Abstract: An agricultural harvester including a header assembly, includes: a multicoupler storage assembly including: a multicoupler assembly including a plurality of at least one of hydraulic connectors and electrical connectors; and a cradle mechanism configured for storing the multicoupler assembly and for selectively pivoting between a receiving position associated with the cradle mechanism receiving the multicoupler assembly and a storage position associated with the cradle mechanism storing the multicoupler assembly.

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: A cutter bar skid shoe for a header of an agricultural harvester. The cutter bar skid shoe includes a skid plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, a fore end and an aft end. The cutter bar skid shoe further includes a cutter knife clip integral with and extending forwardly of the fore end of the skid plate for engaging a cutter knife blade.

Abstract: A flexible header for an agricultural vehicle including a frame, at least one cutter bar movably coupled to the frame, and an adjustment system coupled to the frame and the at least one cutter bar. The adjustment system is configured to adjust a position of the at least one cutter bar. The adjustment system includes at least one linkage assembly. The linkage assembly includes a first link member and a second link member. Each of the first and second link members are rotationally coupled to the frame. The adjustment system also includes at least one fluid spring coupled to the first link member and the second link member such that the at least one linkage assembly translates a substantially linear movement of the at least one fluid spring to adjust the at least one cutter bar.

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 multi-segment header for an agricultural harvester including a multi-segment chassis and a backsheet supported by each of the multi-segment chassis. The multi-segment header further includes a backsheet extension assembly that has a backsheet extension mounted adjacent a top end of each backsheet, and an articulating joint extending between adjacent backsheet extensions. The articulated backsheet extension assembly follows upward and downward movement of the backsheets of the multi-segment chassis and blocks grain from passing over the backsheets and going unharvested.

Abstract: A draper belt tensioning system having a frame, roller, control link, and tension link. The roller is movable relative to the frame. The control link has a proximal end pivotally attached to the frame, and a distal end that is remote from the proximal end. The tension link has a proximal end connected to the roller and a distal end connected to the control link at a connection location offset from a control link pivot axis. The control link is movable between a locked position in which the connection location is on a first side of the roller rotation axis and the control link pivot axis, a centered position, and an unlocked position in which the connection location is on another side of the roller rotation axis and the control link pivot axis. The control link has a greater angle in the locked position than in the unlocked position.

Abstract: A draper header includes a draper frame and a reel arm. The reel arm is coupled to a reel and pivotally coupled to the draper frame. The draper header further includes a cutterbar pivotally coupled to the draper frame. The reel arm and the cutterbar are configured to pivot about the draper frame to adjust a side profile aspect ratio of the draper header from a first aspect ratio to a second aspect ratio. A height of the first aspect ratio is less than a height of the second aspect ratio, and a width of the first aspect ratio is greater than a width of the second aspect ratio.

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 for an agricultural harvester including a knife drive disposed at a forward end of a feeder conveyor. An infeed drive is disposed adjacent the feeder conveyor, the infeed drive having an input and an output. An input shaft is drivingly connected to the infeed drive input, and an output shaft has a first end connected to the infeed drive output and a second end drivingly connected to the knife drive. The knife drive can be a center knife drive and the infeed drive, the input shaft and the output shaft operate as a fully mechanical drive power supply for the center knife drive which overcomes the deficiencies of hydraulically-driven knife drives.

Abstract: The cutter guard assembly includes a cutter bar assembly, a window frame, and a floor sheet. The cutter bar assembly has a cutter bar and a reciprocating knife assembly operatively connected to a knife drive. The window frame is rigidly attached to the cutter bar. The window frame includes an opening through which a knife arm of the reciprocating knife assembly extends through. The floor sheet extends rearwardly from the cutter bar and pivots relative to the window frame.

Abstract: A draper belt tensioning system having a frame having a first tensioner mount, a roller, and a first belt tensioner. The roller is movable along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to a roller rotation axis. The first belt tensioner is connected to the first roller end and selectively connectable to the first tensioner mount. The first belt tensioner includes a first travel stop configured to selectively abut the first tensioner mount with the first tensioner mount between the first travel stop and the first roller end, a first spring, and a first threaded connector configured to move the first roller end closer to and further from the first travel stop upon rotation of the threaded connector. The first travel stop, first spring and first threaded connector are removable from the first tensioner mount without disassembly from each other and without disassembly from the first roller end.

Abstract: A method for dynamically operating a header float system of an agricultural vehicle having a header movably mounted to a frame of the agricultural vehicle by an actuator. The method includes: determining a target ground reaction force between the header and a ground surface located below the header, determining an actual ground reaction force between the header and the ground surface, comparing the actual ground reaction force to the target ground reaction force, and upon determining that the actual ground reaction force differs from the target ground reaction force by a predetermined amount, operating the actuator to reduce a difference in value between the actual ground reaction force and the target ground reaction force. An agricultural vehicle having a header operated as described above is also provided.

Abstract: An agricultural header includes: a main section including a main frame carrying at least one cutting element; at least one wing section pivotably coupled to the main section and including a wing frame; and a linkage pivotably coupling the at least one wing section to the main section, the linkage including an upper bar and a lower bar which are both coupled to the main frame and the wing frame, the upper bar defining an upper bar axis and the lower bar defining a lower bar axis which is non-parallel to the upper bar axis.

Abstract: An agricultural header includes: a main section including a main frame carrying at least one cutting element; at least one wing section pivotably coupled to the main section and including a wing frame; and a linkage pivotably coupling the at least one wing section to the main section, the linkage including an upper bar and a lower bar which are both coupled to the main frame and the wing frame, the upper bar defining an upper bar axis and the lower bar defining a lower bar axis which is non-parallel to the upper bar axis.

Abstract: A header system is provided. The headers system includes a conveyor belt and a belt roller assembly comprising a belt roller configured to contact the conveyor belt and to rotate about an axis during movement of the conveyor belt. The header system further includes a belt roller assembly mount configured to secure the belt roller on the header system, wherein the belt roller mount assembly comprises a first mounting member configured to secure the belt roller to an infeed deck frame included in the header system.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester including a knife drive disposed at a forward end of a feeder conveyor. An infeed drive is disposed adjacent the feeder conveyor, the infeed drive having an input and an output. An input shaft is drivingly connected to the infeed drive input, and an output shaft has a first end connected to the infeed drive output and a second end drivingly connected to the knife drive. The knife drive can be a center knife drive and the infeed drive, the input shaft and the output shaft operate as a fully mechanical drive power supply for the center knife drive which overcomes the deficiencies of hydraulically-driven knife drives.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester header including a first reel, a second reel adjacent the first reel, and a variable speed reel drive between the first and second reels and operatively connected to at least one of the first reel for rotatably driving the first reel and the second reel for rotatably driving the second reel. The variable speed reel drive can include: a variable speed motor, and a multi-speed gearbox operatively coupled to the variable speed motor and at least one of the reels; a motor, and a continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the motor and at least one of the reels; or a motor, and a planetary gear drive operatively coupled to the motor and at least one of the reels.

Abstract: A cutter bar lockout mechanism for a header of an agricultural vehicle. The cutter bar lockout mechanism includes a shaft having a first end that is coupled to a frame of the header, and a second end that is positioned either on, within or adjacent a cutter bar support arm (arm) of the header. An upper stop is either mounted to the shaft or forms part of the shaft and is configured to selectively interact with an upper surface of the arm. A lower stop is either mounted to the shaft or forms part of the shaft and is configured to selectively interact with a lower surface of the arm. The shaft is movable relative to both the frame and the arm between an unlocked position and a locked position.

Abstract: A draper header includes a draper frame and a reel arm. The reel arm is coupled to a reel and pivotally coupled to the draper frame. The draper header further includes a cutterbar pivotally coupled to the draper frame. The reel arm and the cutterbar are configured to pivot about the draper frame to adjust a side profile aspect ratio of the draper header from a first aspect ratio to a second aspect ratio. A height of the first aspect ratio is less than a height of the second aspect ratio, and a width of the first aspect ratio is greater than a width of the second aspect ratio.