Combination flex and rigid header height control in a harvester
AssigneeCNH Industrial America LLC
InventorJoel T. Cook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination flex and rigid control system for a header of an agricultural harvester includes ground proximity detection arrangements for both rigid mode and flex mode operation of the header. The ground proximity detection arrangements are each coupled to the same sensor shaft by way of a sensor arm that is moved by either of the ground proximity detection arrangements.
Claims20
A ground sensing system for a header in an agricultural harvester, the header configured to operate in a floating flex mode or in a fixed rigid mode, the ground sensing system comprising:
- a controller;
- a sensor having a communication link to the controller;
- a flex mode ground detector configured to be pivoted on the header, the flex mode ground detector operatively connected to the sensor and configured for acquiring and conveying ground proximity information during operation of the header in the flex mode;
- and
- a rigid mode ground detector pivoted on the flex mode ground detector, the rigid mode ground detector extending downwardly for contact with a ground surface and operatively connected to the sensor, the rigid mode ground detector configured for acquiring and conveying ground proximity information during operation of the header in the rigid mode.
A ground sensing system for a header in an agricultural harvester, the header having a frame and being configured to operate in a floating flex mode or in a fixed rigid mode, the ground sensing system comprising:
- a flex arm for pivotal connection to the header and extending along and adjacent a ground surface;
- an elongated feeler arm pivotally connected to the flex arm and extending angularly away from the flex arm below the flex arm for contact with the ground surface;
- a sensor arm operatively engaged by the feeler arm and the flex arm;
- and
- a sensor shaft coupled to and rotated by the sensor arm.
A header for an agricultural harvester, the header comprising:
- a cutterbar;
- a frame supporting the cutterbar;
- a reel coupled to the frame;
- and
- a ground sensing system comprising:
- a controller;
- a sensor having a communication link to the controller;
- and
- a flex mode ground detector pivotably coupled to the frame, the flex mode ground detector operatively connected to the sensor and configured for acquiring and conveying ground proximity information during operation of the header in a flex mode;
- and
- a rigid mode ground detector pivoted on the flex mode ground detector, the rigid mode ground detector extending downwardly for contact with a ground surface and operatively connected to the sensor, the rigid mode ground detector configured for acquiring and conveying ground proximity information during operation of the header in a rigid mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.