Patent · US Active

Spring flotation for center deck of draper header

US7877976B2 · kind B2 · utility

23Cited by
165References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 29, 2009
Grant dateFeb 1, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 29, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA01D57/20
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The center draper includes a draper frame swingably supported on the header frame at a pivot to project forwardly therefrom and a draper belt supported on the draper frame to present a rearwardly moving run for conveying the crop rearwardly. The center draper includes a counterbalance mechanism coupled between the header and draper frames to counteract the weight of the center draper about the pivot so as to reduce the load of the center draper on the cutterbar assembly.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.