Agricultural machine with folding header
An agricultural harvester includes a chassis and a header carried by the chassis. The header includes: a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends; a wing section linked to one of the lateral ends of the center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, the wing section being vertically moveable relative to the center section between a harvesting position and a transport position, the wing section being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis in the transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about the pivot axis in the harvesting position; and an actuator linked to the wing section and configured to vertically move the wing section from the harvesting position to the transport position.
This is an application for reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 10,070,575.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to agricultural vehicles, and, more particularly, to agricultural harvesters which include a header.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAn agricultural harvester known as a “combine” is historically termed such because it combines multiple harvesting functions with a single harvesting unit, such as picking, threshing, separating and cleaning. A combine includes a header which removes the crop from a field, and a feeder housing which transports the crop matter into a threshing rotor. The threshing rotor rotates within a perforated housing, which may be in the form of adjustable concaves, and performs a threshing operation on the crop to remove the grain. Once the grain is threshed it falls through perforations in the concaves and is transported to a grain pan. From the grain pan the grain is cleaned using a cleaning system, and is then transported to a grain tank onboard the combine. The cleaning system includes a cleaning fan which blows air through oscillating sieves to discharge chaff and other debris toward the rear of the combine. Non-grain crop material such as straw from the threshing section proceeds through a straw chopper and out the rear of the combine. When the grain tank becomes full, the combine is positioned adjacent a vehicle into which the grain is to be unloaded, such as a semi-trailer, gravity box, straight truck, or the like; and an unloading system on the combine is actuated to transfer the grain into the vehicle.
Typically, the header includes one or more cutters, such as cutter bars, which cut the crop material growing in the field for collection. The cutter(s) often define the largest width of the combine, relative to forward motion, in order to cut as much crop material as possible in each pass of the combine in the field. As combines become larger to reduce the number of passes necessary to harvest an entire field, the headers have also increased dramatically in width. While this is beneficial while collecting crops in the field, the increased width of the header is problematic during transport of the combine.
As is known, combines generally travel at low speeds on unpaved terrain during crop harvesting. If a user wishes to transport the combine to a different location that is relatively far from the current location, the combine is typically towed or otherwise carried by a faster vehicle on regulated public roadways. Public roadway regulations limit the width of any vehicle traveling on the public roadway for the safety of all those on the roadway. As the header width is usually significantly greater than the allowed limit, the combine cannot be carried on public roadways without somehow reducing the width of the header.
What is needed in the art is a way to reduce the width of the header for transport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a center section and one or more wing sections linked to the center section which can only pivot about a generally vertical axis when the wing section or center section is in a vertical transport position.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an agricultural harvester including a chassis and a header carried by the chassis. The header includes: a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends; a wing section linked to one of the lateral ends of the center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, the wing section being vertically moveable relative to the center section between a harvesting position and a transport position, the wing section being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis in the transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about the pivot axis in the harvesting position; and an actuator linked to the wing section and configured to vertically move the wing section from the harvesting position to the transport position.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an agricultural harvester including a chassis and a header carried by the chassis. The header includes: a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends, the center section being vertically moveable relative to the chassis between a harvesting position and a transport position; a wing section linked to one of the lateral ends of the center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, the wing section being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis when the center section is in the transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about the pivot axis when the center section is in the harvesting position; and an actuator linked to the center section and configured to vertically move the center section from the harvesting position to the transport position.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of preparing an agricultural vehicle for transport, the agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a header linked to the chassis which includes a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends and a wing section linked to one of the lateral ends of the center section and supporting at least one wing cutter. The center section or the wing section is raised relative to the other section from a harvesting position to a transport position, the wing section only being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis when the raised section is in the transport position. The wing section is then pivoted about the generally vertical pivot axis when the raised section is in the transport position.
An advantage of the agricultural harvester described herein is that the wing section(s) can pivot about the generally vertical pivot axis to reduce the width of the header for transport.
Another advantage of the agricultural harvester described herein is that the wing section(s) can also be pivotable about a horizontal axis in the harvesting position.
Still another advantage of the agricultural harvester described herein is that the wing section(s) can have attached wheels that will help stabilize the wing section(s) during travel of the vehicle.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONReferring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
The header system 24 includes a center section 26 supporting one or more center cutters 28 with sharpened edges 30 to cut crop material as the vehicle 20 travels in a forward direction, denoted by arrow 32. As shown, the center cutter 28 is a cutter bar, but other types of cutters can also be included in place of the cutter bar 28. As shown in
Referring now to
Referring especially now to
To illustrate how the wing sections 38, 40 pivot into the transport mode from the harvesting mode, reference is now made to
Referring specifically now to
To help support the weight of the wing sections 38 and 40 during harvesting and transport, each wing section 38, 40 can have a wheel 92, 94 connected thereto that will contact the ground as the combine harvester 20 travels across a surface. The wheels 92, 94 can be, for example, caster wheels 92, 94 that will swivel about caster axes CA1, CA2 as the wing sections 38, 40 pivot about the generally vertical axes A1 and A2. As the wing sections 38 and 40 may move vertically to assume the transport position, as shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring specifically now to
While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An agricultural harvester, comprising:
- a chassis; and
- a header carried by said chassis, said header including: a center section supporting a center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends; a wing section linked to one of said lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, said wing section being vertically moveable relative to said center section between a harvesting position and a transport position, said wing section being pivotally coupled to said center section about a generally vertical pivot axis in said transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about said pivot axis in said harvesting position by way of one of an abutment of a lateral end of said center section with a lateral end of said wing section and a pivot tube having a laterally extending stop; and a pivoting actuator linked to said wing section and to cause movement of said wing section or said pivoting actuator being linked to said center section to cause movement of said center section, the pivoting actuator moves said wing section movement including a translational movement along said generally vertical pivot axis from said harvesting position to said transport position.
2. The agricultural harvester according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a second wing section linked to the other of said pair of lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one second wing cutter, said second wing section being vertically moveable relative to said center section between a second wing harvesting position and a second wing transport position, said second wing section being pivotally coupled to the center section about a generally vertical second pivot axis in said second wing transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about said second pivot axis in said second wing harvesting position by way of an abutment of an other lateral end of said center section with a lateral end of said second wing section; and a second pivoting actuator linked to said second wing sectionand said center section, the pivoting actuator moves said second wing section along said second vertical pivot axis from said second wing harvesting position to said second wing transport position.
3. The agricultural harvester according to claim 2, wherein said transport position and said second wing transport position are both above a top surface of said center section.
4. The agricultural harvester according to claim 2, wherein said wing section has a first vertically moveable wheel attached thereto and said second wing section has a second vertically moveable wheel attached thereto.
5. The agricultural harvester according to claim 4, wherein said first vertically moveable wheel contacts the ground when said wing section is in said transport position and said second vertically moveable wheel contacts the ground when said second wing section is in said second wing transport position.
6. The agricultural harvester according to claim 1, wherein said wing section is prevented from pivoting about said pivot axis in said harvesting position by said abutment against said linked lateral end of said center section.
7. The agricultural harvester according to claim 1, wherein said wing section is vertically moveable along said pivot axis.
8. The agricultural harvester according to claim 7, wherein said wing section includes said pivot tube linked to said center section, said pivot tube including said laterally extending stop which prevents pivoting of said wing section in said harvesting position.
9. The agricultural harvester according to claim 8, wherein said laterally extending stop includes at least one arc shaped slot and said center section includes at least one pin placed in said at least one arc shaped slot.
10. An agricultural harvester, comprising:
- a chassis; and
- a header carried by said chassis, said header including: a center section supporting a center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends, said center section being vertically moveable relative to said chassis between a harvesting position and a transport position; a wing section linked to one of said lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, said wing section being pivotally coupled about a generally vertical pivot axis to said center section, said wing section includes a laterally extending stop which prevents pivoting of said wing section when said center section is in said harvesting position, said laterally extending stop includes at least one arc shaped slot and said center section includes at least one pin placed in said at least one arc shaped slot; and an actuator linked to said center section to vertically move said center section from said harvesting position to said transport position.
11. The agricultural harvester according to claim 10, further comprising:
- a second wing section linked to the other of said pair of lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one second wing cutter, said second wing section being pivotally coupled about a generally vertical second pivot axis to the center section when said center section is in said transport position.
12. The agricultural harvester according to claim 11, wherein said transport position of said center section is above a top surface of both said wing section and said second wing section.
13. The agricultural harvester according to claim 10, wherein said wing section is prevented from pivoting about said pivot axis in said harvesting position by abutment against said linked lateral end of said center section.
14. A method of preparing an agricultural vehicle for transport, said agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a header linked to said chassiswhich includes, said header including a center section supporting a center cutterand, said center section having a pair of lateral endsand, said header further including a wing section linked to one of said lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, said method comprising the steps of:
- raising one of said center section and or said wing section relative to the other section from a harvesting position to a transport position, the section being raised being referred to as a raised section when raised, said raising step including vertically raising one of said center section and or said wing section, said vertically raising including a translational movement along a generally vertical axis; and
- pivoting said wing section about said generally vertical axis to said transport position when said raised section has been raised, said generally vertical axis being a generally vertical pivot axis, said wing section only being pivoted about said generally vertical pivot axis when said raised section has been raised.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said wing section is said raised section.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said wing section is vertically raised along said generally vertical pivot axis from said harvesting position to said transport position.
17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of vertically extending wheels from an end of said wing section opposite the generally vertical pivot axis as said wing section is raised.
18. An agricultural harvesting header for an agricultural harvester comprising:
- a left wing section;
- a center section;
- an upper left bar pivotally coupled to the left section at a distal end of the upper left bar and pivotally coupled to the center section at a proximal end of the upper left bar;
- a lower left bar pivotally coupled to the left section at a distal end of the lower left bar and pivotally coupled to the center section at a proximal end of the lower left bar;
- a right wing section;
- an upper right bar pivotally coupled to the right section at a distal end of the upper right bar and pivotally coupled to the center section at a proximal end of the upper right bar; and
- a lower right bar pivotally coupled to the right section at a distal end of the lower right bar and pivotally coupled to the center section at a proximal end of the lower right bar.
19. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the upper left bar and the lower left bar constrain movement of the left wing section with respect to the center section.
20. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 19, wherein the upper right bar and the lower right bar constrain movement of the right wing section to move with respect to the center section.
21. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the upper left bar is pivotally coupled to the left wing section, wherein the upper left bar is pivotally coupled to the center section, wherein the lower left bar is pivotally coupled to the left wing section, and wherein the lower left bar is pivotally coupled to the center section.
22. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 21, wherein the upper left bar is disposed above the lower left bar.
23. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the upper right bar is pivotally coupled to the right section; wherein the upper right bar is pivotally coupled to the center section; wherein the lower right bar is pivotally coupled to the right section; and wherein the lower right bar is pivotally coupled to the center section.
24. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 23, wherein the upper right bar is disposed above the lower right bar.
25. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the left wing section is elongated and is coupled to and extends away from a first lateral end of the center section to which the left section is coupled, and wherein the right wing section is elongated and is coupled to and extends away from a second lateral end of the center section.
26. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the left wing section, the center section, and the right wing section each includes a cutter bar.
27. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the left wing section has a first top surface and the right wing section has a second top surface, and wherein the first top surface and the second top surface are coplanar in at least one operating position.
28. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the upper left bar couples the left wing section to the center section.
29. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 28, wherein the upper right bar couples the right wing section to the center section.
30. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the upper left bar and the lower left bar are each coupled to the left section and the center section such that each of the upper left bar and the lower left bar is configured to pivot with respect to the left section and the center section about distinct pivot axes.
31. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 30, wherein the upper right bar and the lower right bar are each coupled to the right section and the center section such that each of the upper right bar and the lower right bar is configured to pivot with respect to the right wing section and the center section about the distinct pivot axes.
32. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 18, wherein the pivotal coupling of the upper left bar to the left section is about a first pivot axis, the pivotal coupling of the upper left bar to the center section is about a second pivot axis, the pivotal coupling of the lower left bar to the left section is about a third pivot axis, the pivotal coupling of the lower left bar to the center section is about a fourth pivot axis, the pivotal coupling of the upper right bar to the right section is about a fifth pivot axis, the pivotal coupling of the upper right bar to the center section is about a sixth pivot axis, the pivotal coupling of the lower right bar to the right section is about a seventh pivot axis, and the pivotal coupling of the lower right bar to the center section is about an eighth pivot axis.
33. The agricultural harvesting header of claim 32, wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis define a first line, the third pivot axis and the fourth pivot axis define a second line, the fifth pivot axis and the sixth pivot axis define a third line, and the seventh pivot axis and the eighth pivot axis define a fourth line.
34. An agricultural harvester, comprising:
- a chassis; and
- a header carried by the chassis, the header including: a center section supporting a center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends; a wing section coupled to one of said lateral ends of said center section and supporting a wing cutter, the wing section being moveable relative to said center section along at least two distinct planes, said wing section being pivotally coupled to said center section about a first axis and a second axis intersecting the first axis; an upper bar pivotally coupled to the wing section at a distal end of the upper bar and pivotally coupled to the center section at a proximal end of the upper bar; and a lower bar pivotally coupled to the wing section at a distal end of the lower bar and pivotally coupled to the center section at a proximal end of the lower bar.
35. The agricultural harvester of claim 34, further comprising:
- a feeder configured to transport crop removed by the header to a threshing rotor; and
- a tank configured to collect crop material from the crop through the threshing rotor,
- wherein the header includes cutters configured to cut the crop for transporting to the feeder.
36. The agricultural harvester of claim 35, the wing section including a gap to allow tilt of the wing section as the agricultural harvester travels across a field as well as to pivot to conform to an inclined surface thereon.
37. The agricultural harvester of claim 35, wherein the wing section has at least two degrees of freedom of movement relative to the center section.
38. The agricultural harvester of claim 35, wherein the wing section has at least three degrees of freedom of movement relative to the center section.
39. The agricultural harvester of claim 37, wherein the at least two degrees of freedom of movement include any two or more of an up/down movement, a tilt movement, and an incline movement.
40. The agricultural harvester of claim 38, wherein the at least three degrees of freedom of movement include an up/down movement, a tilt movement, and an incline movement.
41. The agricultural harvester of claim 35, wherein the wing section includes a swiveling wheel.
42. An agricultural harvester, comprising:
- a chassis; and
- a header carried by said chassis, said header including: a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends; a wing section linked to one of said lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, said wing section being vertically moveable relative to said center section between a harvesting position and a transport position, said wing section being moveable along a generally vertical pivot axis in said transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about said pivot axis in said harvesting position, said movement of said wing section in said transport position including a translational movement along said generally vertical pivot axis; and an actuator linked to said wing section and configured to vertically move said wing section from said harvesting position to said transport position.
43. The agricultural harvester according to claim 42, further comprising:
- a second wing section linked to the other of said pair of lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one second wing cutter, said second wing section being vertically moveable relative to said center section between a second wing harvesting position and a second wing transport position, said second wing section being pivotable about a generally vertical second pivot axis in said second wing transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about said second pivot axis in said second wing harvesting position; and
- a second actuator linked to said second wing section and configured to vertically move said second wing section from said second wing harvesting position to said second wing transport position.
44. The agricultural harvester according to claim 43, wherein said transport position and said second wing transport position are both above a top surface of said center section.
45. The agricultural harvester according to claim 43, wherein said wing section has a first vertically moveable wheel attached thereto and said second wing section has a second vertically moveable wheel attached thereto.
46. The agricultural harvester according to claim 45, wherein said first vertically moveable wheel is configured to contact the ground when said wing section is in said transport position and said second vertically moveable wheel is configured to contact the ground when said second wing section is in said second wing transport position.
47. The agricultural harvester according to claim 42, wherein said wing section is prevented from pivoting about said pivot axis in said harvesting position by abutment against said linked lateral end of said center section.
48. The agricultural harvester according to claim 1, wherein said wing section is vertically moveable along said pivot axis.
49. The agricultural harvester according to claim 48, wherein said wing section includes a pivot tube linked to said center section, said pivot tube including a laterally extending stop that prevents pivoting of said wing section in said harvesting position.
50. The agricultural harvester according to claim 49, wherein said laterally extending stop includes at least one arc shaped slot and said center section includes at least one pin placed in said at least one arc shaped slot.
51. A method of preparing an agricultural vehicle for transport, said agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a header linked to said chassis which includes a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends and a wing section linked to one of said lateral ends of said center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, said method comprising:
- raising one of said center section or said wing section relative to the other section from a harvesting position to a transport position, said wing section only being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis when said raised section is in said transport position; and
- pivoting said wing section about said generally vertical pivot axis when said raised section is in said transport position, said wing section having a vertically moveable wheel attached thereto.
52. The method according to claim 51, wherein said wing section is said raised section.
53. The method according to claim 52, wherein said wing section is vertically raised along said generally vertical pivot axis from said harvesting position to said transport position.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 30, 2019
Date of Patent: Aug 23, 2022
Inventors: Bradley J. Wenger (Lancaster, PA), Zachary Long (Harleysville, PA), Craig D. Roberts (New Holland, PA), Andrew V. Lauwers (Stevens, PA), Blaine R. Noll (Fleetwood, PA), James F. Rayfield (New Holland, PA), John J. Conroy (Ephrata, PA)
Primary Examiner: William C Doerrler
Application Number: 16/588,519
International Classification: A01B 73/06 (20060101); A01D 41/14 (20060101); A01D 45/02 (20060101); A01D 34/04 (20060101); A01D 101/00 (20060101);