Deere & Company

Caterpillar Forest Products Inc.

Jay T Hulscher

Duane M Bomleny

Travis L Bunde

Bradley James Watts

Greg D Finnes

Thomas G Teller

David Walter Kmoch

Nick B Johnson

A machine includes a frame having a payload portion, an operator cab, and a crane disposed on a base connected to the frame between the payload portion and the operator cab. The machine further includes a headboard assembly connected to the frame and disposed between the base and the payload portion. A stabilizing pin arrangement includes a floating connection arrangement connecting the headboard assembly to the frame. The floating connection arrangement includes at least two resilient elements, each of the two resilient elements being disposed on either side of a member connected to the headboard assembly.

Stabilizing assembly for a forwarder headboard and method

A headboard assembly connected to a machine frame includes a stationary gate that is pivotally connected to the frame and a moveable gate disposed in slidable engagement with the stationary gate. A linear actuator pivotally connects the moveable gate to the frame via first and second pin joints. The linear actuator selectively extends and retracts the moveable gate relative to the stationary gate when the headboard assembly is in an operating position. The linear actuator is further arranged to selectively tilt the headboard assembly relative to the frame when the headboard assembly is in a service position.

System and method for a forwarder headboard

An agricultural windrower includes a vehicle chassis, a lift frame movably mounted to the vehicle chassis, and a crop harvesting header coupled with the lift frame. The header includes a main frame and an integrated header float system. The header float system has at least one float cylinder coupled with the main frame. The header also includes a suspension which may be selectively mounted to one of a plurality of differently configured types of agricultural harvesters, such as a combine or windrower.

Floating header with integrated float system for use with an agricultural windrower or combine

In an agricultural combine, a header float system using a floating header having a frame, a support member supporting the frame from the ground, and a suspension variably supporting the frame from the combine. The suspension comprises a sub-frame removable attaching to the combine, links movably attaching the frame and the sub-frame, and one or more float cylinders moveably supporting the frame from the sub-frame. A float circuit connects to the float cylinder, and a float valve connects the float circuit to a main hydraulic circuit. A pressure sensor connects to the float circuit, and a controller communicates with the float valve and the pressure sensor. The controller maintains pressure in the float circuit at a target value by continuously reading the pressure sensor and commanding the float valve to add or subtract hydraulic fluid in the float circuit until pressure equals the target value.

Header hydraulic float system

A draper belt tensioning mechanism for a harvesting platform includes a linkage having a bell crank coupled to the belt idler roller to move the idler roller away from the drive roller when the bell crank is rotated to tension the draper belt. A strut coupled to the bell crank and a spring biasing the strut produces the force to tension the belt. The linkage, except for the spring, is enclosed within the belt envelope. A spring gauge is positioned adjacent the spring to readily determine if the spring is compressed to the desired length. In a preferred embodiment, the spring and gauge are located to be visible by a machine operator.

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Waseca, MN, United States of America

Jay T Hulscher