of the engine when the engine is not running and disables the control device when the engine is running allowing the supply of lubricant to reach the upper rocker arm area. The system further allows the engine to be started when it is sensed that there is a sufficient supply of fluid in critical areas of the engine and prevents the engine from being started if the supply of fluid is insufficient.

Engine lubrication system

In order to more easily control movement of a vehicle such as a tractor, an operator's left hand can twist a directional actuating member or a juxtaposed speed actuating member about an outstanding axis. These actuating members are rotatably mounted on a tiller arm extending radially from a housing assembly so that the operator can simultaneously use the actuating members and steer the vehicle by pushing or pulling the tiller arm and rotating the housing assembly in the desired direction about an upstanding axis. Push-pull controls are associated with each actuating member and protected within the housing assembly. A bearing assembly guidably supports and permits relative angular movement of each of the push-pull controls to prevent twisting thereof when the housing assembly is rotated.

Control mechanism for operating a vehicle

A control mechanism for operating a vehicle has a housing assembly mounted for swinging movement about an upstanding axis, and a brake actuating member is mounted on the housing assembly for swinging movement about a second axis. A push-pull control rod assembly is connected to the brake actuating member and depends within the housing assembly to move a brake control element between brake-off and brake-on positions. A transmission actuating member is mounted on the housing assembly and a coupling apparatus is provided for urging the transmission actuating member to a neutral position when the brake actuating member is moved to the brake-on position. This prevents inadvertent movement of the vehicle when the brake actuating member is subsequently placed in the brake-off position.

Control mechanism for applying a brake and neutralizing a transmission

A vehicle boom lock is disclosed for holding a boom assembly in a retracted transport position on an implement carrying swing frame. The boom lock includes a slotted coupling joint on the swing frame, and a deflectable cable assembly which extends cantileverably from the boom assembly for automatically interlockingly engaging the slotted coupling joint in response to pivotal movement of the boom assembly to the retracted position. A release mechanism can be manually manipulated from an operator station to conveniently disengage the cable assembly from the slotted coupling joint.

Vehicle boom lock

A control mechanism (14) associated with a tractor operators seat (110) and an arm rest (112) is disclosed which includes a steering selector apparatus (116) having an upstanding member (134) and a tiller arm (118) extending outwardly therefrom. The tiller arm (118) is advantageously located immediately forwardly of the arm rest (112) and has a mounting portion (142) and hand grip portion (144) that can be easily grasped by an operator's downwardly facing hand palm. A support assembly (136) pivotally supports the upstanding member (134) for movement about a fixed upstanding axis (140) and a control device (46,50,52,54,184) steers the tractor in response to the swinging movement of the tiller arm (118). In response to rotation of the hand grip portion (144) about the axis (158) of the tiller arm (118) a second control device (38,42,174) effects a change in the gear condition of an associated transmission (36).

Control mechanism for operating a tractor

Planetary steering differential

PCT No. PCT/US79/00158 Sec. 371 Date Mar. 16, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date Mar. 16, 1979 PCT Filed Mar. 16, 1979 PCT Pub. No. WO80/01894 PCT Pub. Date Sept. 18, 1980 A vehicle component (10) is removably mounted on a stationary support (11) thereof. A pair of rollers (17,17a) rotatably mounted on the component (10) each engages a rail (18,18a) secured on the support (11) to thus precisely guide movements of the component (10) upon installation or removal thereof. The apparatus of this invention provide for the expeditious and precise handling of the component (10), compensate for avoidance of interference with structural parts of the vehicle during such handling, and are adapted for use with components, such as modular transmission packages having varied designs.

Apparatus for installing vehicle components

The steering system comprises at least one double-acting fluid cylinder, a directional control valve connected to the cylinder for alternately extending and retracting the cylinder and a hand metering unit for communicating a fluid steering signal to the directional control valve whereby an engine-driven pump is adapted to communicate pressurized fluid to the cylinder for steering purposes. A variable flow control valve is interconnected between the pump and the hand metering unit for communicating a variable fluid flow to the hand metering unit in proportion to the speed of the pump to vary the fluid steering signal whereby an operator can sense the speed of the pump. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the variable flow control valve comprises a pair of spring-biased, reciprocal members which sense a differential pressure across the valve to control fluid flow through an outlet which is adapted to be connected to the hand metering unit.

Variable flow control valve for steering systems of articulated vehicles

A scraper (10) has a bowl (12) and floor (14) and is of a construction sufficient for receiving an auger (18). Material entering the bowl (12) is sometimes lodged between the auger (18) and floor (14). Apparatus (24) is provided for diverting incoming material and preventing the lodging of material between the auger (18) and floor (14).

Material diverting apparatus for an auger scraper

A control system, for a rotating clutch having a rotating housing with a cavity adapted to axially slidably receive a clutch actuating piston therein and defining a clutch actuating chamber therebetween, includes a source of fluid, a control valve for infinitely variably supplying the fluid through a path in the housing to the actuating chamber so that the actuating piston is biased in a direction to engage the clutch, a plurality of passages in the housing disposed in fluid communication with the actuating chamber and the path, and including a fluid exhaust passage connecting therewith, and a differentially sensitive centrifugal valve slidably disposed in the passages for relieving fluid from the actuating chamber to the exhaust passage in response to centrifugal force and to fluid pressure in the actuating chamber, and in opposition to fluid pressure in the path in a differential area ratio responsive manner.

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Pekin, IL, United States of America

Craig W Riediger