Lateral float apparatus for windrow pickup attachment

An improved windrow pickup attachment for a forage harvester having crop processing means including an input opening for receiving crop material, said attachment comprising

• a main frame positioned on the front of said forage harvester adjacent said input opening,
• a transverse reel mounted on said main frame for picking up crop material from the ground,
• said reel including a series of tines projecting outwardly from a series of stripper plates for engaging crop material and urging it upwardly and rearwardly, and
• a conveyor mounted on said main frame for receiving crop material from said reel,
• said conveyor comprising an auger located rearwardly of said reel for consolidating crop material under conditions where it is urged rearwardly by said reel,
• said conveyor further comprising means for feeding said consolidated crop material to said crop processing means via said input opening, the improvement comprising
• an intermediate frame assembly mounted on said forage harvester,
• means for pivotally mounting said main frame on said intermediate frame for rotation of said reel and conveyor about an axis extending in a generally for and aft direction to permit the position of said reel assembly to change from a home position under conditions where the ground is substantially level to left or right tilt positions in response to the contour of the ground, and
• means for dampening said rotation,
• said means for dampening comprise at least one vertically disposed plate mounted generally transversely on said intermediate member, and cooperating means on said main frame operatively associated with said plate to provide continuous frictional engagement therewith for providing dampening under conditions where said assembly is moving relative to said intermediate frame assembly.