Deere + Company

Moline, Il

Todd M Verhoef

Alex Brimeyer

David Eric Renner

Michael L Vandeven

Joshua R Pierson

Nathan E Krehbiel

Dennis P Silver

Andrew J Braet

Duane M Bomleny

Troy M Heims

Praveen Kumar Singh

Eric D Windsor

Curt A Elpers

Mitchel J Lindberg

Logan K Trueblood

Krupa Manjunath

A corn head includes a first wing segment; a center segment; and a corn head adjustment system. The corn head adjustment system includes a first fold actuator and corn head hydraulics fluidly coupled to receive a fluid from a source and to selectively direct the fluid to the first fold actuator. During a fold process, the corn head hydraulics is configured to actuate the first fold actuator in order to lift and fold the first wing segment frame relative to the center frame. During an unfold process, the corn head hydraulics is configured to actuate the first fold actuator in order to lift and unfold the first wing segment frame relative to the center frame. The corn head hydraulics includes a force relief arrangement configured such that, at a predetermined position during the fold process and the unfold process, fluid pressure to the first fold actuator is reduced.

Corn head adjustment system with force relief

A header assembly for an agricultural harvesting machine comprises a first frame assembly, a second frame assembly that supports a cutter, and is movable relative to the first frame assembly, a float cylinder coupled between the first frame assembly and the second frame assembly, an accumulator, a controllable reservoir, and fluidic circuitry. The fluidic circuitry comprises a first conduit forming a first fluid path that provides a flow of pressurized fluid under pressure to the float cylinder, so the float cylinder exerts a float force on the second frame assembly, a valve mechanism that is actuatable to inhibit fluid flow along the first fluid path between the accumulator and the float cylinder, a second conduit forming a second fluid path fluidically coupled to the controllable reservoir, the controllable reservoir being controllable to add fluid to the float cylinder.

Controlled float on an agricultural harvester for header leveling

Systems and method for linearly displacing an object, such as a cutter or other component, in response to a rotation of a pivotable arm are disclosed. The systems and method encompass one or more actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders, to pivot a pivotable arm pivotable about an axis. A flexible component coupled to an end of the pivotable arm is displaced in response to the rotational motion of the pivotable arm. Movement of the flexible component in response to rotation of the pivotable arm is converted into linear motion via curved surface on which the flexible component rides. The pivotable arm is rotated in response to actuation of one or more actuators, such as one or more hydraulic cylinders, coupled to the pivotable arm.

Systems and methods for reciprocating a cutter of an agricultural harvesting head

A corn head corn head includes a first wing segment and a center segment. A corn head adjustment system includes a first fold actuator; a first deck plate actuator mounted on at least one of the first wing segment frame or the center frame and configured to reposition at least one of the first deck plate rod or the center deck plate rod; and corn head hydraulics. During a fold process, the corn head hydraulics is configured to actuate the first fold actuator in order to fold the first wing segment relative to the center segment and to actuate the first deck plate actuator in order to decouple the first deck plate rod from the center deck plate rod. During an unfold process, the corn head hydraulics is configured to actuate the first fold actuator in order to unfold the first wing segment relative to the center segment.

Corn head adjustment system with integrated actuation

A crop head for a harvester includes a folding frame having a first frame portion and a second frame portion configured to be folded in a transport state and unfolded in a harvesting state. The first and second frame portions are lockable with respect to each other to inhibit folding and unlockable with respect to each other to allow folding. A plurality of crop dividers is supported by the first frame portion. The plurality of crop dividers includes at least one movable crop divider that is movable with respect to the first frame portion. The crop head also includes a cylinder and a piston movable with respect to the cylinder. The piston is operable to move the movable crop divider between the first and second positions and is configured to directly engage the first and second frame portions to lock the first and second frame portions with respect to each other.

Folding harvester with crop divider lift and frame lock

A header assembly for an agricultural harvesting machine having a traction unit comprises a cutter, a main frame that supports the cutter, a float cylinder configured to be coupled between the main frame and the traction unit, an accumulator, and fluidic circuitry that fluidically couples the accumulator to the float cylinder. The fluidic circuitry is configured to provide a first flow of pressurized fluid under pressure to the float cylinder, so the float cylinder exerts a float force on the main frame, and, based on a control input that corresponds to a lifting operation of the header assembly, provide a restricted flow of fluid, that is restricted relative to the first flow, between the float cylinder and the accumulator.

Damped float response on an agricultural harvester

A header assembly for an agricultural harvesting machine comprises a first frame assembly, a second frame assembly that supports a cutter, and is pivotable relative to the first frame assembly, a float cylinder coupled between the first frame assembly and the second frame assembly, an accumulator, and fluidic circuitry that fluidically couples the accumulator to the float cylinder. The fluidic circuitry is configured to provide a first flow of pressurized fluid under pressure to the float cylinder, so the float cylinder exerts a float force on the second frame assembly, and based on a control input that corresponds to a lowering operation of the header assembly, provide a restricted flow of fluid, that is restricted relative to the first flow, between the float cylinder and the accumulator.

Growing community of inventors

Davenport, IA, United States of America

Todd M Verhoef