Crop harvesting header with variable diameter reel

A crop harvesting header comprising:

• a header frame arranged for movement in a direction of working movement across ground carrying a crop to be harvested;
• a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of the header frame for cutting the crop;
• a cut crop transport arrangement mounted on the header frame for receiving and transporting the cut crop for further processing;
• and a reel for controlling movement of the crop in the area over the cutter bar;
• the reel being mounted on the header frame for movement therewith in the direction of movement and for rotation about a reel axis generally parallel to the cutter bar;
• the reel having a plurality of reel bats at spaced positions around the reel axis so that as the reel rotates, the reel bats pass over the cutter bar for carrying crop rearwardly from the cutter bar;
• each reel bat having a row of bat fingers projecting generally outwardly from a bat axis with the bat fingers of the row being arranged at longitudinally spaced positions along the bat axis;
• the reel being mounted on support arms connected to the header frame for raising and lowering the reel axis so as to change a distance of the bat fingers from the cutter bar at a point of closest approach of the bat fingers to the cutter bar as the bat fingers pass over the cutter bar;
• and at least one actuation linkage mounted on the reel at an axial location of the reel;
• the at least one actuation linkage being operable to increase and decrease a radial distance from the axis of the reel of a portion of the reel bats at said axial location relative to at least one other portion of the reel bats spaced from said axial location, wherein a radial distance of the other portion of the reel bats does not increase or decrease.