Harvesting platform with a floating cutter bar

A harvesting platform for a mobile harvesting machine comprising:

• a transversely elongated platform frame having opposite sides;
• a platform floor extending between the opposite side;
• a transverse flexible cutter bar assembly extending between the opposite sides forwardly of the floor and operative to flex vertically to a limited degree to follow the contour of the ground;
• linkage means mounting the cutter bar assembly on the platform frame for vertical adjustment relative thereto so that the cutter bar assembly is free to follow the contour of the ground;
• and a transversely elongated, resiliently flexible, sheet-like spring means having its rearward end rigidly attached to the platform floor and its forward end connected to the cutter bar assembly, the forward end of the spring means deflecting downwardly as the cutter bar simply swings downwardly to follow the contour of the ground, so that the spring means exerts an upward force on the cutter bar assembly partially counterbalancing the weight of the cutter bar assembly.

A harvesting platform for a mobile harvesting machine comprising:

• a transversely elongated platform frame having opposite sides;
• a platform floor extending between the opposite sides;
• a transverse flexible cutter bar assembly extending between the opposite sides forwardly of the floor and operative to flex vertically to a limited degree to follow the contour of the ground;
• a plurality of generally fore and aft support members connected to the frame and disposed below the floor;
• and linkage means connecting the support members to the cutter bar assembly for permitting independent vertical adjustment of different portions of the cutter bar assembly so that the cutter bar assembly follow the contour of the ground and including means operatively connecting the linkage means to the support members at alternate fore and aft positions to selectively vary the fore and aft positions of the cutter bar assembly relative to the platform frame.

A harvesting platform for a mobile harvesting machine comprising:

• a transversely elongated platform frame having opposite sides;
• a platform floor extending between the opposite sides;
• a transverse flexible cutter bar assembly extending between opposite sides forwardly of the floor and operative to flex vertically to a limited degree to follow the contour of the ground;
• a plurality of transversely spaced linkages operatively mounting the cutter bar assembly on the platform frame for independent vertical adjustment of different portions of the cutter bar relative to the platform frame so that the cutter bar assembly is free to follow the contour of the ground, each linkage including a generally fore and aft push link having its rearward end pivotally connected to the platform frame through an axially transverse pivot and its forward end connected to the cutter bar assembly by an axially transverse pivot and a generally fore and aft stop arm generally parallel to and forwardly of the push link, the forward and rearward ends of each stop arm being respectively rockably connected to the platform frame and the cutter bar assembly for swinging about transverse axes to form a parallel type linkage with the push links whereby the cutter bar swings vertically in a vertical arc in a generally horizontal condition.