Multi-section header with flexible crop cutting knife

A crop harvesting header comprising:

• a main frame structure extending across a width of the header for movement in a forward direction generally at right angles to the width across ground including a crop to be harvested;
• a mounting assembly for carrying the main frame structure on a propulsion vehicle;
• a crop receiving table carried on the main frame structure across the width of the header;
• a cutter bar across a front of the table arranged to move over the ground in a cutting action and carrying a cutter knife operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved forwardly across the ground for depositing the crop onto the table;
• a skid element extending across the width of the header for engaging the ground so as to receive lifting forces from the ground at whatever points of the skid element contact the ground tending to lift the cutter bar;
• a crop transport system on the table for moving the cut crop toward a discharge location of the header;
• the main frame structure being divided into a first frame portion and a second separate frame portion with the second connected to the first by a pivot coupling arranged for pivotal movement of the second relative to the first about a pivot axis extending in a plane parallel to the forward direction and intersecting the cutter bar so that, as the second pivots relative to the first, the cutter bar bends in the area adjacent the respective pivot axis to accommodate the pivotal movement;
• the pivot coupling of the second frame portion relative to the first frame portion being arranged such that weight from the second frame portion outboard of the pivot coupling tends to rotate the second frame portion about the pivot coupling in a downward direction;
• the mounting assembly including a support assembly arranged to provide a total lifting force from the propulsion vehicle acting to support the main frame structure for floating movement relative to the propulsion vehicle;
• the support assembly being arranged such that the lifting force can be varied;
• the support assembly including a first component arranged to provide a first lifting force for the first frame portion;
• the support assembly including a second component arranged to provide a second lifting force for the second frame portion;
• wherein the support assembly includes a balancing connection between the first and second components which is arranged such that adjustment of the support assembly to effect variation of the total lifting force automatically balances the first and second lifting forces proportionally and such that the lifting force is balanced across the width of the first and second frame portions.

A crop harvesting header comprising:

• a main frame structure extending across a width of the header for movement in a forward direction generally at right angles to the width across ground including a crop to be harvested;
• a mounting assembly for carrying the main frame structure on a propulsion vehicle;
• a crop receiving table carried on the main frame structure across the width of the header;
• a cutter bar across a front of the table arranged to move over the ground in a cutting action and carrying a cutter knife operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved forwardly across the ground for depositing the crop onto the table;
• a skid element extending across the width of the header for engaging the ground so as to receive lifting forces from the ground at whatever points of the skid element contact the ground tending to lift the cutter bar;
• a crop transport system on the table for moving the cut crop toward a discharge location of the header;
• the main frame structure being divided into a first frame portion and a second separate frame portion with the second connected to the first by a pivot coupling arranged for pivotal movement of the second relative to the first about a pivot axis extending in a plane parallel to the forward direction and intersecting the cutter bar so that, as the second pivots relative to the first, the cutter bar bends in the area adjacent the respective pivot axis to accommodate the pivotal movement;
• the pivot coupling of the second frame portion relative to the first frame portion being arranged such that weight from the second frame portion outboard of the pivot coupling tends to rotate the second frame portion about the pivot coupling in a downward direction;
• the mounting assembly including at least a support assembly arranged to provide a lifting force from the propulsion vehicle acting to support the main frame structure for floating movement relative to the propulsion vehicle;
• the support assembly being arranged such that the lifting force can be varied;
• the support assembly including a first component arranged to provide a first lifting force for the first frame portion;
• the support assembly including a second component arranged to provide a second lifting force for the second frame portion;
• the support assembly being arranged to provide floating movement for each of the first and second frame portions relative to each other and relative to the propulsion vehicle;
• wherein there is provided a bottom stop member arranged such that downward floating movement of the header is halted at a bottom position when the header is lifted to a raised position in which the skid element is spaced from the ground;
• and wherein there is provided a balance mechanism to balance the first and second portions in aligned position so the cutter bar is straight when the header is in the raised position.

A crop harvesting header comprising:

• a main frame structure extending across a width of the header for movement in a forward direction generally at right angles to the width across ground including a crop to be harvested;
• a mounting assembly for carrying the main frame structure on a propulsion vehicle;
• a crop receiving table carried on the main frame structure across the width of the header;
• a cutter bar across a front of the table arranged to move over the ground in a cutting action and carrying a cutter knife operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved forwardly across the ground for depositing the crop onto the table;
• a skid element extending across the width of the header for engaging the ground so as to receive lifting forces from the ground at whatever points of the skid element contact the ground tending to lift the cutter bar;
• a crop transport system on the table for moving the cut crop toward a discharge location of the header;
• the main frame structure including a center frame portion, a first wing frame portion and a second wing frame portion;
• the first wing frame portion being connected to the center frame portion by a first pivot coupling arranged for pivotal movement of the first wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion about a first pivot axis extending in a plane parallel to the forward direction and intersecting the cutter bar so that, as the first wing frame portion pivots relative to the center frame portion, the cutter bar bends in the area adjacent the first pivot axis to accommodate the pivotal movement;
• the first pivot coupling thus acting to support weight from the first wing frame portion at the pivot coupling while weight from the first wing frame portion outboard of the first pivot coupling tends to rotate the first wing frame portion about the first pivot coupling in a downward direction;
• the second wing frame portion being connected to the center frame portion by a second pivot coupling arranged for pivotal movement of the second wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion about a second pivot axis extending in a plane parallel to the forward direction and intersecting the cutter bar so that, as the second wing frame portion pivots relative to the center frame portion, the cutter bar bends in the area adjacent the second pivot axis to accommodate the pivotal movement;
• the second pivot coupling thus acting to support weight from the second wing frame portion at the second pivot coupling while weight from the second wing frame portion outboard of the second pivot coupling tends to rotate the second wing frame portion about the second pivot coupling in a downward direction;
• the mounting assembly including a first and a second spring arranged at transversely spaced positions on the main frame structure;
• the first and second springs providing a first and second spring lifting force respectively which together provide a total spring lifting force from the propulsion vehicle acting to support the main frame structure for floating movement relative to the propulsion vehicle such that upward pressure from the ground on the skid element, which is greater than a downward force from a part of the weight of the header unsupported by the lifting force, tends to lift the main frame structure relative to the propulsion vehicle;
• the mounting assembly being arranged such that the total spring lifting force provided by the first and second springs can be varied so that the total downward force, from that part of the weight of the main frame structure which is unsupported by the total spring lifting force, can be varied to change the total pressure of the skid element on the ground;
• the mounting assembly including a center support assembly which communicates from the total spring lifting force of the first and second springs a center lifting force against the weight of the center frame portion and weight from the first wing frame portion at the first pivot coupling and weight from the second wing frame portion at the second pivot coupling;
• the mounting assembly including a first interconnecting linkage which communicates from the total spring lifting force a first lifting force against the outboard weight of the first wing frame portion;
• the mounting assembly including a second interconnecting linkage which communicates from the total spring lifting force a second lifting force against the outboard weight of the second wing frame portion;
• the center support assembly and first and second interconnecting linkages being arranged such that the center lifting force and the first and second lifting forces vary as the total spring lifting force is varied and such that the lifting force is balanced across the width of the center and wing frame portions.

A crop harvesting header comprising:

• a main frame structure extending across a width of the header for movement in a forward direction generally at right angles to the width across ground including a crop to be harvested;
• a mounting assembly for carrying the main frame structure on a propulsion vehicle;
• a crop receiving table carried on the main frame structure across the width of the header;
• a cutter bar across a front of the table arranged to move over the ground in a cutting action and carrying a cutter knife operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved forwardly across the ground for depositing the crop onto the table;
• a skid element extending across the width of the header for engaging the ground so as to receive lifting forces from the ground at whatever points of the skid element contact the ground tending to lift the cutter bar;
• a crop transport system on the table for moving the cut crop toward a discharge location of the header;
• the main frame structure including a center frame portion, a first wing frame portion and a second wing frame portion;
• the first wing frame portion being connected to the center frame portion by a first pivot coupling arranged for pivotal movement of the first wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion about a first pivot axis extending in a plane parallel to the forward direction and intersecting the cutter bar so that, as the first wing frame portion pivots relative to the center frame portion, the cutter bar bends in the area adjacent the first pivot axis to accommodate the pivotal movement;
• the first pivot coupling thus acting to support weight from the first wing frame portion at the pivot coupling while weight from the first wing frame portion outboard of the first pivot coupling tends to rotate the first wing frame portion about the first pivot coupling in a downward direction;
• the second wing frame portion being connected to the center frame portion by a second pivot coupling arranged for pivotal movement of the second wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion about a second pivot axis extending in a plane parallel to the forward direction and intersecting the cutter bar so that, as the second wing frame portion pivots relative to the center frame portion, the cutter bar bends in the area adjacent the second pivot axis to accommodate the pivotal movement;
• the second pivot coupling thus acting to support weight from the second wing frame portion at the second pivot coupling while weight from the second wing frame portion outboard of the second pivot coupling tends to rotate the second wing frame portion about the second pivot coupling in a downward direction;
• the mounting assembly including a first and a second spring arranged at transversely spaced positions on the center frame portion to provide a lifting force from the propulsion vehicle acting to support the center frame portion for floating movement relative to the propulsion vehicle;
• the mounting assembly being arranged such that the lifting force provided by the springs can be varied;
• the first wing frame portion being connected to the center frame portion by a first interconnecting linkage which transfers the outboard weight of the first wing frame portion to the center frame portion;
• the second wing frame portion being connected to the center frame portion by a second interconnecting linkage which transfers the outboard weight of the second wing frame portion to the center frame portion;
• the first interconnecting linkage including a first balancing connection which is arranged automatically to balance the outboard weight of the first wing frame portion with the part of the weight from the center frame portion and said weight applied to the center frame portion from the first wing frame portion relative to the lifting force provided by the first spring as the lifting force is varied;
• the second interconnecting linkage including a second balancing connection which is arranged automatically to balance the outboard weight of the second wing frame portion with the part of the weight from the center frame portion and said weight applied to the center frame portion from the second wing frame portion relative to the lifting force provided by the second spring as the lifting force is varied;
• the first and second balancing connections being arranged such that the lifting force is balanced across the width of the center and wing frame portions.

A crop harvesting header comprising:

• a main frame structure extending across a width of the header for movement in a forward direction generally at right angles to the width across ground including a crop to be harvested;
• a mounting assembly for carrying the main frame structure on a propulsion vehicle;
• a crop receiving table carried on the main frame structure across the width of the header;
• a cutter bar across a front of the table arranged to move over the ground in a cutting action and carrying a cutter knife operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved forwardly across the ground for depositing the crop onto the table;
• a skid element extending across the width of the header for engaging the ground so as to receive lifting forces from the ground at whatever points of the skid element contact the ground tending to lift the cutter bar;
• a crop transport system on the table for moving the cut crop toward a discharge location of the header;
• the main frame structure including a center frame portion, a first wing frame portion and a second wing frame portion;
• the first wing frame portion being connected to the center frame portion by a first pivot coupling arranged for pivotal movement of the first wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion about a first pivot axis extending in a plane parallel to the forward direction and intersecting the cutter bar so that, as the first wing frame portion pivots relative to the center frame portion, the cutter bar bends in the area adjacent the first pivot axis to accommodate the pivotal movement;
• the first pivot coupling thus acting to support weight from the first wing frame portion at the pivot coupling while weight from the first wing frame portion outboard of the first pivot coupling tends to rotate the first wing frame portion about the first pivot coupling in a downward direction;
• the second wing frame portion being connected to the center frame portion by a second pivot coupling arranged for pivotal movement of the second wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion about a second pivot axis extending in a plane parallel to the forward direction and intersecting the cutter bar so that, as the second wing frame portion pivots relative to the center frame portion, the cutter bar bends in the area adjacent the second pivot axis to accommodate the pivotal movement;
• the second pivot coupling thus acting to support weight from the second wing frame portion at the second pivot coupling while weight from the second wing frame portion outboard of the second pivot coupling tends to rotate the second wing frame portion about the second pivot coupling in a downward direction;
• the mounting assembly including a first and a second spring arranged at transversely spaced positions on the center frame portion to provide a lifting force from the propulsion vehicle acting to support the center frame portion for floating movement relative to the propulsion vehicle;
• the mounting assembly being arranged such that the lifting force provided by the springs can be varied;
• the first wing frame portion being connected to the center frame portion by a first interconnecting linkage which transfers the outboard weight of the first wing frame portion to the center frame portion;
• the second wing frame portion being connected to the center frame portion by a second interconnecting linkage which transfers the outboard weight of the second wing frame portion to the center frame portion;
• wherein there is provided a bottom stop member arranged such that downward floating movement of the header is halted at a bottom position when the header is lifted to a raised position in which the skid element is spaced from the ground;
• and wherein there is provided a first balance mechanism to balance the first wing frame portion in aligned position relative to the center frame portion and a second balance mechanism to balance the second wing frame portion in aligned position relative to the center frame portion so the cutter bar is straight when the header is in the raised position.