Abstract: A crop harvesting header includes a reel rotatable about a reel axis. The reel has a reel bat supported at a spaced distance from the reel axis. The reel bat can pivot about a bat axis radially spaced from the reel axis. The reel bat has a crop collection member that extends generally away from the bat axis. The reel bat can move in a cyclical path around the reel axis during rotation of the reel. The reel bat can vary the angle of the crop collection member about the bat axis as the reel rotates about the reel axis. A sun gear is provided that may be positioned in axial alignment with the reel axis. A planetary gear system is rotatable about the sun gear. The planetary gear system interacts with the sun gear, and causes said planetary gear system to effect pivotal movement of the reel bat about its bat axis.

Abstract: A cam reel for use on a harvesting header that can be configured in both operating and transport positions is provided. The reel comprises a plurality of finger-bearing reel bats disposed evenly around the reel shaft, each rotatably attached through the distal ends of radial arms extending outwardly from the reel shaft. A cam disc is attached to the frame and engages each reel bat by a cam follower, to provide rotational movement of the reel bats relative to the radial arms, during rotation of the shaft in the operating position. The cam has at least one operating position, and a transport position in which the engaged reel bats will be pivoted into transport mode that substantially reduces the risk of damage to the fingers.

Abstract: A crop flow assistance device for a harvesting header comprises a curved member mounted in relation to the rear wall of the header, with a top edge positioned within the draper table area of the header and a concave-curved shield surface. The shield will deflect or roll crop material during operation back into the draper area, so that crop material is not thrown up over the back of the header and is directed to the discharge. This will be particularly advantageous in the harvesting of peas and other dense or tangling crop material which have a tendency to bind or ball in harvest with traditional headers.

Abstract: A transport system for transport of a harvesting header comprises separate front and rear carriers in a configuration that permits a single person to prepare a harvesting header for transport. The wheeled front carrier engages a support member attached to one end of the harvesting header and includes a towing member and means of connecting the front carrier to a towing vehicle. A wheeled rear carrier comprises deployable straps that can be attached to the harvesting header. A winch applies tension to the straps and on retraction pulls the rear carrier up and into position underneath the header. The harvesting header is then lowered to transfer the weight to the carriers and the header then disconnected from the combine, and is ready for transport.

Abstract: A harvesting header bat having a channel for removably receiving alternating quick-release fingers and spacers is provided. The spacers are capable of production in different lengths to support different applications of the harvesting header. The quick-release finger is provided with projections configured for mating with flanges at the channel opening, enabling the finger to be inserted into the channel in a first orientation and then rotated into a second orientation to engage the flanges and releasably lock the finger in place. The spacers are also configured to engage the flanges of the channel and may be provided in different lengths where a particular harvesting header application requires a certain distance between fingers on the bat.

Abstract: A harvesting header bat having a channel for removably receiving alternating quick-release fingers and spacers is provided. The spacers are capable of production in different lengths to support different applications of the harvesting header. The quick-release finger is provided with projections configured for mating with flanges at the channel opening, enabling the finger to be inserted into the channel in a first orientation and then rotated into a second orientation to engage the flanges and releasably lock the finger in place. The spacers are also configured to engage the flanges of the channel and may be provided in different lengths where a particular harvesting header application requires a certain distance between fingers on the bat.

Abstract: A draper seal for a crop harvesting header is provided. The header includes a forwardly disposed cutter bar assembly and a rearwardly disposed draper deck assembly. The draper seal includes a flexible strip that runs parallel to the cutter bar assembly and perpendicular to the direction of travel. A bracket secures the forward edge of the flexible strip to an upper surface of the cutter bar assembly, which bracket also biases a rearward edge of the flexible strip into engagement with an upper surface of the draper deck assembly, thereby creating a seal between the cutter bar assembly and the draper deck assembly.

Abstract: A rock trap disposed in a feeder adapter of a combine directly behind a sickle bar of a combine header and in an area in front of a rearwardly directed conveyor located for receiving cut crop from transversely directed conveyor of the header. The rock trap has a trap door which can be selectively opened so as to drop beneath the header rocks collected therein.

Abstract: A mounting assembly of a gauge wheel for an implement, such as an agricultural crop harvesting header, the mounting assembly including a king pin member rotatably mounted in a king pin bushing housing and having a wheel spindle projecting substantially horizontally from one side of a king pin shaft for rotatably mounting the gauge wheel. The rotational axis of the king pin shaft is tilted rearwardly and upwardly relative to the vertical and sideways and upwardly relative to the vertical in a direction opposite to the side of the projecting wheel spindle. Accordingly, when the gauge wheel enters a caster turn in a direction corresponding to the direction of projection of the wheel spindle the axis of the wheel spindle swings from a substantially transverse direction in relation to the straight ahead travel direction towards a rearwardly and downwardly inclined orientation.

Abstract: A levelling mechanism for use a in lift system of a windrowing machine of the type including a tractor unit and a swather header to permit the use of a grain header which is held suspended above the ground rather than a hay type swather header which normally engages the ground during cutting. The type of lift systems used in some known hay windrowers include a pair of lift assemblies each of which has a single action lift cylinder. The two cylinders are supplied from a common supply line, and because the moving lift components of the two assemblies are individually activated by their respective cylinders the suspended grain header does not remain levelled under certain conditions, such as if there is a build up of greater crop weight at one end relative to the other.

Abstract: A feeder adapter for mounting a header on a feeder housing of a combine, the feeder adapter having a housing with an inlet positionable immediately behind a rear feed draper of the header and an outlet which is of a size and shape to match with a forward facing inlet of the feeder housing. The housing of the feeder adapter contains a feeder drum of the retractable finger type mounted for rotation on a transverse axis above a floor surface of the housing so as to engage the cut crop delivered to the rear end of the rearward feed draper and propel it into the outlet opening and thus into the inlet of the feeder housing. The feeder adapter has a subframe for attaching the feeder adapter to the feeder housing and attachment members for suspending the header from the subframe.

Abstract: A mounting structure for attaching an elongated swather head to a tractor of the bi-directional type, the structure mounting the head in front of the tractor in a swathing direction of travel and accommodating swinging movement of the head to a trailing transport mode behind the tractor when travelling in a direction opposite to the swathing direction. The mounting structure is carried by the tractor which, in the operational mode of the swather, is disposed to one side of the center-line of the swather head. The mounting structure includes members for securement to the tractor and an elongated support member projecting transversely across the front of the tractor to the side of the tractor opposite to the center-line of the swather head. The head has a rear frame member which extends parallel to the head behind an intermediate portion thereof and is carried at one end by a hinge connection to the support member at the side of the tractor opposite to the center-line of the swather head.

Abstract: A swather including at least a front swather head and one side swather head having mountings for mounting the front head on a tractor for support by the front of the tractor and for mounting the side head in a manner to permit the rear of the tractor to support at least the inner end of the side swather head. The mountings are such that they permit the heads to be adjusted to a number of different travel modes. In one mode of travel, the side head can be moved to a position trailing the tractor and the front head is carried in a raised position at the front of the tractor. The movement of the side head can be accomplished from within a cab of the tractor. Another mode of transport is possible by providing a mechanism for demounting and carrying the front head. For this mode the side head is moved to the trailing position as just described, and the front head is pulled lengthwise behind the side head.

Abstract: A multi-head swather for mounting on a tractor, and having a main frame including a front transverse member, a pair of side members and an intermediate transverse member each detachably connectable with the tractor. A front swather head is carried by the front transverse member and a mounting mechanism connects a side swather head to one of the side members for swinging movement between a laterally extending operative position and a trailing travel position. A rear frame structure is attachable to the tractor behind the main frame and provides a connection for a removable strut which extends forwardly to a connection on the side swather spaced outwardly of the mounting mechanism of the side swather arm.