US 5,157,905 AGranted

Support linkage for mounting a header on a support frame

AssigneeMacDon Industries Ltd.

InventorsFrancois R. Talbot, Thomas R. Fox

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Abstract

The header support linkage of a swather header on a support frame of a swather comprises a substantially vertical beam, an upper cross arm formed from a channel and a lower support cradle arm projecting outwardly from the bottom of the beam. A lower link projects from the frame forwardly to engage the lower part of the beam and is formed by an expandable cylinder to lift the header. An upper link extends from an upper part of the frame along the inside of the channel forming the upper arm. A cylinder extends from a lower part of the frame to a lever pivotally connected to the upper link providing a lost motion connection. An adjustable stop is provided between the upper link and the inside of the upper arm. A float spring is connected between an outer end of the upper arm and a vertically adjustable slide provided on the frame. The linkage provides adjustment for different header weights and an effective lifting action of the header from a preset cut height to a raised position both by a lifting action and by a floating action.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A header support linkage for supporting a header on a frame of a crop harvesting machine comprising a bracket having attachment means thereon for supporting and moving the header therewith, a top link extending from a first pivotal connection on the bracket to a second pivotal connection on the frame, a bottom link extending from a third pivotal connection on the bracket at a position thereon spaced downwardly from the first pivotal connection to a fourth pivotal connection on the frame spaced downwardly from the second pivotal connection, each of said first, second, third and fourth pivotal connections providing pivotal movement about a respective one of four horizontal axes, means limiting downward movement of the bracket relative to the top link, the bottom link including a cylinder and piston assembly such that extension and retraction movement of the piston relative to the cylinder causes the bracket and top link jointly to pivot about said second pivot connection to raise and lower respectively the header, and float spring means connected between said bracket and a point of connection on said frame and oriented relative to said top and bottom link so as to apply a lifting force on said bracket tending to pivot both said top and bottom links in an upward direction relative to the frame, and means for adjusting upwardly and downwardly the point of connection of the spring means on the frame so as to vary the spring effect applied by the float spring means to the bracket to accomodate headers of different weight on the bracket.

A header support linkage for supporting a header on a frame of a crop harvesting machine comprising a bracket having attachment means thereon for supporting and moving the header therewith, a top link extending from a first pivotal connection on the bracket to a second pivotal connection on the frame, a bottom link extending from a third pivotal connection on the bracket at a position thereon spaced downwardly from the first pivotal connection to a fourth pivotal connection on the frame spaced downwardly from the second pivotal connection, each of said first, second, third and fourth pivotal connections providing pivotal movement about a respective one of four horizontal axis, means limiting downward movement of the bracket relative to the top link, the bottom link including a cylinder and piston assembly such that extension and retraction movement of the piston relative to the cylinder causes the bracket and top link jointly to pivot about said second pivot connection to raise and lower respectively the header, and float spring means connected between said bracket and a point of connection on said frame and oriented relative to said top and bottom links so as to apply a lifting force on said bracket tending to pivot both said top and bottom links in an upward direction relative to the frame, said limiting means comprises an arm rigidly connected to said bracket and extending therefrom to a position adjacent said second pivot connection and stop means engaging between said arm and said top link.

A header support linkage for supporting a header on a frame of a crop harvesting machine comprising a bracket having attachment means thereon for supporting and moving the header therewith, a top link extending from a first pivotal connection on the bracket to a second pivotal connection on the frame, a bottom link extending from a third pivotal connection on the bracket at a position thereon spaced downwardly from the first pivotal connection to a fourth pivotal connection on the frame spaced downwardly from the second pivotal connection, each of said first, second, third and fourth pivotal connections providing pivotal movement about a respective one of four horizontal axes, means limiting downward movement of the bracket relative to the top link, the bottom link including a cylinder and piston assembly such that extension and retraction movement of the piston relative to the cylinder causes the bracket and top link jointly to pivot about said second pivot connection to raise and lower respectively the header, and float spring means connected between said bracket and a point of connection on said frame and oriented relative to said top and bottom link so as to apply a lifting force on said bracket tending to pivot both said top and bottom links in an upward direction relative to the frame, a height adjustment device comprising a cylinder and piston arrangement having a first end connection and a second opposed end connection which are extendable and retractable by operation of the cylinder, the first end connection being connected to said frame and the second end connection being connected to said top link for raising and lowering the top link, and lost motion connection means allowing lifting movement of the top link upwardly from said second connection.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.