Case Corporation

Richard A Hardesty

Daniel K Schlegel

Timothy G Ulschmid

Herb M Farley

Herb Max Farley

A work vehicle including a hitch assembly having a mechanism mounted thereon, with a warning device connected to the mechanism. The warning device comprises a status indicator operatively associated with the mechanism indicates the status of the mechanism by being displayed when the mechanism is in a first condition and not displayed when the mechanism is in a second condition. The warning device of the present invention displays the status indicator when the mechanism is in the unlocked condition and in an offset position. The status indicator of the present invention is not displayed when the mechanism is in the locked condition. As such, the present invention provides a method to actively warn the operator of the work vehicle of the status of the hitch without the operator having to inspect the hitch or dismounting from the cab of the work vehicle.

Warning device and method

An access ladder assembly for an agricultural machine having a body with an elevated operator's station. The ladder assembly includes a ladder that is mounted to the frame of the machine by a pivot mechanism that allows the ladder to be moved in either rotational direction about both a generally horizontal axis and a generally vertical axis. A locking mechanism releasably holds the ladder in an angularly adjusted position about both of these axes. A release mechanism conveniently located relative to the operator's station controls operation of the locking mechanism. The ladder assembly further includes rail structure carried by the ladder and movable about a generally vertical axis to either of two adjusted positions.

Access ladder assembly for an off-highway machine

The present invention concerns a self-aligning coupling structure for releasably connecting a rear end of a feeder assembly to a frame of an agricultural harvester such as a combine and the like. The self-aligning coupling structure includes a pair of releasable couplings laterally spaced from each other on opposite sides of the feeder assembly and combine frame. Each releasable coupling includes first and second apertured coupling elements. One of the apertured coupling elements is provided on and extends from the combine frame while the other apertured coupling element is provided on and extends from a housing of the feeder assembly. The coupling elements each have complementary guide surfaces provided thereon. When the feeder assembly is to be coupled to the combine frame, the guide surfaces on the respective coupling elements of each releasable coupling cooperate with each other to self-align both horizontally and vertically the apertures in the coupling elements relative to each other thereby facilitating the passage of a pivot pin through the aligned apertures so as to releasably connect the feeder assembly to the combine frame for pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot pins.

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Franksville, WI, United States of America

Richard A Hardesty