Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1
r
SELF CONTAINED TRANSPORT FOR CROP HARVESTING HEADER
This invention relates to a crop harvesting header including ground
wheels by which the header can be trailed a transport position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Crop harvesting headers generally include a main frame having a main
rear structural member extending across a width of the header and a plurality
of
arms extending forwardly from the main rear structural member to a front edge
of the
header. In a cutter type header, at the front edge is mounted a cutter bar
carrying a
cutting knife so as to cut the standing crop at the forward edge and to allow
that
standing crop to fall or be directed onto a platform or other support rearward
of the
cutting knife. In a pick-up type header, there is no cutter bar but instead a
crop lifting
device.
The header generally includes a transport device in the form of an
auger or a draper which then carries the cut crop across the header, that is
at right
angles to the forward direction to a collection area.
Such headers can be used with a combine harvester for supplying the
material from a collection area into the feeder housing of the combine
harvester or
can be used with a swather for depositing the material from the collection
area onto
the ground in the form a swath.
Such headers can include additional elements such as conditioning
rolls which act upon the crop material before or after its movement to the
collection
area. Such headers may or may not include a reel which can assist in handling
the
crop as it is cut and moved to the platform or other support area.
The present invention is concerned with the transportation of the
header and is not intended to be limited to any particular type of header.
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The present invention is particularly concerned with headers of the
type which are attached onto a transport vehicle, which is a combine harvester
or
swather tractor. The vehicle supports the header from behind the main
structural
member so that the header is presented forwardly of the vehicle with its width
transverse to the working direction of movement of the vehicle. The width of
the
header is necessarily relatively large to provide a wide cutting action and
this width
is normally larger then can be accommodated through gates or along roads.
One important problem of a header of this type is therefore to provide a
transportation arrangement for the header by which it can be separated from
the
transport vehicle and towed in a direction generally at right angles to the
working
direction so that its width when towed is significantly reduced relative to
the working
width.
In United States Patent 5,243,810, issued September 14, 1993, of Fox
et al assigned to the present assignees, there is disclosed an arrangement by
which
the header includes its own transportation wheels which can be rotated from a
working position to a transport position so that the header can be separated
from the
transport vehicle and towed generally by the same transport vehicle in a
direction at
right angles to its working direction.
With this arrangement there is a single wheel at one end of the header
and a tandem wheel arrangement at the opposite end of the header. The single
wheel is rotated through 90° and carries a hitch pole which is attached
to the towing
vehicle. The towing vehicle therefore steers the single wheel at one end of
the
header. The tandem wheel arrangement initially provides an axle which is at
right
angles to the direction of working movement and provides two wheels spaced
across the width of the header. When moved to the transport position, the axle
is
turned through 90° so that one wheel moves forwardly of the header to a
position in
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front of the cutter bar so the axle can provide support for the cutter bar.
The header
is therefore supported in the transport position on the single front wheel and
on the
transverse rear axle and is towed by steering the front wheel with the hitch
pole
while the rear axle remains fixed. The single wheel and the tandem wheel
arrangement in the working position of the header act as gauge wheels rolling
upon
the ground and holding the header at a required height relative to the ground.
This arrangement has achieved considerable success and is widely
used on larger headers greater than 30 feet in width.
However in regard to smaller headers of the order of 30 feet or less,
the axle arrangement can not be accommodated and therefore this arrangement is
impractical for headers of this size.
An alternative arrangement for transporting a header of this type is to
provide a separate trailer onto which the header is placed for towing behind
the
transport vehicle. However the trailer is inconvenient, relatively expensive
and has
the problem that it is generally in the wrong place when transport of the
header is
required.
Honey Bee of Saskatchewan, Canada, show in their brochure a
header for attachment to a bi-directional tractor where the tractor is
attached at a
position adjacent one end of the header and additional ground wheel is
provided on
the header adjacent the opposed end. The header is moved to a transport
position
by rotating the header relative to the attachment of the tractor and by
actuating the
ground wheel to move to a support position underneath the header. The header
can
therefore be transported in a direction inclined at an angle of the order of
60° to its
normal working direction thus reducing its width. In the transport position,
therefore,
the header is supported on the hitch of the tractor and upon the additional
separate
ground wheel. This arrangement is limited to an off-centre mounting on the
header
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and to a bi-directional tractor and therefore is unsuitable for more
conventional
arrangements.
AGCO in their brochure for their 600 header transport arrangement
provide a ground wheel at one end of the header which is steered by the towing
vehicle and an additional wheel at the opposed end of the header which moves
from
a folded position underneath the header outwardly to a position in front of
the cutter
bar. This arrangement does not support the header in a manner which is
sufficiently
stable.
Examples of pull-type swathers are shown in United States Patent
4,573,309 (Patterson), issued September 15, 1987; 3,279,158 (Kirkpatrick),
issued
October 18, 1966; 4,346,909 (Hundeby), issued August 31, 1982; 3,457,709
(Killbery), issued July 29, 1969; 4,460,193 (Dietz), issued July 17, 1984.
Further
examples are shown in Canadian Patent 973,367 (International Harvester),
issued
August 26, 1975, and in brochures issued by Co-op Implements and Versatile. In
many of these arrangements an additional wheel is added to the header frame at
a
suitable location so that the header frame is supported on three ground wheels
at
spaced positions to form a stable structure. In the Versatile arrangement, the
outside wheel can be a dual wheel system which rotates about a vertical axis
directly
between the wheels. The header frame is supported by a jack and a further
wheel is
added at the hitch end forward of the header frame to provide a stable trailer
construction.
None of these arrangements provide an effective transportation system
for a header through a self-propelled vehicle and none provide a suitable
system for
attachment of an additional ground wheel or for attachment of the necessary
hitch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an
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improved header of the type which can be separated from a support vehicle and
which includes its own wheels so that it can be attached to a towing vehicle,
which
may be the same vehicle, and towed in a direction at right angles to the
normal
working direction.
5 According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a header
for a crop harvesting machine comprising:
a header frame having an elongate support structure arranged across
a width of the header;
a mounting assembly attached to the header frame for releasably
mounting the header frame on a vehicle for movement across the ground carrying
a
crop to be harvested such that, when mounted on the vehicle, the header frame
is
supported on the vehicle in front of the vehicle for movement with the vehicle
in a
forward working direction transverse to the width of the header frame;
the header frame having a plurality of support arms mounted on the
support structure and extending therefrom forwardly of the working direction;
a cutter bar extending across the width of the header having a cutter
knife thereon for cutting a standing crop to be deposited into the header
frame as the
header is moved forwardly over the ground;
a feed member mounted on the header frame for carrying the
deposited crop along the header frame for collection at a discharge area of
the
header frame;
and a transport wheel arrangement on the header frame for
transporting the header when removed from the vehicle in a transport direction
generally longitudinal of the header frame and at a right angle to the working
direction, the transport wheel arrangement comprising:
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a first wheel mounted on the header frame at a first end of the header
frame on the support structure at a rear end of the support arms;
a second wheel mounted on the header frame at a second end of the
header frame on the support structure at a rear end of the support arms;
a third wheel having a mounting coupling for mounting the third wheel
on the header frame at a forward end of one of the support arms at the cutter
bar
and at a position intermediate the first and second ends of the header frame
so as to
be located intermediate the first and second wheels;
such that the header can stably rest upon the first, second and third
wheels;
the first and second wheels each having a respective mounting
member carried on the header frame for rotational movement about a respective
upstanding axis allowing a direction of rolling movement of the respective
wheel to
be rotated about the respective axis;
the third wheel having the direction of rolling movement thereof
permanently fixed so that the third wheel moves in the transport direction
when
attached to the header frame;
the mounting coupling of the third wheel being independent of and
separate from the first and second wheels;
the mounting coupling of the third wheel being readily releasable from
the header frame such that the third wheel is removed from the header frame
when
the header is moved in the forward working direction and readily attachable to
the
header frame such that the third wheel is attached to the header frame when
the
header is moved in the transport direction;
the mounting coupling of the third wheel providing a mechanical
connection to said one of the support arms at the cutter bar so as to
communicate
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forces from the ground to the header frame through said one of the support
arms
during movement in the transport direction;
and a hitch arm for connection to the header so as to apply a pulling
force to the header from a tractor.
Preferably the hitch arm is connected to the mounting member of the
first wheel so as apply a pulling force to the header from a tractor through
the
mounting member of the first wheel and so as to effect a steering movement of
the
first wheel about the respective vertical axis and wherein the second wheel is
free to
caster about the respective axis.
Preferably the mounting members of each of the first and second
wheels are rotatable to a working position, in which the direction of rolling
movement
of the respective wheel lies along the forward working direction, and are
lockable in
the working position to act as gauge wheels.
Preferably the mounting member of each of the first and second
wheels includes a vertical post and a vertical sleeve within which the post is
slidable
allowing height adjustment of the respective one of the first and second
wheels
when in the working position.
Preferably there is provided a locking pin for locking the post of a
respective one of the first and second wheels at a required height in the
sleeve, the
pin being movable to a release position in which the respective wheel is free
to
rotate about a vertical axis of the sleeve.
Preferably the hitch arm comprises a single hitch arm having a
coupling at a front end for connection at a single connection point to a
tractor and a
rear end for connection at a single connection point to the mounting member of
the
first wheel; there is provided a pivot connection at a position along the
hitch arm
arranged to define a rigid front portion of the hitch arm extending from the
coupling
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at the front end to the pivot connection and a rigid rear portion of the hitch
arm
extending from the coupling at the rear end to the pivot connection, the pivot
connection is arranged to provide relative pivotal movement of the front and
rear
portions at the pivotal connection about an axis transverse to a length of the
hitch
arm from an extended position of the hitch arm, in which extended position the
coupling at the front end is at a maximum distance from the coupling at the
rear end
and in which extended position the pivotal connection is locked such that the
hitch
arm is rigid and defines a maximum hitch arm length between the front end and
the
rear end, to a folded shortened position of the hitch arm in which shortened
position
the coupling at the front end is moved by the pivotal movement closer to the
coupling at the rear end; and the hitch arm is disconnectable and
reconnectable at a
disconnection location along its length for disconnection of the header from
the
tractor; and wherein the hitch arm is reconnectable while in the folded
shortened
position such that, with the hitch arm disconnected at the disconnection
position, the
tractor is moved to a position closer to the mounting member than the hitch
arm
length, the hitch arm is pivoted to the folded shortened position, the hitch
arm is
reconnected at the disconnection location and a tractor moved to pivot the
hitch to
the extended position.
Preferably the disconnection location is arranged at a position
forwardly of the mounting member so as to leave a portion of the hitch arm
connected to the mounting member to define a lever for manual rotation of the
mounting member about the vertical axis of the first wheel.
Preferably the disconnection location is arranged at the pivot
connection.
Preferably the disconnection location is arranged forwardly of the pivot
connection.
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Preferably the front and rear portions of the hitch arm are arranged for
pivotal movement at the pivot connection about a substantially horizontal axis
such
that the front and rear portions pivot in a substantially vertical plane.
Preferably the front and rear portions of the hitch arm are arranged
such that the pivot connection moves upwardly in said substantially vertical
plane.
Preferably front and rear portions of the hitch arm are arranged in the
extended position at an angle less than 180 degrees such that the hitch arm
forms
an apex at the pivot connection.
Preferably said one of the support arms is arranged closest to a centre
of the header frame.
Preferably said mounting coupling of the third wheel includes a forward
portion engaging the cutter bar and a rearward portion engaging an element of
said
one of the support arms which is transverse to said one of the support arms
and
includes a manually operable clamp element for effecting a clamping action
between
the forward portion and the rearward portion such that the mounting coupling
is
attached to and communicates forces to said one of the support arms.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a
header for a crop harvesting machine comprising:
a header frame having an elongate support structure arranged across
a width of the header;
a mounting assembly attached to the header frame for releasably
mounting the header frame on a vehicle for movement across the ground carrying
a
crop to be harvested such that, when mounted on the vehicle, the header frame
is
supported on the vehicle for movement with the vehicle in a working direction
transverse to the width of the header frame;
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the header frame having a plurality of support arms mounted on the
support structure and extending therefrom forwardly of the working direction ;
a cutter bar extending across the width of the header having a cutter
knife thereon for cutting a standing crop to be deposited into the header
frame as the
5 header is moved forwardly over the ground;
a feed member mounted on the header frame for carrying the
deposited crop along the header frame for collection at a discharge area of
the
header frame;
and a transport wheel arrangement on the header frame for
10 transporting the header when removed from the vehicle in a transport
direction
generally longitudinal of the header frame and at a right angle to the working
direction, the transport wheel arrangement comprising:
a first front wheel mounted on the header frame at a first end of the
header frame on the support structure;
at least one second rear wheel mounted on the header frame on the
support structure such that the header can stably rest upon the first wheel
and the at
least one second wheel;
the first wheel having a mounting member carried on the header frame
for rotational movement about a respective upstanding axis allowing a
direction of
rolling movement of the first wheel to be rotated about the axis;
and a single hitch arm having a coupling at a front end for connection
at a single connection point to a tractor and a coupling at a rear end for
connection
at a single connection point to the header at the first end of the header so
as apply a
pulling force to the header from the tractor;
the single hitch arm having a pivot connection at a position along the
hitch arm arranged to define a rigid front portion of the hitch arm extending
from the
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coupling at the front end to the pivot connection and a rigid rear portion of
the hitch
arm extending from the coupling at the rear end to the pivot connection;
the pivot connection being arranged to provide relative pivotal
movement of the front and rear portions at the pivotal connection about an
axis
transverse to a length of the hitch arm from an extended position of the hitch
arm, in
which extended position the coupling at the front end is at a maximum distance
from
the coupling at the rear end and in which extended position the pivotal
connection is
locked such that the hitch arm is rigid and defines a maximum hitch arm
length, to a
folded shortened position of the hitch arm in which shortened position the
coupling at
the front end is moved by the pivotal movement closer to the coupling at the
rear
end;
the hitch arm being disconnectable and reconnectable at a
disconnection location along its length for disconnection of the header from a
tractor
and being reconnectable while in the folded shortened position;
such that, with the hitch arm disconnected at the disconnection
location, a tractor is moved to a position closer to the header than the hitch
arm
length, the hitch arm is pivoted to the folded shortened position, the hitch
arm is
reconnected at the disconnection location and a tractor moved to pivot the
hitch to
the extended position.
Preferably the disconnection location is arranged at a position
forwardly of the mounting member of the first wheel so as to leave a portion
of the
hitch arm connected to the mounting member of the first wheel to define a
lever for
manual rotation of the first wheel.
Preferably the front and rear portions of the hitch arm are arranged for
pivotal movement at the pivot connection about a substantially horizontal axis
such
that the front and rear portions pivot in a substantially vertical plane.
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Preferably the front and rear portions of the hitch arm are arranged
such that the pivot connection moves upwardly in the substantially vertical
plane.
Preferably front and rear portions of the hitch arm are arranged at an
angle in the extended position less than 180 degrees such that the hitch arm
forms
an apex at the pivot connection.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a header
for a crop harvesting machine comprising:
a header frame having an elongate support structure arranged across
a width of the header;
a mounting assembly attached to the header frame for releasably
mounting the header frame on a vehicle in front of the vehicle for movement
across
the ground carrying a crop to be harvested such that, when mounted on the
vehicle,
the header frame is supported on the vehicle for movement with the vehicle in
a
forward working direction transverse to the width of the header frame;
the header frame having a plurality of support arms mounted on the
support structure and extending therefrom forwardly of the working direction;
a cutter bar extending across the width of the header having a cutter
knife thereon for cutting a standing crop to be deposited into the header
frame as the
header is moved forwardly over the ground;
a feed member mounted on the header frame for carrying the
deposited crop along the header frame for collection at a discharge area of
the
header frame;
and a transport wheel arrangement on the header frame for
transporting the header when removed from the vehicle in a transport direction
generally longitudinal of the header frame and at a right angle to the working
direction, the transport wheel arrangement comprising:
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at least one first wheel mounted on the header frame at the support
structure;
a removable wheel mounted on the header frame at a forward end of
one of the support arms, the removable wheel having a direction of rolling
movement
thereof fixed in the transport direction;
the removable wheel having a mounting coupling for mounting the
removable wheel on the header frame at said forward end of said one of said
support arms at the cutter bar;
the mounting coupling of the removable wheel being readily releasable
from the header frame such that the removable wheel is removed from the header
frame when the header is moved in the forward working direction and readily
attachable to the header frame such that the removable wheel is attached to
the
header frame when the header is moved in the transport direction;
the mounting coupling of the removable wheel being independent of
and separate from said at least one first wheel;
said mounting coupling of the removable wheel including a forward
portion engaging the cutter bar and a rearward portion engaging an element of
said
one of the support arms which is transverse to said one of the support arms
and
including a manually operable clamp element for effecting a clamping action
between the forward portion and the rearward portion such that the mounting
coupling is attached to and communicates forces to said one of the support
arms;
and a hitch arm for connection to the header so as to apply a pulling
force in the transport direction to the header from a tractor.
Preferably the cutter bar has a plurality of knife guards thereon and
wherein the removable wheel mounting coupling includes a portion thereof
engaging
over at least one knife guard of the cutter bar.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a end elevational view of a header according to the present
invention.
Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the header frame and transport
arrangement with the remaining elements removed for convenience of
illustration.
Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the header of Figure 1 again with
the remaining elements removed for convenience of illustration.
Figure 4 is a front elevational view similar to that of Figure 3 showing
only the first steered wheel.
Figure 5 is an end elevational view along of the wheel of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is vertical cross-sectional view of the third fixed wheel of
Figure 3 fixed in place on the header.
Figure 7 is an isometric view of the third fixed wheel of Figure 3 when
removed from the header.
Figure 8 is an elevational view from the same direction as Figure 3
showing the connection of the hitch to the tractor.
Figure 9 is an isometric view of the hitch of Figure 3 when removed
from the header and from the tractor and showing the hitch in the folded
position for
connection to the header.
Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 8 showing an alternative
construction of the hitch.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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As shown generally in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a header generally indicated
at 10 includes a main frame having a rear structural member 11 and four
forwardly
projecting support arms 12, 13, 14 and 15. At the forward end of the support
arms is
a transverse cutter bar 16 which carries a cutting knife 17 thus defining a
front edge
5 of the header for cutting a standing crop.
In this example the header frame carries a pair of draper elements 18
and 19 which are shown only schematically and only in part as an exemplary
illustration. These draper elements act to transport the cut crop across the
width of
the header to a discharge area 20 from which the cut crop can be discharged
onto
10 the ground, fed into a crop conditioner or fed into a feeder housing of a
combine
harvester depending upon the particular requirements of the header.
The header frame further includes a pair of mounting members
schematically indicated at 21 and 22 for attachment to a transport vehicle
located
behind the header and moving forwardly in a direction W of working movement of
15 the header to transport the header in front of the vehicle. The header
frame further
includes end support plates 23 and 24.
The details of the frame, the cutter bar, the transport element and other
parts (not shown) are not described in detail herein as these will be well-
known to
one skilled in the art and can vary widely depending upon the requirements of
a
particular header.
The present invention is concerned with the transportation of the
header frame and for this purpose the header frame is provided three support
wheels including a first wheel 25, a second wheel 26 and a third wheel 27.
The first and second wheels 25, 26 are in effect symmetrical in that
each is arranged at a respective end of the header frame. One of the wheels is
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16
therefore shown in Figures 4 and 5 and the other wheel is substantially
identical
except that only the wheel 25 includes a hitch arm 28 described hereinafter.
The wheels 25 and 26 therefore include a ground wheel 29 mounted
on a spindle 30 allowing the wheel to rotate about a horizontal axis 31 so as
to
define a direction of rolling movement D at right angles to the horizontal
axis 31.
The spindle 30 is fixed to an inclined trailing link 32 which is inclined
upwardly and
forwardly from the spindle 30 to a mounting arm 33 of a mounting member
generally
indicated at 34. The mounting arm 33 includes a horizontal portion 35 which is
bent
into a vertical portion 36. The trailing link 32 extends downwardly and
rearwardly
from the horizontal portion 35 to the spindle 30. It will be appreciated that
the wheel
25 can be rotated through 180 degrees for attachment to the hitch arm 28.
The mounting member 34 further includes an outer square support
sleeve 37 which is attached to the frame at the rear structural member 11 by
an
attachment bracket 38. Thus the sleeve 37 is held substantially vertical in a
fixed
position relative to the frame. The mounting member further includes an inner
slide
member 39 which can slide upwardly and downwardly within the sleeve 37. The
vertical portion 36 of the arm 33 is cylindrical and is mounted within the
inner slide
member 39 for rotation about a vertical axis 40.
As is best shown in Figure 5 the vertical portion 36 is aligned with a
front portion 42 of the sliding member 37 leaving a rear portion 43 of the
slide
member exposed beyond the vertical portion 36. The slide member 37 includes a
hole 44 which can be aligned with a selected one of three holes 45 in the
outer
sleeve 37. The hole 44 is also aligned with a hole passing through the
vertical
portion 36. The insertion of a pin through the hole 44 and through a selected
one of
the holes 45 therefore locks the slide member 39 at a fixed height within the
sleeve
37 and at the same time locks the vertical portion 36 against rotation about
the
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vertical axis 40. When so locked, therefore, the wheel is facing forwardly so
that the
direction D lies along the direction W which is the working direction. The
selection of
a respective one of the holes 45 allows adjustment of the height of the wheel
relative
to the same. In this position, therefore, both the wheels 25 and 26 are fixed
and can
act as gauge wheels for the header moving across the field in the working
direction.
When the pin is removed from the selected one of the holes 45 it can
move instead to a hole 46 where the slide member 39 is fixed within the sleeve
37
but the vertical portion 36 is free to rotate about the vertical axis 40. In
this position
of the pin within the hole 46, the wheel 26 is free to caster in a
conventional
castering manner since the link 32 trails the vertical axis 40. The first
wheel 25 can
in addition be steered by steering movements of the hitch arm 28 which is
attached
to the horizontal portion 35 by a bracket 47.
Turning now to Figure 8, it will be noted that the hitch arm 28 includes
a first portion 48 and a second portion 49 attached to the end of the portion
48 and
cranked relative thereto at an angle so as to extend from the outer end of the
portion
48 upwardly and forwardly from the wheel. The hitch arm 28 connects to a main
hitch portion generally indicated at 50 having a forward end 51 pivotally
connected
by a bracket 52 to a hitch 53 of a tractor 54. The main hitch member 50
includes a
front portion 55 and rear portion 56 connected together by a pivot coupling
57. The
rear end of the rear portion 56 is connected to the front portion 49 of the
hitch arm
28 so as to form an extension thereof rigidly coupled thereto. The connection
is
provided by a tongue 57 projecting under a strap 59 welded on the top of the
portion
49. A pair of side straps 60 extend downwardly from the sides of the portion
56 so
the pin can lock the side straps in place passing through a hole 61 in each of
the
side straps and co-operating with an aligned hole in the front end of the
portion 49.
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The pivot coupling 57 includes a channel bracket 63 welded on the end
of the portion 56 and the co-operating channel bracket 64 welded on the end of
the
portion 55. Each of the channel brackets 63 and 64 has a pair of sides welded
to
the respective portion 55, 56 with the sides extending above and below the
respective end of the portion. The sides overlap to receive a pivot pin 65
underneath the ends of the portions. Each channel bracket includes an end
plate
66, 67 so that these end plates abut when the portions are moved downwardly
and
relatively pivot about the pin 65. A latch 68 is mounted on the bracket 63 for
pivotal
movement relative thereto and has a front hook portion for engaging over the
top of
the bracket 64 to latch the brackets in fixed position when the portions are
moved
downwardly as shown in Figure 8. The latch however can be released to allow
the
brackets to move upwardly thus causing the lower ends of the portions 55 and
56 to
move inwardly toward one another. The pivot pin 65 is substantially horizontal
so
that the portions 55 and 56 move upwardly and downwardly in a vertical plane.
In operation of the hitch, the main hitch portion 50 is attached to the
tractor but is in a stored position obtained by folding the portion 56 under
the portion
55 and by pivoting the portion 55 about the bracket 52 about a vertical pivot
pin 70 to
a position lying horizontally across the rear of the tractor 54. The tractor
54 is
moved rearwardly to a position closer to the mounting member 34 of the wheel
25
than the full length of the hitch arm including the portions 28, 55 and 56.
With the tractor backed up toward the mounting member 34 of the
wheel 25, the hitch arm 28 is manually moved so as to twist the wheel about
the
vertical axis 40 to a position in which the hitch arm 28 projects toward the
hitch 53 of
the tractor. In this position the main hitch portion 50 is removed from its
stored
position and the portion 56 is folded out from underneath the portion 55. As
the
distance between the hitch 53 and the mounting arm 34 is less than the full
length of
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the hitch member, it is necessary to pivot the pivot connection 57 upwardly to
allow
the end of the portion 56 to be engaged onto the portion 49. The upward
triangular
arrangement of the main hitch portion 50 thus takes up the shortened distance
by
reducing the length of the third side of the triangle from the end of the
portion 48 to
the hitch 52.
When the portion 56 is rigidly connected to the portion 49, the tractor
can move forwardly so that the pivot coupling 57 is pulled downwardly as the
length
of the third side of the triangle increases.
The end plates 66 and 67 are arranged so that in the lowest position of
the pivot coupling, the portions 55 and 56 are inclined upwardly to an apex at
the
horizontal pivot pin 65. This arched triangular shape allows the portion 55 to
pass
over the rear caster wheel 71 of the tractor 54 in a situation where the
tractor 54 is of
the type having driven front wheels and rear caster wheels. In a situation
where the
hitch is sufficiently clear of the rear of the tractor to avoid the necessity
for passing
over a rear wheel, the hitch may form a simple straight line in the latched
towing
position.
In the embodiment shown, the length of the third side of the triangle is
decreased by pivoting the pivot connection 57 upwardly about a horizontal
pivot pin
65. It is also possible to achieve the same effect by providing a pivot
connection
having a vertical pivot pin so that the pivot connection pivots in a
horizontal plane.
Turning now to the third wheel 27, the mounting of this on the forward
end of the support arm 13 at the cutter bar 16 is shown in more detail in
Figures 6
and 7. The support arm 13 comprises a channel member defined by a top web 72
and depending sides 73. The channel member is chamfered at its outer end so
the
bottom edge converges upwardly to an apex 74 at the web 72.
CA 02245213 2003-O1-17
Across the full width of the header is attached the cutter bar 16 which
includes a plate 75 welded to the underside of the depending side 73 of the
support
member. The forward end 76 of the plate 75 projects beyond the apex 74 and
carries a channel member 77. A horizontal flange 78 projects forwardly from a
5 vertical web of the channel member 77 and the flange 78 defines the main
support
for the cutter knife including knife guards 17. The cutter knife is not shown
in detail
since this will be well-known to one skilled in the art.
The wheel 27 includes a ground wheel 80 mounted on the spindle 81
fixed to the lower end of a mounting member 82 . The mounting member includes
a
10 front plate 83 and two side walls 84 extending rearwardly from the front
plate.
Across the top of the side wall 84 is attached a top plate 85. The top plate
carries a
first pad 86 which is shaped to engage the underside of the channel member 77.
The top plate 85 carries a second pad 87 which is arranged to engage the rear
edge
of the plate 75 at the support 13. The front plate 83 carries a front abutment
plate 88
15 which extends upwardly from the front plate 83 to a top edge 89 of the
plate 88
which abuts the underside of the flange 78. The top edge of the plate 88
includes
cut out portions which allow the top edge 89 to reach the flange 78 in between
the
knife guards 17 but with the cut out portions bridging the knife guards at the
areas
on the flange 78 where the knife guards are located.
20 On the front abutment plate 88 is mounted a cover plate portion 90
having a horizontal section 91 underneath the knife guards, a vertical section
92, a
second horizontal section 93 and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined section
94.
The vertical section 92 has a plurality of holes 95 through which individual
knife
guards can be inserted. The horizontal top section 93 sits on top of the knife
guards
so as to be supported thereby. The inclined rear section 94 acts simply as a
cover.
CA 02245213 2003-O1-17
21
A loop shaped handle 96 is attached to the bottom of the front
abutment plate 88 and extends forwardly therefrom in front of the vertical
portion 92
to allow the wheel to be grasped and lifted by a user standing front of the
cutter bar
16.
A rear latch plate 97 carries a top lug 98 which engages over the rear
edge of the plate 75. The lug 98 is welded to a horizontal pivot rod 99 with a
handle
100 which can be manually operated to pivot the lug 98 forwardly and
rearwardly
from a latching position to a release position. A bracket 101 can be used to
lock the
handle 100 in place.
In operation, therefore, with the wheel 27 removed, the wheel is
brought into position at the support bar 14 and moved rearwardly toward the
cutter
bar 16. The front cover portion 91 is carefully pushed over the respective
knife
guards 17 at the support arm 13 and those knife guards are fed through the
holes 95
in the front plate. The front abutment plate 88 is then moved upwardly into
engagement with the underside of the flange 78 and the top plate 85 is moved
upwardly and rearwardly until the pad 87 engages the underside of the plate
75.
The lug is then pivoted from the release position to a latch position by
actuation of
the handle 100 thus holding the wheel mounting member clamped against the
underside of the plate 75, against the underside of the flange 78 and against
the top
side of the knife guards 17.
The wheel is thus held in place and forces upwardly from the spindle
are transmitted through the mounting member into the underside of the plate 75
where they can be effectively communicated into the support arms.
With the wheel 27 in place and the wheel 25 connected to the hitch, a
towing action is effected through the hitch pulling on the mounting member of
the
first wheel 25. The first wheel 25 is steered by the hitch so that it follows
behind the
CA 02245213 2003-O1-17
22
hitch. The second wheel 26 is free to caster. The third wheel 27 is fixed so
that its
direction of rolling movement lies directly along the cutter bar that is at
right angles
to working direction W.
This wheel arrangement provides an effective towing action of the
header since the header tends to move directly along its length and since it
tends to
steer about the vertical axis through the fixed wheel 27. The fixed wheel 27
is
mounted on one of the support arms closest to the centre of the header so that
the
vertical axis about which the header tends to pivot is defined adjacent the
centre of
the header. This allows the relatively long header to follow the tractor in an
effective
manner.
Turning now to Figure 10, there is shown an alternative arrangement
for the hitch. In this arrangement the hitch arm portion 28 and the portion 56
of the
main hitch portion are formed as a single element indicated at 105. Thus the
rear
end of the portion 105 includes the bracket 47 which is attached to the
mounting
member of the wheel. The pivot coupling 57 is substantially as previously
described
connecting the rear portion 105 to the front portion 55. In this arrangement,
the pivot
pin 65A is removable so as to allow the front portion 55 to be separated from
the
rear portion 105.
In operation of the hitch of Figure 10, therefore, when the hitch is to be
deployed, the rear portion 105 is detached from the front portion 55 by
pulling the pin
65A. When the rear portion 105 is detached, as it is attached to the mounting
member of the wheel by the bracket 47 allowing the wheel 25 to be steered so
as to
be directed toward the hitch coupling 53 of the tractor. In this position,
with the
tractor backed up to a position closer to the header than the length of the
hitch, the
portions 105 and 55 are inclined upwardly and are reconnected by reinserting
the
pin 65A while inclined upward as shown in Figure 10. As previously described,
this
CA 02245213 2003-O1-17
23
upward inclination reduces the length of the third side of the triangle to the
distance
between the hitch coupling of the tractor and of the mounting member 34 of the
wheel. When the pin 65A is reinserted, the tractor can be moved forwardly
allowing
the portions 105 and 55 to pivot downwardly until the end plates 66 and 67 re-
engage and the latch 68 actuated to hold the pivot connection in its fixed
position for
towing. In both the embodiments showing in Figure 8 and Figure 10, therefore,
the
hitch is rigid so that both the portions of the hitch are themselves rigid and
are rigidly
connected by the pivot connection. The header is thus held at the required
distance
from the tractor and the front wheel of the header is steered by the side to
side
movement of the hitch.
In an alternative arrangement not shown, the hitch arm is connected to
the frame of the header and the front first wheel is allowed to caster.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made
within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit
and
scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall
be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
