Caterpillar Tractor Co.

David W Bump

Lowell E Johnson

Sidney J Audiffred

Shairyl I Pearce

Raymond N Erkkila

A control system for a vehicular drive train including a slipping clutch for proportioning power from a prime mover to implements and a primary output shaft of the vehicle including a manual control conditioned by a manual selector to vary engagement of the slipping clutch through a regulating valve in a first mode of vehicle operation and to regulate acceleration of the prime mover in a second mode of vehicle operation. Additional elements of the control system include an adjustable wheel slip sensing mechanism preferably associated with the manual control, a bypass valve associated with the regulating valve and preferably with a hydraulically operable transmission in the drive train for maintaining at least limited engagement of the slipping clutch in order to prevent or limit reverse rotation of components within a torque converter coupled with the slipping clutch and an input valve also associated with the transmission to condition the slipping clutch for receiving a substantial portion of shock loading applied to the drive train.

Growing community of inventors

Morton, IL, United States of America

David W Bump