US 4,409,780 AGranted

Folding header assembly

AssigneeKansas State University Research Foundation

InventorsTimothy K. Beougher, Joaquim A. Pipoli, Karl K. Visser, Russell B. Bauck, Tony K. Lippert

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Abstract

A folding header assembly for combine harvesters and the like, wherein the header includes a center section transversely mountable at the front of a combine or other support vehicle and a pair of wing sections hingedly connected to the ends of the center section. During header operation, all three sections are disposed in general alignment, but the hinge connections of the wing sections allow them to pivot upwardly and downwardly in adapting to uneven terrain. Despite the substantial width of the extended multi-section header assembly, the wing sections may be easily and automatically folded upwardly, shifted inwardly, and inclined rearwardly for safe road travel within legal width limits and without objectionable interference with a driver's view of the road.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A folding header assembly for combines and the like comprising a center section and a pair of wing sections;

said center section being adapted for horizontal attachment across the front of a combine and said wing sections being normally disposed at opposite ends of said center section and in general horizontal alignment therewith;
a pair of vertically-spaced upper and lower hinge assemblies disposed at each end of said center section between said center section and said wing sections;
each hinge assembly having hinge elements capable of being coupled and uncoupled;
and actuating means connected to each pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies for selectively coupling only one of the assemblies of each pair while uncoupling the other of the assemblies of each pair;
said wing sections being pivotally movable upwardly and downwardly about the pivot axes of the lower hinge assemblies of each pair, when said lower hinge assemblies are coupled and said upper hinge assemblies are uncoupled, to allow said wing sections to travel over uneven terrain;
said wing sections being foldable upwardly about the pivot axes of said upper hinge assemblies, when said upper hinge assemblies are coupled and said lower hinge assemblies are uncoupled, to reduce the width of said header assembly in transit.

3 more elements

A combine harvester having a folding header assembly;

said header assembly comprising a center section mounted upon said combine harvester at the front end thereof and a pair of wing sections normally disposed at opposite ends of said center section and in generally horizontal alignment therewith;
a pair of vertically-spaced upper and lower hinge assemblies disposed at each end of said center section between said center section and said wing section;
each hinge assembly having hinge elements capable of being coupled and uncoupled;
operating means connected to each pair of upper and lower hinge assemblies for selectively coupling only one of the assemblies of each pair while uncoupling the other of the assemblies of each pair;
said wing sections being pivotally movable upwardly and downwardly about the hinge axes of the lower hinge assemblies, when said lower hinge assemblies are coupled and said upper hinge assemblies are uncoupled, to allow said wing sections to traverse uneven terrain;
said wing sections being foldable upwardly about the hinge axes of said upper hinge assemblies, when said upper hinge assemblies are coupled and said lower hinge assemblies are uncoupled, to reduce the width of said header assembly in transit.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.