Caterpillar Inc.

Jay A Tschetter

John F Szentes

Thomas M Baker

Bradley Joseph Shaffer

Jay C Rene

Michael Furlong

An arrangement and method for connecting a fluid passing conduit to a supporting housing having a conduit receiving bore has a strap assembly disposed about an end portion of the fluid passing conduit and a torque restraining bracket. A plurality of fasteners removably connect spaced end portions of the torque restraining bracket and the strap assembly together and secure the torque restraining bracket to the fluid passing conduit. A fastener connects a middle portion of the restraining bracket to the supporting member and maintains the fluid passing conduit from axial and rotary movement. A sealing member seals between the fluid passing conduit and the supporting member. A pilot ring concentrically pilots the conduit end portion relative to the bore.

Conduit connecting arrangement and method

In one aspect of the present invention, a joystick is disclosed. The joystick includes a control shaft having an operator handle and a base. A cardan joint is provided to pivotally mount the control shaft to the base. An actuating body is rigidly attached to the control shaft. Advantageously, a plurality of electrically non-contacting sensors is provided to sense the relative position of the shaft relative to the base. The sensors include a pair of spaced apart electrodes establishing an electrostatic capacity with each other, and a dielectric body being disposed between the electrode pair. Accordingly, as the control shaft pivots, the actuating body engages the dielectric body which moves the dielectric body relative to the electrode pair thereby modifying the capacitance of the sensor.

Growing community of inventors

Chanhassen, MN, United States of America

Jay A Tschetter