Agricultural machine with folding header

Abstract

An agricultural harvester includes a chassis and a header carried by the chassis. The header includes: a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends; a wing section linked to one of the lateral ends of the center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, the wing section being vertically moveable relative to the center section between a harvesting position and a transport position, the wing section being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis in the transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about the pivot axis in the harvesting position; and an actuator linked to the wing section and configured to vertically move the wing section from the harvesting position to the transport position.

Description

76 that including an upper left bar 76a, a lower left bar 76b, an upper right bar 76c, and a lower right bar 76d, which allow the wing sections 38, 40 to pivot about a generally horizontal axis A3 defined through the center section 26. In the harvesting position, the wing sections 38, 40 are substantially prevented from pivoting about the generally vertical axes A1, A2 due to abutment of a respective wing end 76, 78 of the wing sections 38, 40 against the respective lateral ends 34, 36 of the center section 26. Due to the wing ends 76, 78 abutting against their respective lateral ends 34, 36, undesired pivoting of the wing sections 38, 40 into the transport mode is substantially prevented while the wing sections 38, 40 are in the harvesting position. As used herein, the pivoting of the wing sections 38, 40 being “substantially prevented” about the generally vertical axes A1, A2 refers to the wing sections 38, 40 being prevented from pivoting more than about 10 degrees about the vertical axes A1, A2 in the harvesting position. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the wing ends 76, 78 of the wing sections 38, 40 can have small gaps 80, 82 formed between their respective lateral ends 34, 36 to allow tilt of the wing sections 38, 40 as the combine harvester travels across a field as well as pivoting of the wing sections 38, 40 about the generally horizontal axis A3 in order to conform to an inclined surface.

Referring specifically now to FIGS. 6-7, it can be seen that the wing sections 38, 40 have been vertically moved relative to the center section 26 by actuators 84, 86 linked to each wing section 38, 40. The actuators 84, 86 can be, for example, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders that are connected to the chassis 22 and are selectively activated by a user when it is desired to switch the header 24 between the harvest mode and transport mode. When the actuators 84, 86 are activated, each actuator 84, 86 can exert an upward vertical force on its respectively connected wing section 38, 40 to raise the wing sections 38, 40 above the top surface 68 of the center section 26, as shown in FIG. 7, which can define the transport position of the wing sections 38 and 40. Once the wing sections 38 and 40 are raised above the top surface 68 of the center section 26, the lateral ends 34, 36 of the center section 26 no longer prevent pivoting of the wing sections 38 and 40 about the generally vertical pivot axes A1 and A2, allowing the wing sections 38 and 40 to pivot about the generally vertical pivot axes A1 and A2 so the header 24 assumes the transport mode. The wing sections 38 and 40 can be pivoted about the generally vertical axes A1 and A2, for example, by a separate set of pivoting actuators 88, 90 carried by the chassis 22.

To help support the weight of the wing sections 38 and 40 during harvesting and transport, each wing section 38, 40 can have a wheel 92, 94 connected thereto that will contact the ground as the combine harvester 20 travels across a surface. The wheels 92, 94 can be, for example, caster wheels 92, 94 that will swivel about caster axes CA1, CA2 as the wing sections 38, 40 pivot about the generally vertical axes A1 and A2. As the wing sections 38 and 40 may move vertically to assume the transport position, as shown in FIGS. 6-7, it is useful if the caster wheels 92 and 94 are vertically moveable as well so the caster wheels 92 and 94 are always in contact with the ground regardless of the relative vertical positioning of the wing sections 38 and 40. To vertically move the caster wheels 92 and 94, each caster wheel 92, 94 can be linked to an associated wheel actuator 96, 98 carried by the wing sections 38, 40 that can be selectively activated to raise and lower the caster wheels 92, 94 as the relative vertical positions of the wing sections 38, 40 change. It should be appreciated that the wheel actuators 96 and 98 can be selectively activated actuators, such as cylinders, or passive actuators that will always exert an actuation force on the wheels 92, 94, such as springs. In the case of selectively actuated wheel actuators 96 and 98, the wheel actuators 96 and 98 can be electronically coupled to and controlled by a controller (not shown) that also controls the actuators 84 and 86 so activation of the wheel actuators 96 and 98 is linked to activation of the actuators 84 and 86 moving the wing sections 38, 40. Alternatively, the wheel actuators 96 and 98 vertically moving the wheels 92 and 94 can vertically move the wing sections 38 and 40 relative to the center section 26 as well, removing the need for the separate actuators 84 and 86. When the header 24 is placed in the transport mode, as shown in FIG. 3, the wheels 92, 94 also help stabilize the vehicle 20 as the vehicle 20 travels in the forward direction 32.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-9, another embodiment of a header system 100 formed according to the present invention is shown. The header system 100 is similar to the header system 24 shown in FIGS. 1-7, with similar components being designated by the same reference numerals raised by 100. As can be seen, the header system 100 has a center section 126 with a wing section 138, 140 linked at each lateral end 134, 136 of the center section 126. Unlike the header system 24, however, the center section 126 of the header system 100 is vertically moveable relative to the wing sections 138 and 140 by a center actuator 102 linked to the center section 126 and the chassis 122. The center section 126, therefore, is vertically moveable relative to the chassis 122. In the harvesting position, the lateral ends 134, 136 of the center section 126 still prevent substantial pivoting of the wing sections 138, 140 about generally vertical axes A11, A12 by abutment. As the center section 126 vertically moves to a transport position by the center actuator 102, shown in FIG. 9, such that, for example, a bottom surface 162 of the center section 126 is raised above top surfaces 164, 166 of the wing sections 138, 140, the wing sections 138 and 140 might also be slightly raised before pivoting about the generally horizontal axis A13 due to the weight of the wing sections 138, 140. Once the center section 126 is fully moved to the transport position and the bottom surface 162 clears the top surfaces 164, 166 of the wing sections 138 and 140, the wing sections 138 and 140 can then be pivoted about the generally vertical axes A11, A12 by pivot actuators 188, 190 to place the header 100 in the transport mode. Other than the center section 126 being vertically moveable relative to the chassis 122 and wing sections 138, 140, the header system 100 can be similar to the header system 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-13, yet another embodiment of a header system 200 formed according to the present invention is shown. The header system 200 is similar to the header systems 24 and 100, with similar components being designated by the same reference numerals raised by 200. As can be seen, the header system 200 includes a center section 226 with a lateral end 234 and a wing section 238 linked to the lateral end 234 by a pivot tube 202. The pivot tube 202 can have, as shown, a cylindrical shape and a laterally extending stop 204 which prevents the wing section 238 from pivoting about a generally vertical pivot axis A21 by abutting against a rear surface 206 of the center section 226 in a harvesting position, as shown in FIG. 10. Thus, when forces acting on the wing section 238 cause the wing section 238 to attempt to pivot about the pivot axis A21, the abutment of the laterally extending stop 204 against the rear surface 206 prevents substantial pivoting of the wing section 238 about the pivot axis A21. To allow the wing section 238 to conform to uneven terrain, such as the terrain shown in FIG. 5, the stop 204 can include one or more arc shaped slots 208, which can also be referred to as arced slots, which accommodate pins 210 of the center section 226 to allow pivoting of the wing section 238 about a generally horizontal axis A23, as shown in FIG. 11. The pins 210 of the center section 226 can also prevent the pivot tube 202 from vertically moving along the pivot axis A21, which is described in further detail herein. The header system 200 can otherwise be similar to previously described header systems 24 and 100.

Referring specifically now to FIGS. 12-13, the wing section 238 is shown being vertically moved to a transport position by an actuator 284 linked to the wing section 238. As the pins 210 of the center section 226 prevent the pivot tube 202 from vertically moving along the generally vertical pivot axis A21, the pins 210 are first removed from the arced slots 208 of the stop 204. Once the pins 210 are removed from the arced slots 208, the actuator 284 can vertically move the wing section 238 along the generally vertical pivot axis A21 to the transport position where a bottom 258 of the wing section 238 and a bottom 214 of the stop 204 clear a top surface 268 of the center section 226. Once the bottoms 258 and 214 of the wing section 238 and stop 204, respectively, clear the top surface 268 of the center section 226, the wing section 238 can be pivoted about the pivot axis A21 without interference from abutment against the center section 226. The wing section 238 can be pivoted about the pivot axis A21 so the header 200 assumes the transport mode by, for example, a pivot actuator 288 as previously described. Once the user wishes for the header 200 to be returned to the harvesting mode from the transport mode, the pivot actuator 288 can then pivot the wing section 238 back inward about the pivot axis A21 and the actuator 284 can vertically move the wing section 238 along the pivot axis A21 back to the harvesting position. The pins 210 of the center section 226 can then be placed back into the arced slots 208 of the stop 204 to lock the wing section 238 in the harvesting position.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An agricultural harvester, comprising:

a chassis; and

a header carried by said chassis, said header including:

a center section supporting a center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends;

a wing section linked to one of said lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, said wing section being vertically moveable relative to said center section between a harvesting position and a transport position, said wing section being pivotally coupled to said center section about a generally vertical pivot axis in said transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about said pivot axis in said harvesting position by way of one of an abutment of a lateral end of said center section with a lateral end of said wing section and a pivot tube having a laterally extending stop; and

a pivoting actuator linked to said wing section and to cause movement of said wing section or said pivoting actuator being linked to said center section to cause movement of said center section, the pivoting actuator moves said wing section movement including a translational movement along said generally vertical pivot axis from said harvesting position to said transport position.

2. The agricultural harvester according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second wing section linked to the other of said pair of lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one second wing cutter, said second wing section being vertically moveable relative to said center section between a second wing harvesting position and a second wing transport position, said second wing section being pivotally coupled to the center section about a generally vertical second pivot axis in said second wing transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about said second pivot axis in said second wing harvesting position by way of an abutment of an other lateral end of said center section with a lateral end of said second wing section; and

a second pivoting actuator linked to said second wing sectionand said center section, the pivoting actuator moves said second wing section along said second vertical pivot axis from said second wing harvesting position to said second wing transport position.

3. The agricultural harvester according to claim 2, wherein said transport position and said second wing transport position are both above a top surface of said center section.

4. The agricultural harvester according to claim 2, wherein said wing section has a first vertically moveable wheel attached thereto and said second wing section has a second vertically moveable wheel attached thereto.

5. The agricultural harvester according to claim 4, wherein said first vertically moveable wheel contacts the ground when said wing section is in said transport position and said second vertically moveable wheel contacts the ground when said second wing section is in said second wing transport position.

6. The agricultural harvester according to claim 1, wherein said wing section is prevented from pivoting about said pivot axis in said harvesting position by said abutment against said linked lateral end of said center section.

7. The agricultural harvester according to claim 1, wherein said wing section is vertically moveable along said pivot axis.

8. The agricultural harvester according to claim 7, wherein said wing section includes said pivot tube linked to said center section, said pivot tube including said laterally extending stop which prevents pivoting of said wing section in said harvesting position.

9. The agricultural harvester according to claim 8, wherein said laterally extending stop includes at least one arc shaped slot and said center section includes at least one pin placed in said at least one arc shaped slot.

10. An agricultural harvester, comprising:

a chassis; and

a header carried by said chassis, said header including:

a center section supporting a center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends, said center section being vertically moveable relative to said chassis between a harvesting position and a transport position;

a wing section linked to one of said lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, said wing section being pivotally coupled about a generally vertical pivot axis to said center section, said wing section includes a laterally extending stop which prevents pivoting of said wing section when said center section is in said harvesting position, said laterally extending stop includes at least one arc shaped slot and said center section includes at least one pin placed in said at least one arc shaped slot; and

an actuator linked to said center section to vertically move said center section from said harvesting position to said transport position.

11. The agricultural harvester according to claim 10, further comprising:

a second wing section linked to the other of said pair of lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one second wing cutter, said second wing section being pivotally coupled about a generally vertical second pivot axis to the center section when said center section is in said transport position.

12. The agricultural harvester according to claim 11, wherein said transport position of said center section is above a top surface of both said wing section and said second wing section.

13. The agricultural harvester according to claim 10, wherein said wing section is prevented from pivoting about said pivot axis in said harvesting position by abutment against said linked lateral end of said center section.

14. A method of preparing an agricultural vehicle for transport, said agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a header linked to said chassiswhich includes, said header including a center section supporting a center cutterand, said center section having a pair of lateral endsand, said header further including a wing section linked to one of said lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, said method comprising the steps of:

raising one of said center section and or said wing section relative to the other section from a harvesting position to a transport position, the section being raised being referred to as a raised section when raised, said raising step including vertically raising one of said center section and or said wing section, said vertically raising including a translational movement along a generally vertical axis; and

pivoting said wing section about said generally vertical axis to said transport position when said raised section has been raised, said generally vertical axis being a generally vertical pivot axis, said wing section only being pivoted about said generally vertical pivot axis when said raised section has been raised.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said wing section is said raised section.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said wing section is vertically raised along said generally vertical pivot axis from said harvesting position to said transport position.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of vertically extending wheels from an end of said wing section opposite the generally vertical pivot axis as said wing section is raised.

18. An agricultural harvesting header for an agricultural harvester comprising:

a left wing section;

a center section;

an upper left bar pivotally coupled to the left section at a distal end of the upper left bar and pivotally coupled to the center section at a proximal end of the upper left bar;

a lower left bar pivotally coupled to the left section at a distal end of the lower left bar and pivotally coupled to the center section at a proximal end of the lower left bar;

a right wing section;

an upper right bar pivotally coupled to the right section at a distal end of the upper right bar and pivotally coupled to the center section at a proximal end of the upper right bar; and

a lower right bar pivotally coupled to the right section at a distal end of the lower right bar and pivotally coupled to the center section at a proximal end of the lower right bar.

19. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the upper left bar and the lower left bar constrain movement of the left wing section with respect to the center section.

20. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 19, wherein the upper right bar and the lower right bar constrain movement of the right wing section to move with respect to the center section.

21. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the upper left bar is pivotally coupled to the left wing section, wherein the upper left bar is pivotally coupled to the center section, wherein the lower left bar is pivotally coupled to the left wing section, and wherein the lower left bar is pivotally coupled to the center section.

22. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 21, wherein the upper left bar is disposed above the lower left bar.

23. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the upper right bar is pivotally coupled to the right section; wherein the upper right bar is pivotally coupled to the center section; wherein the lower right bar is pivotally coupled to the right section; and wherein the lower right bar is pivotally coupled to the center section.

24. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 23, wherein the upper right bar is disposed above the lower right bar.

25. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the left wing section is elongated and is coupled to and extends away from a first lateral end of the center section to which the left section is coupled, and wherein the right wing section is elongated and is coupled to and extends away from a second lateral end of the center section.

26. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the left wing section, the center section, and the right wing section each includes a cutter bar.

27. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the left wing section has a first top surface and the right wing section has a second top surface, and wherein the first top surface and the second top surface are coplanar in at least one operating position.

28. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the upper left bar couples the left wing section to the center section.

29. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 28, wherein the upper right bar couples the right wing section to the center section.

30. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the upper left bar and the lower left bar are each coupled to the left section and the center section such that each of the upper left bar and the lower left bar is configured to pivot with respect to the left section and the center section about distinct pivot axes.

31. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 30, wherein the upper right bar and the lower right bar are each coupled to the right section and the center section such that each of the upper right bar and the lower right bar is configured to pivot with respect to the right wing section and the center section about the distinct pivot axes.

32. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the pivotal coupling of the upper left bar to the left section is about a first pivot axis, the pivotal coupling of the upper left bar to the center section is about a second pivot axis, the pivotal coupling of the lower left bar to the left section is about a third pivot axis, the pivotal coupling of the lower left bar to the center section is about a fourth pivot axis, the pivotal coupling of the upper right bar to the right section is about a fifth pivot axis, the pivotal coupling of the upper right bar to the center section is about a sixth pivot axis, the pivotal coupling of the lower right bar to the right section is about a seventh pivot axis, and the pivotal coupling of the lower right bar to the center section is about an eighth pivot axis.

33. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 32, wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis define a first line, the third pivot axis and the fourth pivot axis define a second line, the fifth pivot axis and the sixth pivot axis define a third line, and the seventh pivot axis and the eighth pivot axis define a fourth line.

34. An agricultural harvester, comprising:

a chassis; and

a header carried by the chassis, the header including:

a center section supporting a center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends;

a wing section coupled to one of said lateral ends of said center section and supporting a wing cutter, the wing section being moveable relative to said center section along at least two distinct planes, said wing section being pivotally coupled to said center section about a first axis and a second axis intersecting the first axis;

an upper bar pivotally coupled to the wing section at a distal end of the upper bar and pivotally coupled to the center section at a proximal end of the upper bar; and

a lower bar pivotally coupled to the wing section at a distal end of the lower bar and pivotally coupled to the center section at a proximal end of the lower bar.

35. The agricultural harvester of claim 34, further comprising:

a feeder configured to transport crop removed by the header to a threshing rotor; and

a tank configured to collect crop material from the crop through the threshing rotor,

wherein the header includes cutters configured to cut the crop for transporting to the feeder.

36. The agricultural harvester of claim 35, the wing section including a gap to allow tilt of the wing section as the agricultural harvester travels across a field as well as to pivot to conform to an inclined surface thereon.

37. The agricultural harvester of claim 35, wherein the wing section has at least two degrees of freedom of movement relative to the center section.

38. The agricultural harvester of claim 35, wherein the wing section has at least three degrees of freedom of movement relative to the center section.

39. The agricultural harvester of claim 37, wherein the at least two degrees of freedom of movement include any two or more of an up/down movement, a tilt movement, and an incline movement.

40. The agricultural harvester of claim 38, wherein the at least three degrees of freedom of movement include an up/down movement, a tilt movement, and an incline movement.

41. The agricultural harvester of claim 35, wherein the wing section includes a swiveling wheel.

42. An agricultural harvester, comprising:

a chassis; and

a header carried by said chassis, said header including:

a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends;

a wing section linked to one of said lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, said wing section being vertically moveable relative to said center section between a harvesting position and a transport position, said wing section being moveable along a generally vertical pivot axis in said transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about said pivot axis in said harvesting position, said movement of said wing section in said transport position including a translational movement along said generally vertical pivot axis; and

an actuator linked to said wing section and configured to vertically move said wing section from said harvesting position to said transport position.

43. The agricultural harvester according to claim 42, further comprising:

a second wing section linked to the other of said pair of lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one second wing cutter, said second wing section being vertically moveable relative to said center section between a second wing harvesting position and a second wing transport position, said second wing section being pivotable about a generally vertical second pivot axis in said second wing transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about said second pivot axis in said second wing harvesting position; and

a second actuator linked to said second wing section and configured to vertically move said second wing section from said second wing harvesting position to said second wing transport position.

44. The agricultural harvester according to claim 43, wherein said transport position and said second wing transport position are both above a top surface of said center section.

45. The agricultural harvester according to claim 43, wherein said wing section has a first vertically moveable wheel attached thereto and said second wing section has a second vertically moveable wheel attached thereto.

46. The agricultural harvester according to claim 45, wherein said first vertically moveable wheel is configured to contact the ground when said wing section is in said transport position and said second vertically moveable wheel is configured to contact the ground when said second wing section is in said second wing transport position.

47. The agricultural harvester according to claim 42, wherein said wing section is prevented from pivoting about said pivot axis in said harvesting position by abutment against said linked lateral end of said center section.

48. The agricultural harvester according to claim 1, wherein said wing section is vertically moveable along said pivot axis.

49. The agricultural harvester according to claim 48, wherein said wing section includes a pivot tube linked to said center section, said pivot tube including a laterally extending stop that prevents pivoting of said wing section in said harvesting position.

50. The agricultural harvester according to claim 49, wherein said laterally extending stop includes at least one arc shaped slot and said center section includes at least one pin placed in said at least one arc shaped slot.

51. A method of preparing an agricultural vehicle for transport, said agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a header linked to said chassis which includes a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends and a wing section linked to one of said lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, said method comprising:

raising one of said center section or said wing section relative to the other section from a harvesting position to a transport position, said wing section only being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis when said raised section is in said transport position; and

pivoting said wing section about said generally vertical pivot axis when said raised section is in said transport position, said wing section having a vertically moveable wheel attached thereto.

52. The method according to claim 51, wherein said wing section is said raised section.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein said wing section is vertically raised along said generally vertical pivot axis from said harvesting position to said transport position.