Stalk-diameter sensing system with stalk feeler damper

A stalk-diameter sensing system for use with an agricultural harvester that travels on a field in a forward direction, the stalk-diameter sensing system comprising:

• a first stalk feeler and a second stalk feeler, the first and second stalk feelers deflectably mounted on opposite sides of a stalk-receiving gap that receives a stalk planted in the field, the first and second stalk feelers yieldably biased into the stalk-receiving gap for deflection upon contact with an outer surface of the stalk as the agricultural harvester travels on the field in the forward direction,
• a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor coupled to the first stalk feeler to sense deflection of the first stalk feeler and generate a first signal, the second sensor coupled to the second stalk feeler to sense deflection of the second stalk feeler and generate a second signal, and a first damper and a second damper, the first damper positioned to dampen deflection of the first stalk feeler, the second damper positioned to dampen deflection of the second stalk feeler,
• a first pivot joint defining a first pivot axis about which the first stalk feeler pivots and a second pivot joint defining a second pivot axis about which the second stalk feeler pivots,
• a first spring and a second spring, wherein each of the first stalk feeler and the second stalk feeler comprises a bar, the pivot body of the first stalk feeler comprises a first arm to which the bar of the first stalk feeler and the first damper are coupled and a second arm to which the first spring is coupled, and the pivot body of the second stalk feeler comprises a first arm to which the bar of the second stalk feeler and the second damper are coupled and a second arm to which the second spring is coupled,
• wherein each of the first stalk feeler and the second stalk feeler comprises a pivot body, the first pivot axis extends through the pivot body of the first stalk feeler, the second pivot axis extends through the pivot body of the second stalk feeler, the first damper is coupled to the pivot body of the first stalk feeler, and the second damper is coupled to the pivot body of the second stalk feeler, and
• wherein the first damper is coupled to the first arm of the pivot body of the first stalk feeler via a first damper attachment point of that pivot body, the first spring is coupled to the second arm of the pivot body of the first stalk feeler via a first spring attachment point of that pivot body, the second damper is coupled to the first arm of the pivot body of the second stalk feeler via a second damper attachment point of that pivot body, the second spring is coupled to the second arm of the pivot body of the second stalk feeler via a second spring attachment point of that pivot body, the first damper attachment point and the first spring attachment point are positioned on laterally opposite sides of the first pivot axis relative to the forward direction, and the second damper attachment point and the second spring attachment point are positioned on laterally opposite sides of the second pivot axis relative to the forward direction.