Abstract: In a draper harvesting head having a frame, a left side conveyor supported on the frame, a right side conveyor supported on the frame, a central conveyor supported on the frame and disposed between the left side conveyor and the right side conveyor, and a reciprocating knife fixed to the front of the frame and extending laterally across the frame, a method of controlling slippage between an endless conveyor belt of one of the left side conveyor and the right side conveyor and a crop mat carried on the endless conveyor belt is provided, including determining a speed of the endless conveyor belt and a speed of the crop mat; comparing a difference in the speed of the endless conveyor belt and the speed of the crop mat with a first threshold speed difference; and changing the speed of the endless conveyor belt based upon the step of comparing.

Abstract: A float arm support system may include a float arm supporting an active member, the float arm being pivotable about a first axis, a skid shoe to bear against and follow local ground contours of the underlying terrain while supporting the active member of the float arm above the underlying terrain and a powered actuator. The skid shoe may be coupled to the float arm between the first axis and the active member. The powered actuator may be operably coupled to the skid shoe to vertically move the skid shoe to adjust a spacing at which the skid shoe supports the active member of the float arm relative to the underlying terrain.

Abstract: In a draper harvesting head having a frame, a left side conveyor supported on the frame, a right side conveyor supported on the frame, a central conveyor supported on the frame and disposed between the left side conveyor and the right side conveyor, and a reciprocating knife fixed to the front of the frame and extending laterally across the frame, a method of controlling slippage between an endless conveyor belt of one of the left side conveyor and the right side conveyor and a crop mat carried on the endless conveyor belt is provided, including determining a speed of the endless conveyor belt and a speed of the crop mat; comparing a difference in the speed of the endless conveyor belt and the speed of the crop mat with a first threshold speed difference; and changing the speed of the endless conveyor belt based upon the step of comparing.

Abstract: A float arm support system may include a float arm supporting an active member, the float arm being pivotable about a first axis, a skid shoe to bear against and follow local ground contours of the underlying terrain while supporting the active member of the float arm above the underlying terrain and a powered actuator. The skid shoe may be coupled to the float arm between the first axis and the active member. The powered actuator may be operably coupled to the skid shoe to vertically move the skid shoe to adjust a spacing at which the skid shoe supports the active member of the float arm relative to the underlying terrain.

Abstract: A control system (210) is provided for an agricultural harvester (200), the agricultural harvester (200) having an agricultural harvesting vehicle (202) and a harvesting head (204) mounted thereon, the harvesting head (204) further comprising a left side endless belt conveyor (214) driven by a left conveyor motor (312), a right side endless belt conveyor (218) driven by a right conveyor motor (310) and a center endless belt conveyor (220) driven by a center conveyor motor (314), the control system (210) comprising an electronic controller (300) configured to receive an electronic signal indicative of a roll angle of the harvesting head (204), and to electronically change a relative speed of at least one of the right conveyor motor (310) and the left conveyor motor (312) based at least upon the electronic signal indicative of a roll angle of the harvesting head (204).

Abstract: A ground force control circuit (162) for an articulated harvesting head is provided that comprises, an ECU (164); and a first hydraulic control valve (166, 170) driven by the ECU (164), wherein the first hydraulic control valve (166, 170) is coupled to at least one actuator (158, 160) and is configured to maintain a constant pressure in the at least one actuator (158, 160).

Abstract: A hinged row crop harvesting head (100) has two frame sections (110, 112, 114) coupled together with at least one hinge (186, 188) that permits the two frame sections (110, 112, 114) to pivot with respect to each other as the hinged row crop harvesting head (100) travels through a field harvesting crops.

Abstract: An articulated harvesting head load sensor arrangement is provided that includes two harvesting head sections (102, 104, 106) that are coupled with a first pivot pin (162) that is a load pin.

Abstract: A draper platform (100) for mounting on a feederhouse of an agricultural combine comprises an elongate reciprocating knife assembly (140) at a forward edge of the draper platform (100). A left side endless belt conveyor (116) is disposed behind the reciprocating knife assembly on the left side of the draper platform (100) and a right side endless belt conveyor (120) is disposed behind the elongate reciprocating knife assembly (140) on the right side of the draper platform (100). A center endless belt conveyor (118) carries the cut crop material rearward towards a central rear aperture (138) in the frame (101). A conveyor drum (136) is mounted above and in front of the central rear aperture (138). Conveyor members (150, 152, 164, 165) are located at crop transition zones (154, 156) between the left side endless belt conveyor (116), and the conveyor drum (136), and between the right side endless belt conveyor (120) and the conveyor drum (136).

Abstract: A control system (210) is provided for an agricultural harvester (200), the agricultural harvester (200) having an agricultural harvesting vehicle (202) and a harvesting head (204) mounted thereon, the harvesting head (204) further comprising a left side endless belt conveyor (214) driven by a left conveyor motor (312), a right side endless belt conveyor (218) driven by a right conveyor motor (310) and a center endless belt conveyor (220) driven by a center conveyor motor (314), the control system (210) comprising an electronic controller (300) configured to receive an electronic signal indicative of a roll angle of the harvesting head (204), and to electronically change a relative speed of at least one of the right conveyor motor (310) and the left conveyor motor (312) based at least upon the electronic signal indicative of a roll angle of the harvesting head (204).

Abstract: An articulated harvesting head load sensor arrangement is provided that includes two harvesting head sections (102, 104, 106) that are coupled with a first pivot pin (162) that is a load pin.

Abstract: A ground force control circuit (162) for an articulated harvesting head is provided that comprises, an ECU (164); and a first hydraulic control valve (166, 170) driven by the ECU (164), wherein the first hydraulic control valve (166, 170) is coupled to at least one actuator (158, 160) and is configured to maintain a constant pressure in the at least one actuator (158, 160).

Abstract: A draper platform (100) for mounting on a feederhouse of an agricultural combine comprises an elongate reciprocating knife assembly (140) at a forward edge of the draper platform (100). A left side endless belt conveyor (116) is disposed behind the reciprocating knife assembly on the left side of the draper platform (100) and a right side endless belt conveyor (120) is disposed behind the elongate reciprocating knife assembly (140) on the right side of the draper platform (100). A center endless belt conveyor (118) carries the cut crop material rearward towards a central rear aperture (138) in the frame (101). A conveyor drum (136) is mounted above and in front of the central rear aperture (138). Conveyor members (150, 152, 164, 165) are located at crop transition zones (154, 156) between the left side endless belt conveyor (116), and the conveyor drum (136), and between the right side endless belt conveyor (120) and the conveyor drum (136).

Abstract: A harvesting header (100) comprises a frame (101) having a rear aperture (138). Crop is harvested and fed towards and through the rear aperture (138). A conveyor drum (136) is mounted above and in front of the rear aperture (138). The conveyor drum (136) has a cylindrical section (144) and frusto-conical end sections (148) on both ends of the cylindrical section (144). Retractable fingers (146) extend outwards from the cylindrical section (144) and from each frusto-conical end section (148). The retractable fingers (146) extending from the frusto-conical end sections (148) are angled towards the side.

Abstract: A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes at least one platform section. Each platform section has a cutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless belt with a leading edge, and a plurality of skid shoes. Each skid shoe extends rearwardly from the cutterbar assembly and has an upper surface defining a belt support for the leading edge of the endless belt.

Abstract: A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes at least one platform section. Each platform section has a cutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless belt with a leading edge, and a plurality of skid shoes. Each skid shoe extends rearwardly from the cutterbar assembly and has an upper surface defining a belt support for the leading edge of the endless belt.

Abstract: A hinged row crop harvesting head (100) has two frame sections (110, 112, 114) coupled together with at least one hinge (186, 188) that permits the two frame sections (110, 112, 114) to pivot with respect to each other as the hinged row crop harvesting head (100) travels through a field harvesting crops.

Abstract: A draper header has a transverse main frame supporting center, left side and right side belt conveyors and including a plurality of transversely spaced knife support members that extend forwardly beneath the belt conveyors from right and left lower rear main frame members and have forward ends on which a transversely extending knife is supported. Each belt conveyor includes a frame disposed within an endless belt and having a rear side hinged to a respective lower rear main frame member for pivoting upwardly between operating and belt-changing positions. Brackets are removably fixed across the length of the knife and have rear edges extending above front edges of the belts when the conveyors are in their operating positions. At least one height adjuster is mounted between the main frame and each conveyor frame for moving each conveyor to its belt-changing position once the associated brackets are removed from the knife.

Abstract: A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes at least one platform section. Each platform section has a cutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless belt with a leading edge, and a plurality of skid shoes. Each skid shoe extends rearwardly from the cutterbar assembly and has an upper surface defining a belt support for the leading edge of the endless belt.

Abstract: A feed drum for an agricultural harvesting head has fingers extending through the surface of the feed drum that translate laterally and generally parallel to the rotational axis of the feed drum as the feed drum rotates to compress the crop mat laterally inwardly toward a central axial portion of the feed drum.