Abstract: An agricultural header for an agricultural vehicle includes: a header frame; at least one cutter carried by the header frame and configured to cut crop material; and a transport assembly coupled to the header frame. The transport assembly includes: a first arm coupled to the header frame and including a first wheel mount configured to mount a first transport wheel thereto; a second arm pivotably coupled to the header frame and including a second wheel mount configured to mount a second transport wheel thereto; and a cross arm coupling the first arm to the second arm. The cross arm is releasably coupled to the first arm such that the cross arm and the second arm are slideable and nestable with one another when the cross arm is uncoupled from the first arm.

Abstract: An agricultural work assembly of an agricultural vehicle includes: a center section frame assembly: a wing section frame assembly: a linkage assembly including a first link, a second link, and a pivot connection pivotably connecting first link and second link together, the first link including a first segment and a second segment rigidly connected to one another and forming a pivot portion therebetween, the first segment forming the pivot connection with the second link, the first link being pivotably connected to the center section frame assembly or the wing section frame assembly at the pivot portion, the second link being pivotably connected to the other one of, relative to the first link, the center section frame assembly and the wing section frame assembly; and an actuator pivotably connected to the second segment and thereby configured for positioning the wing section frame assembly relative to the center section frame assembly.

Abstract: A frame assembly for an agricultural implement includes a frame having laterally opposite first and second sides, a first arm disposed at the first side and configured to rotate relative to the frame, a first biasing member coupled to the first side and to the first arm, a second arm disposed at the second side and configured to rotate relative to the frame, and a second biasing member coupled to the second side and the second arm. The first and second arms are configured to couple to the agricultural implement and to enable the agricultural implement to rotate about a longitudinal axis via rotation of the first arm and rotation of the second arm. The first and second biasing members are configured to flex in response to the rotation of the first and second arms, respectively.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for moving an implement attached to an agricultural vehicle. The actuator assembly includes an actuator comprising a longitudinal axis, a cylinder extending along the longitudinal axis, and a piston rod extending from the cylinder along the longitudinal axis and that is configured to be attached to the implement at a connection point. A safety stop is pivotably attached at the connection point and is movable between a deployed position where the safety stop is configured to block retraction of the actuator, and a retracted position where the safety stop is not configured to block retraction of the actuator. The safety stop is configured to rotate with respect to the actuator about a first rotational axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, as well as a second rotational axis that is orthogonal to both the longitudinal axis and the first rotational axis.

Abstract: An agricultural header includes: a header frame; a cutter carried by the header frame; a steering assembly coupled to the header frame and including an axle; and a transport assembly coupled to the header frame. The transport assembly includes: a first arm coupled to the header frame and movable between a first transport position and a first operating position; a first wheel mount pivotably coupled to the first arm; a second arm pivotably coupled to the header frame and movable between a second transport position and a second operating position; a second wheel mount pivotably coupled to the second arm; and a linkage reversibly coupling the first wheel mount to the second wheel mount and coupled to the axle such that the second arm is movable independently of the first arm when the linkage is uncoupled from at least one of the first wheel mount or the second wheel mount.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for moving an implement attached to an agricultural vehicle. The actuator assembly includes an actuator comprising a longitudinal axis, a cylinder extending along the longitudinal axis, and a piston rod extending from the cylinder along the longitudinal axis and that is configured to be attached to the implement at a connection point. A safety stop is pivotably attached at the connection point and is movable between a deployed position where the safety stop is configured to block retraction of the actuator, and a retracted position where the safety stop is not configured to block retraction of the actuator. The safety stop is configured to rotate with respect to the actuator about a first rotational axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, as well as a second rotational axis that is orthogonal to both the longitudinal axis and the first rotational axis.

Abstract: The pivoting action sickle drive has a low profile allowing incorporation in or below a floor of a header of a plant cutting machine to allow passage of cut plant material thereabout. The drive includes a substantially flat rotatable input element, and a drive arm connected eccentric thereto for eccentric rotation along an epicyclical path. The arm extends to a connection with a pivot arm of a pivot element that connects to a knife arm that drives a sickle knife assembly, such that the pivot element, knife arm and knife assembly will be reciprocatingly driven by the eccentric rotation of the drive arm. A second drive can oppositely drive a second sickle knife assembly, such that opposite forces generated by the drives will cancel. The drives can be packaged in a forwardly tapered or curved enclosure, and the pivot elements can be correspondingly shaped to streamline the drives.

Abstract: A feeding assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes: a frame; a rotatable auger supported by the frame and including at least one flighting; and a pickup assembly including a rotatable pickup reel and a plurality of tines rotatably carried by the pickup reel about a rotation axis, the tines being configured to pickup and convey crop material to the auger during rotation of the pickup reel. The pickup reel is movable relative to the auger such that movement of the pickup reel adjusts a distance between the rotation axis and the at least one flighting of the auger.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header having a center section, a wing section, a hinge connecting the center section's lower frame to the wing section's lower frame, and a torque transfer linkage connecting the center section's upper frame to the wing section's upper frame. The torque transfer link has a first link, a second link, a first pivot connection joining the first link to the center section upper frame, and providing a respective single degree of rotational freedom between the first link and the center section upper frame, a second pivot connection joining the first link to the second link, and providing a respective single degree of rotational freedom between the first link and the second link, and a third pivot connection joining the second link to the first wing section upper frame, and providing a respective single degree of rotational freedom between the second link and the first wing section frame.

Abstract: An agricultural header includes: a header frame; at least one cutter carried by the header frame and configured to cut crop material; and a transport assembly coupled to the header frame and including: a gauge wheel arm pivotably coupled to the header frame and pivotable between a transport position and a working position; and a dolly coupled to the gauge wheel arm and including a pair of dolly wheel mounts configured to mount a pair of wheels thereto. The dolly is coupled to the gauge wheel arm such that the dolly is carried by the gauge wheel arm between the transport position and the working position and is swivelable about a swivel axis extending through the gauge wheel arm when the gauge wheel arm is in the transport position.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header includes a frame supporting components of the agricultural vehicle header. A reel is mounted to the frame such that a weight of the reel produces a bending moment on the frame in a first direction that can cause the header to droop toward a ground surface. A gauge wheel is mounted to the frame such that a normal force, which is produced by the gauge wheel on the ground surface, is transmitted to the frame to cause a bending moment on the frame in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction in order to either limit or prevent drooping of the header toward the ground surface.

Abstract: An agricultural header for an agricultural vehicle includes: a header frame; at least one cutter carried by the header frame and configured to cut crop material; and a transport assembly coupled to the header frame. The transport assembly includes: a first arm coupled to the header frame and including a first wheel mount configured to mount a first transport wheel thereto; a second arm pivotably coupled to the header frame and including a second wheel mount configured to mount a second transport wheel thereto; and a cross arm coupling the first arm to the second arm. The cross arm is releasably coupled to the first arm such that the cross arm and the second arm are slideable and nestable with one another when the cross arm is uncoupled from the first arm.

Abstract: A sickle drive incorporated into a generally flat package or enclosure or floor. The drive includes an epicyclic mechanism, including a rotatable input element in an upper region of a cavity of the enclosure, and an eccentric element below the input element rotatable eccentrically thereby. A drive arm is connected to the eccentric element for rotation about, and eccentric rotation with, the eccentric element, and extends to a pivot element which can be the only component extending upwardly from the enclosure or floor, such that the shaft will be pivoted by the eccentric movement of the drive arm. A knife arm connects to the pivot element and a sickle knife assembly which will be reciprocated by the pivoting action. A second epicyclic arrangement can be employed such that opposite forces generated by operation of the drive will be largely canceled.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header having: a frame, a support arm having a proximal end rotatably mounted by a support arm pivot to the frame and a distal end spaced from the proximal end, a torque transfer anchor rigidly attached to the frame, a support torque rod having a distal end rotationally fixed to the support arm, and a proximal end rotatably mounted to the torque transfer anchor to rotate about a first axis, a frame torque rod having a proximal end rotatably mounted to the torque transfer anchor to rotate about a second axis and a distal end rotationally fixed to the frame, and a drive linkage connecting the support torque rod to the frame torque rod at the torque transfer anchor, to transfer a rotational motion of the support torque rod about the first axis into an opposite rotational motion of the frame torque rod about the second axis.

Abstract: A system includes an agricultural raking vehicle, including a motor drive and raking members mechanically coupled to the motor drive. The raking members rake agricultural product via rotation about an axis substantially orthogonal to a field on which the agricultural vehicle travels. The system also includes a sensor assembly that outputs a signal indicative of a determined windrow quality of the agricultural product raked by the raking members. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the motor drive and to the sensor assembly. The controller receives the signal and controls an angular speed of the motor drive, a ground speed of the agricultural vehicle, and/or a height of the raking members or tines above the field, based on a comparison of the determined windrow quality to a target windrow quality.

Abstract: A feeding assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes: a frame; a rotatable auger supported by the frame and including at least one flighting; and a pickup assembly including a rotatable pickup reel and a plurality of tines rotatably carried by the pickup reel about a rotation axis, the tines being configured to pickup and convey crop material to the auger during rotation of the pickup reel. The pickup reel is movable relative to the auger such that movement of the pickup reel adjusts a distance between the rotation axis and the at least one flighting of the auger.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header having: a frame, a support arm having a proximal end rotatably mounted by a support arm pivot to the frame and a distal end spaced from the proximal end, a torque transfer anchor rigidly attached to the frame, a support torque rod having a distal end rotationally fixed to the support arm, and a proximal end rotatably mounted to the torque transfer anchor to rotate about a first axis, a frame torque rod having a proximal end rotatably mounted to the torque transfer anchor to rotate about a second axis and a distal end rotationally fixed to the frame, and a drive linkage connecting the support torque rod to the frame torque rod at the torque transfer anchor, to transfer a rotational motion of the support torque rod about the first axis into an opposite rotational motion of the frame torque rod about the second axis.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header having a center section, a wing section, a hinge connecting the center section's lower frame to the wing section's lower frame, and a torque transfer linkage connecting the center section's upper frame to the wing section's upper frame. The torque transfer link has a first link, a second link, a first pivot connection joining the first link to the center section upper frame, and providing a respective single degree of rotational freedom between the first link and the center section upper frame, a second pivot connection joining the first link to the second link, and providing a respective single degree of rotational freedom between the first link and the second link, and a third pivot connection joining the second link to the first wing section upper frame, and providing a respective single degree of rotational freedom between the second link and the first wing section frame.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header includes a frame supporting components of the agricultural vehicle header. A reel is mounted to the frame such that a weight of the reel produces a bending moment on the frame in a first direction that can cause the header to droop toward a ground surface. A gauge wheel is mounted to the frame such that a normal force, which is produced by the gauge wheel on the ground surface, is transmitted to the frame to cause a bending moment on the frame in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction in order to either limit or prevent drooping of the header toward the ground surface.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester comprising first and second drive arm assemblies for connecting to respective cutting assemblies, and a drive unit consisting essentially of a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the first and second drive arm assemblies. Operation of the drive unit results in substantially linear and opposed oscillating motion of the cutting assemblies.