Column mounted forward/reverse shuttle control

A agricultural tractor comprising:

• a frame supported above the ground by ground engaging wheels;
• an engine supported on said frame to provide operative power for said tractor, said engine being operatively connected to a drive train including a transmission movable between a forward operating configuration and a reverse operating configuration, said transmission having a selection lever to effect the movement of said transmission between said forward and reverse operating configurations;
• a steering column associated with said ground engaging wheels to control the orientation thereof to steer said tractor during motion thereof, said steering column defining a generally upright axis;
• and
• a gear change mechanism mounted on said steering column and being operatively connected to said transmission selection lever for remotely operating the selection lever of the gearbox, said gear change mechanism including:
• a collar mounted for rotation about the axis of the steering column between a forward position corresponding to said forward operating configuration of said transmission and a reverse position corresponding to said reverse operating configuration of said transmission;
• a first bevel gear fast in rotation with the collar;
• a second bevel gear meshing with the first bevel gear and mounted for rotation about a fixed axis extending generally radially from the steering column;
• a crank arm connected for rotation with the second bevel gear;
• and
• a flexible cable connecting the crank arm to the selection lever of the gearbox, the cable enabling an end of the selection lever to be pulled and pushed by rotation of the collar about the steering column.

A control mechanism for a forward/reverse shuttle mechanism on a tractor having an engine operatively connected to a drive train including a transmission movable between a forward operating configuration and a reverse operating configuration, said transmission having a selection lever to effect the movement of said transmission between said forward and reverse operating configurations;

• and a steering column defining a generally upright axis and including a control lever that extends generally radially from said steering column, comprising:
• a collar mounted for rotation about the axis of the steering column between a forward position corresponding to said forward operating configuration of said transmission and a reverse position corresponding to said reverse operating configuration of said transmission, said control lever being mounted on said collar for pivotal movement in a plane containing said axis of said steering column;
• a first bevel gear fast in rotation with the collar;
• a second bevel gear meshing with the first bevel gear and mounted for rotation about a fixed axis extending generally radially from the steering column;
• a crank arm connected for rotation with the second bevel gear;
• and
• a flexible cable connecting the crank arm to the selection lever of the gearbox, the cable enabling an end of the selection lever to be pulled and pushed by rotation of the collar about the steering column.