Abstract: A skid plate for use with a combine harvester head unit moving in a direction of travel. The skid plate includes a body, and a contact surface at least partially defined by the body, the contact surface including a leading edge facing the direction of travel and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, where the contact surface at least partially defines a groove, where the groove defines a groove width, and where the groove width varies as the groove extends away from the leading edge.

Abstract: A harvesting head for a combine and method of operating. An attachment frame at an aft end of the head attaches with a combine feederhouse. A main frame of the head is movably connected to the attachment frame, and the main frame has a range of travel with respect to the attachment frame. A resilient float element is provided between the attachment and main frames. A flexible cutterbar on the main frame operates to cut crops. The cutterbar is supported on the main frame by a plurality of pivoting arms distributed across a width of the head. With the main frame in a nominal intermediate position within the range of travel, the plurality of pivoting arms have 10 percent or less of total available travel as upward travel and at least 90 percent of total available travel as downward travel when the head is set in the nominal position.

Abstract: A skid plate for use with a combine harvester head unit moving in a direction of travel. The skid plate includes a body, and a contact surface at least partially defined by the body, the contact surface including a leading edge facing the direction of travel and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, where the contact surface at least partially defines a groove, where the groove defines a groove width, and where the groove width varies as the groove extends away from the leading edge.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting head includes a laterally extending frame with several spaced apart float arms pivotally coupled to the frame at their rear ends, and a reciprocating knife fixed to the forward ends of the float arms, wherein the float arms are constrained to pivot with respect to the frame about pivot points that are lower than the reciprocating knife.

Abstract: A harvesting head for a combine and method of operating. An attachment frame at an aft end of the head attaches with a combine feederhouse. A main frame of the head is movably connected to the attachment frame, and the main frame has a range of travel with respect to the attachment frame. A resilient float element is provided between the attachment and main frames. A flexible cutterbar on the main frame operates to cut crops. The cutterbar is supported on the main frame by a plurality of pivoting arms distributed across a width of the head. With the main frame in a nominal intermediate position within the range of travel, the plurality of pivoting arms have 10 percent or less of total available travel as upward travel and at least 90 percent of total available travel as downward travel when the head is set in the nominal position.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting head includes a laterally extending frame with several spaced apart float arms pivotally coupled to the frame at their rear ends, and a reciprocating knife fixed to the forward ends of the float arms, wherein the float arms are constrained to pivot with respect to the frame about pivot points that are lower than the reciprocating knife.