# US 9,750,185 B2 · Latching device for header mounting apparatus

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- Number: US 9,750,185 B2
- Document ID: US9750185B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/937,018
- Filed: 2015-11-10
- Published: 2017-05-11
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-10
- Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC
- Applicants: CNH Industrial America LLC
- Inventors: Jeffrey B. Fay, II
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750185B2

## CPC

- A01D 41/145: {Header lifting devices}
- A01B 59/006: {Latched hooks}
- A01B 59/064: {for connection to the front of the tractor}
- A01D 34/283: {Adjustment of the cutter bar in a vertical plane, i.e. to adjust the angle between the cutter bar and the soil}
- A01D 34/662: {to the front of the vehicle}
- A01D 47/00: Headers {for topping of plants, e.g. stalks with ears}
- A01D 67/005: {Arrangements of coupling devices}
- A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING
- A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21)

## Abstract

A header is removably attached to lift arms of an agricultural harvester by mounting pins received in upwardly facing recesses on the ends of lift arms. A bar is moved into locking position by a lever arm mounted on the lift arms to hold the header mounting pins in place. A hook shaped latching device is pivotally mounted on the lift arm adjacent the lever arm for capturing it in place against the lift arm.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lift arm apparatus comprising:
a lift arm having a U-shaped recess at its free end for receiving a mounting pin of a component;
a bar movable on said lift arm between an open position permitting installation and removal of the component mounting pin and a locked position holding the component mounting pin in said U-shaped recess;
a lever arm pivotally mounted on said lift arm and having a first end connected to said bar and a second end pivotable about a vertical axis between an unlocked position permitting installation and removal of the component mounting pin wherein the second end is away from said lift arm and a locked position against said lift arm; and,
a hook shaped latching device pivotable about a horizontal axis adjacent said lift arm and above the plane of movement of said lever arm, said latching device having the hook facing said lift arm and pivotable between an unlatched upper position permitting movement of said lever arm away from said lift arm and a latched lower position in which the hook shaped latching device captures said lift arm to hold it adjacent said lift arm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lift arm apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said latching device is formed from a plate and the hook portion is formed in part by a leg extending horizontally when said latching device is in its latched position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The lift arm apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said leg has a curved end.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The lift arm apparatus of claim 3, wherein said latching device has a hole through an upper section supporting said leg so that the upper section and the leg form the hook portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The lift arm assembly of claim 4, wherein said lift arm further comprises a tab extending perpendicularly from said lift arm and said latching device is pivotally secured to said tab by a bolt extending through said tab.

### Claim 6

An agricultural harvester comprising:
a frame;
ground drive wheels connected to said frame for ground movement;
a header removably attached to said frame for harvesting agricultural crops, said header having at least one mounting pin;
at least one lift arm having a U-shaped lift arm connected to said frame for pivoting movement and having a U-shaped recess at its free end for receiving said mounting pin;
an actuator for raising and lowering the free end of said lift arm;
a bar movable on said lift arm between an open position permitting installation and removal of said header mounting pins and a locked position holding the header mounting pin in said U-shaped recess;
a lever arm pivotally mounted on said lift arm and having a first end connected to said bar and a second end pivotable about a vertical axis between an unlocked position permitting installation and removal of the component mounting pin wherein the second end is away from said lift arm and a locked position against said lift arm; and,
a hooked shaped latching device pivotable about a horizontal axis adjacent said lift arm and above the plane of movement of said lever arm, said latching device having the hook facing said lift arm and pivotable between an unlatched upper position permitting movement of said lever arm away from said lift arm and a latched lower position in which the hook shaped latching device captures said lever arm to hold it adjacent said lift arm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The agricultural harvester as claimed in claim 6, having a pair of lift arms and said header has a pair of pins receivable in the U-shaped recesses of said pair of lift arms.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The agricultural harvester as claimed in claim 6, wherein said hook-shaped latching device is positionable in its locked position when said lever arm is pivoted away from said lift arm thereby preventing said lever arm from moving said bar into its locked position during installation of said pin in said U-shaped recess.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The agricultural machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said latching device is a plate and the hook portion is formed by a leg extending horizontally when said latching device is in its latched position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The agricultural machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein said leg has curved ends.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The agricultural harvester of claim 9, wherein said latching device has a substantially circular upper section through which a hole is provided and integral with said leg.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The agricultural harvester as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a tab on and extending perpendicularly from said lift arm and said latching device is bolted to said tab through the hole through the upper circular section.
