Combine header attitude control mechanism
AssigneeSperry Corporation
InventorsLawrence M. Halls, Edward J. Wynn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanism for controlling the attitude of a crop harvesting header mounted on a combine base unit for movement in a generally vertical direction and for rotational movement in a generally vertical plane to permit the header to follow changes in the ground contour is disclosed wherein a sensor bar is mounted on each respective side of the center line of the header to sense the location of the ground with respect to the corresponding end of the header. The header is provided with hydraulic lift cylinders and tilt cylinders to operably move the header vertically or rotationally. The control mechanism operably interconnects the sensor bars and the lift and tilt cylinders to effect movement of the header in response to a predetermined pattern of movement of the sensor bars.
Claims17
In a combine harvester having a mobile frame adapted for movement over a field, crop harvesting means supported by said frame to harvest crop material delivered thereto;
- crop feeding means operatively associated with said crop harvesting means to deliver crop material thereto;
- a transversely extending crop gathering header operatively connected to said crop feeding means to gather crop material from said field and convey said crop material to said crop feeding means, said header having first and second tranversely spaced sidewalls and a longitudinally extending center line substantially equidistantly between said sidesheets and being supported from said frame for transverse tilting movement relative to said frame to permit said header to follow transversely changing ground contours and for vertical movement relative to said frame to permit said header to follow longitudinal elevational changes in ground contours;
- header lift means operatively associated with said header to power said vertical movement;
- header tilt means operatively associated with said header to power said transverse tilting movement;
- sensor means supported by said header to sense changes in the ground contours;
- and control means operatively interconnecting said sensor means and said header lift means and said header tilt means for actuation thereof to permit said header to follow changing ground contours in response to the sensing of said changing ground contours by said sensor means, an improved sensor means comprising:
- a first sensor bar substantially extending between said first header sidewall and said centerline and being rotatably mounted for rotational movement in first and second opposing directions in response to changes in ground contour between said first sidewall and said centerline;
- a second sensor bar substantially extending between said second sidewall and said centerline and being rotatably mounted for rotational movement in first and second opposing directions in response to changes in ground contour between said second sidewall and said centerline independently of said first sensor bar;
- and
- each said sensor bar having a plurality of fingers projecting therefrom to follow the highest contour of the ground beneath the respective said sensor bar and effect rotation thereof, said control means being operatively connected to said first and second sensor bars to effect operation of said header lift means when said first and second sensor bars are rotated in like directions and to effect operation of said header tilt means when said first and second sensor bars are rotated in opposite directions and when only one of said sensor bars is rotated.
A header height and lateral float actuating mechanism for a combine harvester having a frame;
- crop harvesting header supported by said frame for generally rotational transverse movement and generally vertical movement relative to said frame;
- header tilt means for powering said rotational transverse movement of said header;
- and header lift means for powering said vertical movement of said header, comprising:
- a left sensor bar having at least one finger projecting therefrom to follow changes in ground contour, said left sensor bar substantially extending from a generally longitudinally extending centerline to a left outboard end of said header and rotatably supported to permit a rotation thereof in first and second opposing directions in response to said at least one finger following changes in the highest ground controur between said left outboard end and said centerline;
- a right sensor bar having at least one finger projecting therefrom to follow changes in ground contour, said right sensor bar substantially extending from said centerline to a right outboard end of said header and rotatably supported to permit a rotation thereof in first and second opposing directions in response to said at least one finger following changes in the highest ground contour between said centerline and said right outboard end;
- and
- control means operatively connected to said left and right sensor bars, said header lift means and said header tilt means, said control means actuating said header lift means when said left and right sensor bars are rotated in similar directions and actuating said header tilt means when said left and right sensor bars are rotated in non-similar directions to effect said vertical and rotational movements, respectively of said header to permit said header to follow changes in ground contour.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.