Foot and hand control for hydrostatic transmission

Claim 1

In a vehicle having a hydrostatic forward/reverse transmission including a Reversible variable displacement pump with a displacement control arm pivotable in opposite directions from a neutral position to forward and reverse positions, a control mechanism comprising: a manually operated forward/reverse control on said vehicle including a hand lever shiftable in opposite directions from a neutral position to forward and reverse positions, detent means releasably retaining said hand lever in its positions of adjustment and a linkage interconnecting said hand lever and said control arm whereby when said hand lever is in its neutral, forward and reverse positions said control arm will be in its neutral, forward and reverse positions, respectively, and an inching control including a foot pedal mounted on said vehicle movable by an operator''s foot from a released position to an operated position, a pivot structure pivotally mounted on said vehicle on an axis parallel to the pivot axis of said control arm, first and second lost motion links pivotably interconnecting said control arm and said pivot structure at points on the latter at opposite sides of its pivot axis, said first lost motion link having relatively extensible and contractible parts and confronting abutments limiting contraction thereof and said second lost motion link having relatively extensible and contractible parts and confronting abutments limiting extension thereof, and motion transmitting means interconnecting said pedal and pivot structure whereby movement of said pedal to its operated position pivots said pivot structure in one direction thereby causing at least one of said lost motion links to force said control arm to its neutral position.