Caterpillar Inc.

Shane W Kiger

Kenneth J McGuire

John S Bibb

Automatic and simultaneous retraction of a pair of stabilizer legs for a backhoe loader machine is beneficial for the operator (not shown). Instead of retracting the stabilizer legs by manually holding a pair of control levers continuously in a retract position, the operator (not shown) may simply move the control levers to an auto-retract position. The movement of the control levers in such a manner activates a control switch in connection with each of the control levers. The control switches, in turn, activate a timer relay that activates a solenoid detent operative with each control lever. Once the solenoid detents are in an activated state, the operator (not shown) may relinquish contact with the control levers. The solenoid detents will retain the control levers in the auto-retract position via electro-magnetic forces. The timer relay controls the solenoid detents so that the control levers are retained in the auto-retract position for a preselected time to fully retract the stabilizer legs from any one of a plurality of extended positions.

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Kernersville, NC, United States of America

Shane W Kiger