Patent ID: 7163227

Claim:
In combination: an adjustable track width vehicle; said vehicle including a chassis having front and rear ends, and opposite sides; a front axle assembly at the front end of said chassis; a rear axle assembly at the rear end of said chassis; each of said front and rear axle assemblies being selectively extendable in a longitudinal direction between a first and second position; each of said front and rear axle assemblies including a tubular axle housing having a pair of telescoping axle members mounted therein with each of said axle members having a hydraulic cylinder connected thereto for moving the associated axle member with respect to the respective axle housing to adjust the track width of the vehicle; each of said axle members having a wheel connected thereto; each of said hydraulic cylinders including a cylinder having a piston slidably mounted therein and a piston rod secured to said piston which slidably extends from said cylinder; each of said hydraulic cylinders having a piston rod position sensor associated therewith; each of said piston rod position sensors being connected to a piston rod position display panel on the vehicle; each of said piston rod position sensors comprising an elongated housing having a sensor slide longitudinally movably mounted therein; said elongated housing being fixed with respect to the respective cylinder; said sensor slide being secured to the respective piston rod for movement therewith; said elongated housing having a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart, normally open proximity switches positioned therein; said sensor slide having a magnet affixed thereto which is adapted to sequentially close said switches as said sensor slide moves with said piston rod relative to the respective cylinder; each of said switches being electrically connected to a visual indicator on the piston rod position display.