Ford New Holland, Inc.

New Holland North America, Inc.

Stephen J Churchill

Michael E Langford

Bradley A Nielsen

Alvin J Budd

John G Appleton

Michael P Rodgers

Scott Alan Rempe

David G Sokol

James W Macqueene

Shairyl I Pearce

A solenoid operated hydraulic valve for supplying a regulated hydraulic pressure to a load in dependence upon an electrical demand signal applied to the valve. The valve is operable to sense the temperature of the hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve and to determine the current applied to the valve solenoid in dependence upon both the demand signal from a sensor and the sensed temperature such that the regulated pressure supplied to the load is dependent only on the demand signal and is substantially independent of the temperature of the hydraulic fluid.

Solenoid operated hydraulic valve

An electrical switch mechanism for actuating and deactuating a power take-off (PTO) drive connectable to ancillary equipment is disclosed wherein the operating member for the switch mechanism first requires a linear movement and then a rotary movement in order to complete actuation of the switch to render the PTO drive operative. In order to render the PTO drive inoperative quickly, the switch mechanism can be deactuated by striking the operating member, although the PTO drive can be rendered inoperative by reversing the movements of the operating member.

Switch for power take-off controls

A vehicle transmission system having shift lever control of synchronized couplers for selection of ranges of gears and electro-hydraulic powershift clutches for selection of a gear within the selected range is provided with controls for avoiding unexpected speeds or speed changes under certain conditions. On start-up, if the vehicle is stationary, a microprocessor automatically selects which powershift gear is effective, the selection being such that the start-up speed is as nearly uniform as possible within the limits imposed by the positions of the shift levers.

Transmission start-up control

An apparatus fitted with a power take-off (PTO) drive connectable to ancillary equipment and means for actuating and deactuating the PTO drive is disclosed wherein an interlock system includes sensor means for sensing whether the PTO drive is operative and producing an output signal representative thereof, timer means coupled to the actuating and deactuating means and initiated when said means is operated, and means responsive to the sensor output signal and coupled to timer means and operable to produce a deactuating signal if the sensor output signal is of a predetermined nature when the timer times out. The deactuating signal is applied to a selected component of the apparatus to deactuate that component.

Power take-off devices

In a transmission system, a solenoid controlled electro-hydraulically actuated creeper gear coupler permits selection of very low speeds and provision is made to prevent creeper gear engagement/disengagement unless conrolled by the operator and then only if specified conditions exist. Current flow through the solenoid which actuates the creeper gear is monitored at all times to provide a controlled engagement/disengagement of the creeper gear in the event the monitoried conditions are not within prescribed limits. The current is monitored as the creeper solenoid is energized to insure sufficient pull-in current and while it is energized to insure sufficient hold-in current. The solenoid current is also monitored when the solenoid is not energized. Short or open circuit conditions are detected before they can cause an unexpected engagement or disengagement of the creeper gear.

Growing community of inventors

Basildon, United Kingdom

Stephen J Churchill