Abstract: A clean out system of a header for an agricultural vehicle. The header includes a frame with a floor having at least one cutout for allowing an unwanted material to pass therethrough. The clean out system includes at least one door configured for pivotally connecting to the floor and selectively engaging with the at least one cutout, a latching mechanism connected to the at least one door and configured for securing the at least one door to the frame, and at least one actuating member operably connected to the at least one door and configured for selectively latching the latching mechanism and pivoting the at least one door in between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: An agricultural header includes a header frame and at least one harvesting element carried by the header frame. The header frame includes a rigid portion, a first conformable portion flexibly coupled to the rigid portion by a first resilient material that allows at least about 1.5° of reversible deflection, and a second conformable portion flexibly coupled to the rigid portion by a second resilient material that allows at least about 1.5° of reversible deflection.

Abstract: A clean out system of a header for an agricultural vehicle including at least one cover having a plurality of perforations and at least one actuating member connected to the at least one cover. The at least one actuating member is configured for moving the at least one cover between a first position to completely cover at least one cutout of the frame of the header for blocking the unwanted material from exiting the header, a second position to at least partially uncover the at least one cutout for permitting the unwanted material to pass through the at least one cutout, and a third position to align at least one perforation of the plurality of perforations with the at least one cutout for permitting the unwanted material to pass through the at least one cutout and the at least one perforation of the plurality of perforations.

Abstract: A draper belt assembly for an agricultural harvester header (100) comprising an endless draper belt (120) that includes an outer surface (322) and an inner surface (324) opposite the outer surface. The draper belt further includes elongated members (326) each extending from the outer surface and having a lateral face (328) substantially facing a longitudinal midline (ML) of the endless draper belt. The draper belt assembly additionally comprises a drive mechanism (332) operatively engaged with the endless draper belt. The lateral faces of the elongated members act as shelves that inhibit sliding of grain and other crop material from the bottom of the belt, thereby reducing plugging at the bottom of the belt adjacent the cutter bar and floor sheets. In addition, the elongated members more evenly distribute grain and other crop material across the width of the belt.

Abstract: A cleaning system of a header for an agricultural vehicle. The header includes a frame with a floor having at least one cutout therein. The cleaning system includes at least one door, an elongated member operably connected to the at least one door, and at least one actuator connected to the elongated member. The elongated member is rotatable by the at least one actuator to slide the at least one door between a first position for covering the at least one cutout and a second position for at least partially uncovering the at least one cutout and allowing an unwanted material to pass through the at least one cutout.

Abstract: A crop ramp for use in a combine header is provided. The crop ramp includes a flat section, a curved section, and a flange. The flat section facilitates coupling the crop ramp to a cutterbar of the combine header. The curved section extends from the flat section. The curved section is configured to facilitate transfer of crop to a belt system of the combine header. The crop is transferred in a first direction defined from the flat section to the curved section. The flange extends from the curved section. The flange is configured to hover above the belt system of the combine header to prevent dirt from flowing in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A header (102) for an agricultural harvester (100) comprising a frame (104), a cutter bar (106), a draper belt and a cutter bar support sub-assembly connected to the frame is disclosed. The cutter bar support sub-assembly generally includes a draper support sub-assembly (200A,200B) and a support arm subassembly. The draper support sub-assembly is pivotably connected to the support arm sub-assembly and pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the support arm sub-assembly. The draper support sub-assembly includes a first draper support (608) that includes a curved surface engaging the draper belt and a cutter bar mount (606) supporting the cutter bar. The support arm sub assembly includes a support member connected to the frame.

Abstract: A header for a combine harvester includes a conveyor belt for conveying crop material in a conveyance direction, and an adjusting device for adjusting a tension of the conveyor belt. The adjusting device includes a cable that is movable with respect to a frame member of the header. A portion of the cable that is either directly or indirectly attached to one end of a roller for the conveyor belt extends either parallel to or substantially parallel to a tensioning direction of the conveyor belt for adjusting the tension of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt may be an infeed conveyor belt or a lateral conveyor belt of a draper header, for example.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header suspension having a frame, a plurality of supports extending forward from the frame, an anchor plate, a frame pivot joining the frame to the anchor plate to be rotatable about a frame pivot axis, a frame actuator connected between the anchor plate and the frame and configured to resiliently hold the frame at a predetermined position relative to the anchor plate, and to allow the frame to move through a range of motion relative to the anchor plate, upon compression and/or extension of the frame actuator. The frame actuator may be, for example, at least one single-acting hydraulic actuator, mechanical spring, or a pneumatic cylinder.

Abstract: A header for a combine harvester includes a conveyor belt for conveying crop material in a conveyance direction, and an adjusting device for adjusting a tension of the conveyor belt. The adjusting device includes a cable that is movable with respect to a frame member of the header. A portion of the cable that is either directly or indirectly attached to one end of a roller for the conveyor belt extends either parallel to or substantially parallel to a tensioning direction of the conveyor belt for adjusting the tension of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt may be an infeed conveyor belt or a lateral conveyor belt of a draper header, for example.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header having a frame having a main truss extending in a lateral direction, at least one support arm extending from the frame in the forward direction, a cutter assembly attached to a respective distal end of each at least one support arm, and a linkage connecting a respective proximal end of each at least one support arm to the frame. The linkage includes a virtual pivot located below the main truss, and at or behind the main truss with respect to the forward direction. An agricultural vehicle having the header is also provided.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester having a cutterbar lockout control mechanism that can be set in flex or rigid modes independent of the position of the cutterbar assembly. The cutterbar lockout control mechanism may be set to flex or rigid modes without the operator having to reach under the header, and the operator may reposition the cutterbar assembly without leaving the cab. Also, a method for setting the operating mode of a cutterbar assembly of a header for an agricultural harvester, and a method for repositioning a cutterbar assembly of a header for an agricultural harvester.

Abstract: A crop ramp for use in a combine header is provided. The crop ramp includes a flat section, a curved section, and a flange. The flat section facilitates coupling the crop ramp to a cutterbar of the combine header. The curved section extends from the flat section. The curved section is configured to facilitate transfer of crop to a belt system of the combine header. The crop is transferred in a first direction defined from the flat section to the curved section. The flange extends from the curved section. The flange is configured to hover above the belt system of the combine header to prevent dirt from flowing in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: An attachment system for an agricultural vehicle including a feeder housing and a header. The attachment system includes at least one feeder connecting member configured for being located on and movably connected to the feeder housing, and at least one header connecting member configured for being located on the header. The at least one feeder connecting member is automatically connectable and securable to the at least one header connecting member as the feeder housing lifts the header.

Abstract: A threshing section for a combine harvester includes a rotor and a transition cone. The rotor has an axis of rotation, a downstream end, and an upstream end. The upstream end includes one or more blades for moving crop downstream in a direction of crop flow. The transition cone at least partially surrounds the upstream end of the rotor and the blades. An annular space is formed between a swept profile of the blades and an interior surface of the transition cone through which crop is introduced into the threshing section. A cross-sectional area of the annular space, which is measured in a radial direction, is substantially constant along at least a portion of a length of the swept profile.

Abstract: An agricultural header includes a header frame and at least one harvesting element carried by the header frame. The header frame includes a rigid portion, a first conformable portion flexibly coupled to the rigid portion by a first resilient material that allows at least about 1.5° of reversible deflection, and a second conformable portion flexibly coupled to the rigid portion by a second resilient material that allows at least about 1.5° of reversible deflection.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester having a cutterbar lockout control mechanism that can be set in flex or rigid modes independent of the position of the cutterbar assembly. The cutterbar lockout control mechanism may be set to flex or rigid modes without the operator having to reach under the header, and the operator may reposition the cutterbar assembly without leaving the cab. Also, a method for setting the operating mode of a cutterbar assembly of a header for an agricultural harvester, and a method for repositioning a cutterbar assembly of a header for an agricultural harvester.

Abstract: A header (102) for an agricultural harvester (100) comprising a frame (104), a cutter bar (106), a draper belt and a cutter bar support sub-assembly connected to the frame is disclosed. The cutter bar support sub-assembly generally includes a draper support sub-assembly (200A,200B) and a support arm subassembly. The draper support sub-assembly is pivotably connected to the support arm sub-assembly and pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the support arm sub-assembly. The draper support sub-assembly includes a first draper support (608) that includes a curved surface engaging the draper belt and a cutter bar mount (606) supporting the cutter bar. The support arm sub assembly includes a support member connected to the frame.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header having a frame having a main truss extending in a lateral direction, at least one support arm extending from the frame in the forward direction, a cutter assembly attached to a respective distal end of each at least one support arm, and a linkage connecting a respective proximal end of each at least one support arm to the frame. The linkage includes a virtual pivot located below the main truss, and at or behind the main truss with respect to the forward direction. An agricultural vehicle having the header is also provided.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header suspension having a frame, a plurality of supports extending forward from the frame, an anchor plate, a frame pivot joining the frame to the anchor plate to be rotatable about a frame pivot axis, a frame actuator connected between the anchor plate and the frame and configured to resiliently hold the frame at a predetermined position relative to the anchor plate, and to allow the frame to move through a range of motion relative to the anchor plate, upon compression and/or extension of the frame actuator. The frame actuator may be, for example, at least one single-acting hydraulic actuator, mechanical spring, or a pneumatic cylinder.