International Harvester Company

J. I. Case Company

Orlin W Johnson

Dathan R Kerber

Richard E Benson

Robert D Week

John L VandeWiele

James R Lucas

Richard A Hardesty

Jon R Cross

Michael P Larson

A cutterbar assembly for the header of an agricultural combine having a skid coextensive with the cutterbar but comprising individual skid segments. The knife guard likewise comprises individual segments positioned in aligned relationship with the skid segments, whereby the flexibility of the cutterbar is enhanced so that it is able to follow the contour of the ground without row sensitivity. The skid segments are corrugated to provide a more efficient strength to weight ratio.

Flexible cutterbar assembly

A header frame for a combine harvester having a linkage connection between the crop reel and the auger, whereby the auger may be automatically and mechanically raised from the header floor by raising the reel for purposes of unplugging wedged crop material. The linkage includes a lost-motion connection so that the reel can be moved vertically as required during harvesting without affecting the auger, and the auger is also capable of floating action during operation. A sprocket and chain drive for the auger includes a spring-biased idler sprocket for maintaining proper chain tension and uninterrupted operation of the auger at all times. An adjustable wedge is also provided for fixing and limiting the minimum spacing between the auger and the header floor.

Auger lift mechanism for crop harvesting header

A header for a combine or the like having a cutterbar assembly which is vertically flexible relative to the main frame of the header. Leaf springs are fixedly connected to the header frame and extend forwardly to a sliding connection with the cutterbar assembly to exert a counterbalancing upward force thereon. Longitudinally reciprocable adjustment bars captive on threaded adjustment bolts are mounted on the main frame in association with each spring for varying the upward force being exerted thereby.

Adjustable leaf spring suspension for flexible cutterbar

Cutting apparatus and adjustable hold down therefor

A crop harvesting header for a self-propelled combine. The header includes a 'floating' flexible cutterbar movable vertically relative to the header frame to cut a standing crop (soybeans, for example) close to the ground to minimize crop losses. The cutterbar is connected to a plurality of runner structures pivotally mounted on the header frame. A spring system is operative on the runner structures to resiliently counterbalance the cutterbar. Elongated skids are connected between adjacent pairs of runners to effectively extend along the length of the header. The skids are mounted to permit individual movement of the runners relative to each other as the cutterbar flexes over uneven ground across the harvesting path. The skids are selectively shiftable to vary the cutting height of the cutterbar.

Floating cutterbar header and height control

A crop harvesting header for a self-propelled combine. The header includes a 'floating' cutterbar which is flexible and movable up and down so as to cut a standing crop (soybeans, for example) close to the ground to minimize crop losses. The flexibility and movement enable the crop to be cut closely to the ground even though the ground is uneven or undulating across and along the harvesting path. The cutterbar is mounted on a plurality of ground-engaging structures including runners upon which a counterbalancing system imposes pre-selected forces to control the ground pressure of the cutterbar as ground and crop conditions vary. The counterbalancing system provides a substantially constant ground pressure throughout cutterbar movement. The effect of the system is to moderate or eliminate the variations which come from spring force changes.

Cutterbar floatation system

A crop harvesting header for a self-propelled combine. The header includes a 'floating' flexible cutterbar movable vertically relative to the header frame to cut a standing crop (soybeans, for example) close to the ground to minimize crop losses. The cutterbar is connected to a plurality of runner structures pivotally mounted on the header frame. A spring system is operative on the runner structures to resiliently counterbalance the cutterbar. Structure is adjustably operative on the runner structures to selectively limit the range of movement of the cutterbar or to lock it against movement. Elongated skids are connected between adjacent pairs of runners to effectively extend along the length of the header. The skids are mounted to permit individual movement of the runners relative to each other as the cutterbar flexes over uneven ground across the harvesting path. The skids are selectively shiftable by crank pins to vary the cutting height of the cutterbar. The header includes a floor structure having portions mounted for upward pivotal movement to provide access to the crank pins when skid adjustment is desired. The header frame includes vertical end walls. A crop divider is disposed adjacent to each end wall. Each of the dividers is mounted on the respective end runner and also connected to the respective end wall so as to be movable up and down in a relatively constant attitude commensurate with cutterbar movement.

Floating cutterbar header

A crop harvesting header for a combine wherein the header includes a transversely elongated frame having opposite side walls. A cutterbar extends between the side walls and is supported from the header frame for floating movement relative thereto as induced by varying ground profile. The cutterbar is connected to the forward ends of a plurality of transversely spaced runners pivotally connected to the header frame. One of the runners is disposed at an end of the header frame adjacent to one of the side walls. Reciprocating drive for the cutterbar is provided by a wobble drive mounted on the end runner and a belt drive therefor mounted on the adjacent side wall. A belt tightener pulley assembly is pivotally mounted on the side wall. A mechanical linkage directly interconnects the pulley assembly with the end runner such that the pulley assembly is shifted in response to movement of the end runner to provide substantially instantaneous change in belt drive geometry created by and to compensate for cutterbar movement relative to the header.

Growing community of inventors

East Moline, IL, United States of America

Orlin W Johnson