US 12,575,497 B2Granted

Automated lockout system for header

AssigneeDeere & Company

InventorsShreyas P. Modak, Alex A. Brimeyer, Shally Jarquin Cadena

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Abstract

Systems and methods for automated lockout systems for moving a cutterbar between a rigid configuration and a flexible configuration in response to actuation of one or more gauge wheels. In some implementations, a cutterbar is movable into a rigid configuration in response to extension of a gauge wheel. In some implementations, the cutterbar is movable into a flexible configuration in response to retraction of a gauge wheel. In some implementations, movement of a cutterbar into a rigid configuration occurs simultaneously with extension of a gauge wheel. In some implementations, movement of the cutterbar into a flexible configuration occurs simultaneously with retraction of a gauge wheel. In some implementations, movement of a gauge wheel and a cutter bar is performed in response to fluidic pressure.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A system for automatically configuring a cutterbar of an agricultural header comprising:

a frame;
a first float arm;
a second float arm, each of the first float arm and second float arm configured to move relative to the frame and including:
a first end;
and
a second end opposite the first end, the first float arm and the second float arm pivotably connected at the first ends thereof, the first float arm pivotable about a first pivot axis located at the first end thereof, and the second float arm pivotable about a second pivot axis located at the first end thereof;
a gauge wheel moveable between an extended position and a retracted position;
and
a cutterbar coupled to the second end of each of the first float arm and the second float arm and movable with the first float arm and the second float arm, the cutterbar movable between a flexible configuration in which the first float arm and the second float arm are independently movable relative to each other and a rigid configuration in which the first float arm and the second float arm are in abutting contact with the frame, the cutterbar movable into the rigid configuration in response to a pressurized fluid used to move the gauge wheel into the extended position or the cutterbar movable into the flexible configuration in response to the pressurized fluid used to move the gauge wheel into the retracted position,
wherein, in the rigid configuration, a portion of each of the first float arm and the second float arm offset from the first end abuts a portion of the frame.

7 more elements

A method of automatically configuring a cutterbar of an agricultural header, the method comprising:

pressurizing a fluid;
and
one of moving a gauge wheel into an extended position and simultaneously moving a cutterbar into a rigid configuration in response to the pressurized fluid and moving the gauge wheel into a retracted position and simultaneously moving the cutterbar into a flexible configuration in response to the pressurized fluid, the cutterbar, in the rigid configuration, being maintained in an unbent condition and the cutterbar, in the flexible configuration, having a first portion and a second portion, laterally offset from the first portion, being configured to be displaceable relative to each other in response to engagement with ground topography,
wherein moving the cutterbar into the rigid configuration includes actuating one or more float arms of the agricultural header into abutting contact with a frame of the agricultural header at a location of the one or more float arms offset from an end of the one or more float arms that is pivotably connected to the frame.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.