Floating cutterbar header
US4206584A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 1, 1978 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 1, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01D41/14
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
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 disp…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.