The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 08, 1996
Filed:
Apr. 14, 1994
Daniel E Olson, Manitoba, CA;
New Holland North America, Inc., New Holland, PA (US);
Abstract
In an agricultural tractor having an engine for driving a PTO assembly through a PTO clutch, an interlock circuit includes a microprocessor, a relay and a PTO control switch. The PTO switch controls energization of the engine starter and PTO clutch actuator. The arrangement is such that the engine can be started only when the switch is off and the PTO clutch actuator can be energized only when the switch is on. The microprocessor senses the position of the switch and the speed of the engine and initially energizes the relay to connect battery voltage for energizing the clutch actuator to the switch only when the switch is off and the engine speed is within a predetermined range. When the relay is energized, the clutch actuator may be energized by turning the switch on. If the switch is turned off, the engine speed must be brought back within the predetermined range before the clutch actuator may again be energized.