Sperry Corporation

Sperry Rand Corporation

New Holland Inc.

Lawrence M Halls

Irwin D McIlwain

Edward J Wynn

Earl E Koch

Glenn A Musser

Horace G McCarty

A header height/lateral float control mechanism for a crop harvesting header mounted on a combine base unit for movement in a generally vertical direction and for rotational movement in a generally vertical plane to permit the header to follow changes in the ground contour is disclosed wherein a height sensor bar is rotatably supported along substantially the entire transverse width of the header and first and second tilt sensors are mounted adjacent the transversely spaced header sidewalls. The control mechanism is operatively associated with the tilt sensors and the height sensor such that the header lift mechanism is operated whenever the height sensor is actuated and the mechanism for rotatably tilting the header can be actuated only when the tilt sensors indicate different relative ground changes. The control mechanism further includes electrically actuated switches that are interconnected to prevent actuation of the header tilt mechanism whenever both tilt sensors register identical ground contour changes.

Header height/lateral float control for combine header

A mechanism for controlling the attitude of a crop harvesting header mounted on a combine base unit for movement in a generally vertical direction and for rotational movement in a generally vertical plane to permit the header to follow changes in the ground contour is disclosed wherein a sensor bar is mounted on each respective side of the center line of the header to sense the location of the ground with respect to the corresponding end of the header. The header is provided with hydraulic lift cylinders and tilt cylinders to operably move the header vertically or rotationally. The control mechanism operably interconnects the sensor bars and the lift and tilt cylinders to effect movement of the header in response to a predetermined pattern of movement of the sensor bars.

Combine header attitude control mechanism

A crop harvesting header, attachable to a combine to sever standing crop and intiate the crop harvesting process, is disclosed wherein both the cutterbar and the floor of the header are somewhat flexibly constructed to follow the contour of the ground and harvest low growing crops. A counterbalancing force for the cutterbar is provided by leaf spring members spaced along the width of the header. These leaf spring members are connected to a lower portion of the header in such a manner as to enable the amount of countebalancing force supplied to the cutterbar to be variable by changing the number of leaf spring members exerting a counterbalancing force, either by increasing the number of locations that the leaf spring members are connected to the header frame or by increasing the number of leaf spring members at each location. Attachment ribs pivotally interconnecting the cutterbar and the header frame provide stability against side-to-side movements by the cutterbar relative to the header frame without subjecting the leaf spring members to such forces and without requiring extra frame members to prevent the side-to-side movements of the cutterbar.

Flexible crop harvesting header

A basic frame for a crop harvesting header which is attachable to a combine to sever standing crop and initiate the crop harvesting process is disclosed wherein the same frame can be utilized in the construction of both rigid and flexible headers. A connection member is provided for each attachment rib interconnecting the frame and the cutterbar, such that the attachment rib can be either pivotally connected to the frame to provide a flexible header or rigidly attached to the frame to provide a rigid header. Each connection member permits a rigidly attached rib to be vertically positionally adjusted to provide proper alignment of the cutterbar across the entire width of the header. The header frame includes a hat-shaped member corresponding to each of the connection members within which the attachment ribs can be nested.

Frame for crop harvesting header

An infinite adjustment mechanism for a harvesting machine on which a hydraulic cylinder is utilized to raise and lower the reel relative to the ground is disclosed wherein the hydraulic cylinder is connected to a link pivotally mounted on the frame of the crop harvesting header and is adjustably positionable by a draw bolt. This hydraulic cylinder mounting linkage allows the minimum reel height, relative to the cutterbar, to be easily adjusted with simple, ordinary tools in an infinite number of positions within the limits imposed by the lengths of the draw bolt and the pivoting link.

Infinite reel height adjustment

A wear strip for a reciprocating cutterbar on a crop harvesting machine is disclosed wherein the wear strip projects upwardly and forwardly from the cutterbar support bar to a position above the rear edge of the knives. This wear strip operates to hold the rear edge of the knives downwardly against the support ridge on the knife guards. This wear strip is also operable to prevent severed crop material from passing between the knife guard and the support bar of the cutterbar and, therefore, being lost from the harvesting machine. The structural shape of the disclosed wear strip also helps retard the passage of severed crop material forwardly over the front of the cutterbar.

Cutterbar wear strip

A crop harvesting machine is disclosed wherein a crop engaging reel is mounted forwardly of a disc-type cutterbar so as to pick up downed crop material and to pull it rearwardly over the cutterbar toward a crop conditioner. The cutterbar includes a plurality of bottom driven rotary disc cutter units and an individually removable arcuate shield over each disc cutter unit partially forming a floor to aid the reel in conveying the severed crop material to the crop conditioner and to prevent the cutterbar from recutting the crop once initially severed from the ground. The shields are positioned so that only the cutter blade projects beyond the forward peripheral edge thereof to sever crop material from the ground.

Crop harvesting machine

An improved knife section for reciprocating mower is disclosed wherein the improved knife section is constructed from less material than a standard knife section. The thickness of the improved knife section is made substantially equal to the thickness of the material of a standard knife section by forming convolutions in the body. A reinforcing ridge parallel to the cutting edge further improves the rigidity and strength of the improved knife section. The reinforcing ridge extends rearwardly beyond the cutting edge to encircle the rivet holes to allow for the inclusion of countersunk areas permitting the rivet heads to fit within the plane of the knife section, thereby producing a substantially uniform top surface. An extension of the countersunk area below the bottom surface of the knife section can interfit an embossed depression formed around the rivet hole in the support bar, resulting in an interlock between the knife section and support bar to reduce shearing stresses within the rivet.

Knife section

A crop harvesting machine has a mobile frame adapted to move across a field, an elongated crop material harvesting header and an improved pair of assemblies laterally spaced apart along the frame for suspending the header from the frame. Each of the assemblies includes a lower link pivotally interconnecting a lower portion of the header and a lower portion of the frame and an upper link pivotally mounted on an upper frame portion and having front and rear portions which respectively extend forwardly and rearwardly from the location of pivotal mounting of the upper link on the upper frame portion. The front portion of each upper link is pivotally connected to an upper header portion. Each of the assemblies further includes a resilient spring coupled to the rear portion of one upper link and extending therefrom downwardly and coupled to the lower frame portion so as to counterbalance the weight of the header and thereby support the header in an operating position relative to the field, while at the same time enable the header to floatingly follow the contour of the field, as the mobile frame moves across the field.

Growing community of inventors

New Holland, PA, United States of America

Lawrence M Halls