Combine header height control

Apparatus for maintaining a non-cut crop header in a crop harvester a designated height above the soil as the crop harvester traverses a field, said apparatus comprising:

• a generally linear arm coupled to the header and having first and second opposed ends, wherein the first end of said arm engages and is displaced over the soil as the header moves above the soil;
• angular deflection sensing means coupled to the second end of said arm for measuring a deflection of said arm when the first end of said arm encounters irregularities in the soil as the header moves above the soil and for providing a first signal representing the extent of deflection of said arm;
• biasing means for urging said arm to a selected inclined orientation relative to vertical, wherein said arm in said selected inclined orientation extends below and aft of said angular deflection sensing means as the crop harvester moves in a forward direction, said biasing means allowing for forward displacement of the first end of said arm beyond vertical when the crop harvester is moved rearwardly while the first end of said arm engages the soil without damaging said arm, with said biasing means again urging said aim to said selected inclined orientation when the crop harvester is again moved in the forward direction or when the second end of said arm is removed from contact with the soil;
• and
• control means coupled to said header and said angular deflection sensing means and responsive to said first signal for raising or lowering the header in accordance with said first signal in maintaining the header a designated height above the soil, wherein said flexible arm and angular deflection sensing means are attached to a head housing disposed on a forward portion of said combine and said head housing is comprised of polyurethane and includes a metal tip and a mounting bracket for attaching said metal tip to a forward end of said head housing, and wherein said mounting bracket further couples said flexible arm to a forward end of said head housing.

For use on a plastic non-cut crop header housing disposed on a forward portion of a combine used in the harvesting of crops, said header housing have a tip mounted to a forward end thereof by means of a mounting bracket, an arrangement for determining the height of the header housing above the soil as the combine traverses a field, said arrangement comprising:

• a rotation sensor disposed in a lower, forward portion of the header;
• an elongated, linear shaft having first and second opposed ends, wherein said first end is coupled to said rotation sensor and said second end engages the soil, and wherein said shaft rotationally displaces said rotation sensor as the second end of said shaft engages and passes over irregularities in the soil;
• and
• a flange connecting said rotation sensor to the mounting bracket for mounting said rotation sensor on a lower portion of the forward end of the plastic header housing, wherein said mounting bracket includes a strap and a bracket respectively disposed on lower and upper surfaces of the header housing and connected together by at least one nut and bolt combination.