Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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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 in a transport position,
BACKGROUND QF THE 1NVENTtON
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. At the front edge is mounted a cutter bar carrying a cuiting 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 plafform or other support rearward of the cutting knife.
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.
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The present invention is concerned with the transportation of the
header and is not intended to be limited to any particular type of header.
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 U.S. Patent No. 5,243,810 issued September 14, 1993, of Fox et al
assigned to the present assignees MacDon, 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
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wheel is rotated through 90 and carries a hitch pole which is aitached 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
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 headers 30 feet in width and larger.
However in regard to smaller headers of the order of less than 30 feet,
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.
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Honey Bee of Saskatchewan, Canada, show in their brochure a
header for atkachment to a bidirectional 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 undemeath 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-center mounting on the
header
and to a bidirectional tractor and therefore is unsuitable for more
conventional
arrangements.
AGCp 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.
In U.S. Patent No. 5,970,695 issued October 26th, 1999, of Dunn
assigned to the present assignees MacDon, there is disclosed an arrangement
where gauge wheels at the rear of the header are turned through 90 degrees and
an
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additional separate wheel is added to the structure as a temporary attachment
at the
cutter bar.
In U.S. Patent No. 6,209,297 issued April 3rd, 2001 of Yeomans
assigned to the Deere, there is disclosed an arrangement where, in transport,
one
5 wheel is mounted at the rear of the header and one is mounted at the cutter
bar.
The wheel at the cutter bar is carried on an arm which swings from a stored
position
inclined rearwardly to an operating position at the cutter bar. The wheels can
be
removed and stored during field operation or the wheels can be used as gauge
wheels during field operation in which case the wheel from the cutter bar is
removed
from its mounting arm and attached at a different location on the rear of the
header.
Examples of pull-type swathers are shown in U.S. Patent Nos.
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
(Kilibery), issued July 29, 1969 and 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
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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 invention to provide a header with an improved
construction for supporting the header in a transport position and
particularly which
allows easy movement by the operator between the transport and working
positions.
According to one 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 an operating position 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
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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;
a first wheel arrangement on the header frame adjacent a first end of
the header frame for acting as a stabilizer when the header is in the
operating
position and movable to a transport position 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;
a second wheel arrangement on the header frame adjacent a second
end of the header frame for acting as a stabilizer when the header is in the
operating
position and movable to a transport position for transporting the header when
removed from the vehicle in the transport direction;
the first wheel arrangement being mounted on the header frame on the
support structure at a rear end of a first one of the support arms;
the second wheel arrangement being mounted on the header frame on
the support structure at a rear end of a second one of the support arms;
the first wheel arrangement being mounted on the header frame for
rotation of a rolling direction of the first wheel arrangement between the
working
position, in which the rolling direction is along the working direction,
through an
angle of the order of 90 degrees, and the transport position, in which the
rolling
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direction is along the transport direction;
the second wheel arrangement including a first wheel which is
mounted on the header frame for rotation of a rolling direction of the first
wheel
arrangement between the working position, in which the rolling direction is
along the
working direction, through an angle of the order of 90 degrees, and the
transport
position, in which the rolling direction is along the transport direction;
the second wheel arrangement including a second wheel which is
mounted on the header frame for movement between the working position, in
which
the second wheel is mounted on the header frame on the support structure at a
rear
end of one of the support arms, and the transport position, in which the
second
wheel is moved to a position adjacent the cutter bar so that the header is
stably
supported on the first wheel arrangement, the first wheel of the second wheel
arrangement and the second wheel of the second wheel arrangement;
the first wheel and second wheel of the second wheel arrangement
being mounted on the header frame for rotation of a rolling direction of the
first wheel
and the second wheel between the working position, in which the rolling
direction is
along the working direction, through an angle of the order of 90 degrees, and
the
transport position, in which the rolling direction is along 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;
the second wheel of the second wheel arrangement being mounted on
a swing arm which pivots between the transport position and the operating
position;
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the first and second wheels of the second wheel arrangement including
coupling members for connection together to operate as a common wheel
arrangement in the operating position, the coupling members being releasable
to
allow the second wheel to move on the swing arm to the transport position at
the
cutter bar while the first wheel remains at the rear of said second one of the
frame
members.
Preferably the hitch arm is connected to the mounting member of the
first wheel arrangement so as apply a pulling force to the header from a
tractor
through the mounting member of the first wheel arrangement and so as to effect
a
steering movement of the first wheel arrangement about the respectiive
vertical axis.
Preferably the second wheel of the second wheel arrangement
couples, in the transport position, to first wheel of the second wheel
arrangement so
as to move commonly relative to the header frame.
Preferably each of the first and second wheels is carried on its own
axle and wherein there is provided a snap coupler for connecting the axles
side by
side for rotation of the first and second wheels about a common axis.
Preferably the first and second wheels are connected to provide
common height adjustment thereof relative to the frame.
Preferably there is provided a height adjustment system for adjusting
the height of the first wheel relative to the header frame, wherein the swing
arm
allows vertical movement of the second wheel in the working position and
wherein
there is provided a connection for attachment of the second wheel to the first
wheel
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in the working position such that the second wheel can be moved to the
adjusted
height of the first wheel.
Preferably the swing arm is mounted so as to allow vertical movement
of the second wheel in the working position.
5 Preferably the swing arm is mounted for pivotal movement about a
generally vertical axis between the transport position and the operating
position.
Preferably the swing arm includes a coupling for connection to the
frame in the transport position so as to communicate loading to the frame.
Preferably the swing arm is mounted so as to provide guidance of the
10 pivotal movement between the operating position and the transport position
such
that the swing arm is moved to the transport position while presenting the
coupling at
a correct height for attachment to the frame.
Preferably the coupling includes a tower extending upwardly from the
swing arm to the frame on which the frame sits for transferring vertical loads
from
the frame onto the swing arm and a link arm extending from the swing arm along
the
frame to a connection to the frame.
Preferably the coupling is foldable into a collapsed position on the
swing arm for the working position.
Preferably the coupling includes a coupling plate on the frame having a
key-hole shaped slot therein defining a larger open end and a narrower slot
end and
wherein the coupling includes a coupling pin connected to the swing arm for
engaging through the key-hole shaped slot, with an upper locating head
arranged
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such that the locating head passes through the larger open end when the
coupling
pin is located at the larger open end and is held behind the coupling plate
when the
coupling pin is located at the narrower slot end, and wherein the coupling
includes a
spring mounted locking pin connected to the swing arm for locating in a hole
in the
coupling plate to locate the coupling pin at the narrower slot end of the
slot.
Preferably there is provided a height adjustment mechanism for
adjusting the height of the first wheel of the second wheel arrangement
relative to
the frame comprising:
a first portion attached to either the frame or the first wheel and a
second portion attached to the other of the first wheel and the frame;
the first portion including a generally vertical guide slot and a plurality
of locating receptacles at spaced positions along the guide slot;
the second portion including a locating bar which is mounted in the
guide slot so as to be slidable along the guide slot so as to adjust the
height of the
first portion relative to the second portion, the locating bar being movable
into a
selected one of the locating receptacles when a height has been selected so as
to
hold the locating bar against movement along the guide slot;
and a manually operable handle to which the locating bar is attached
which is pivotally movable between a locked position and an adjust position so
as to
move the locating bar between the selected receptacle and the guide slot.
Preferably the manually operable handle carries a second bar parallel
to the locating bar wherein the second bar and the locating bar are movable by
the
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pivotal movement of the locking handle between the locked position and the
adjust
position such that in the locked position the locating bar is in the
receptacle and is
held therein by the second bar in the guide slot and such that in the adjust
position
the locating bar and the second bar are both in the guide slot allowing
sliding
movement of both along the guide slot.
Preferably the guide slot and receptacles are defined by a member
having two parallel side walls with each side wall having a slot and
receptacles
formed therein and wherein the locating bar spans the two side walls.
It is a second object of the invention to provide a header with an
improved construction for supporting the header in a transport position and
particularly which allows easy movement by the operator between the transport
and
working positions.
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 in an operating position 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;
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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
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 frarne;
at least one wheel arrangement mounted on the header frame for
rotation of a rolling direction of the wheel arrangement between the working
position,
in which the rolling direction is along the working direction, through an
angle of the
order of 90 degrees, and the transport position, in which the rolling
direction is along
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;
said at least one wheel arrangement including a wheel mounted on a
swing arm which pivots between the transport position in which said wheel is
mounted on the header frame at a rear end of one of the support arms, and the
transport position, in which the wheel is moved to a position adjacent the
cutter bar;
wherein the swing arm includes a coupling for connection to the frame
in the transport position so as to communicate loading to the frame;
and wherein the swing arm is mounted so as to provide guidance of
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the pivotal movement between the operating position and the transport position
such
that the swing arm is moved to the transport position while presenting the
coupling at
a correct height for attachment to the frame.
In this arrangement, preferably the coupling includes a tower extending
upwardly from the swing arm to the frame on which the frame sits for
transferring
vertical loads from the frame onto the swing arm and a link arm extending from
the
swing arm along the frame to a connection to the frame.
In this arrangement, preferably the coupling is foldable into a collapsed
position on the swing arm for the working position.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a header with an
improved construction for supporting the header in a transport position and
particularly which allows easy adjustment of the height of at least one of the
wheels
in the operating position.
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 an operating position 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
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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
5 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;
10 at least one wheel mounted on the header frame for rotation of a rolling
direction of the wheel between the working position, in which the rolling
direction is
along the working direction, through an angle of the order of 90 degrees, and
the
transport position, in which the rolling direction is along the transport
direction;
a hitch arm for connection to the header so as to apply a pulling force
15 to the header from a tractor;
and a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the
wheel relative to the frame comprising:
a first portion attached to either the frame or the wheel and a second
portion attached to the other of the first wheel and the frame;
the first portion including a generally vertical guide slot and a pluratity
of locating receptacles at spaced positions along the guide slot;
the second portion including a locating bar which is mounted in the
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guide slot so as to be slidable along the guide slot so as to adjust the
height of the
first portion relative to the second portion, the locating bar being movable
into a
selected one of the locating receptacles when a height has been selected so as
to
hold the locating bar against movement along the guide slot;
and a manually operable handle to which the locating bar is attached
which is pivotally movable between a locked position and an adjust position so
as to
move the locating bar between the selected receptacle and the guide slot.
In this arrangement, preferably the manually operable handle carnes a
second bar parallel to the locating bar wherein the second bar and the
locating bar
are movable by the pivotal movement of the locking handle between the looked
position and the adjust position such that in the locked position the locating
bar is in
the receptacle and is held therein by the second bar in the guide slot and
such that
in the adjust position the locating bar and the second bar are both in the
guide slot
allowing sliding movement of both along the guide slot,
In this arrangement, preferably the guide slot and receptacles are
defined by a member having two parallel side walls with each side wall having
a slot
and receptacles formed therein and wherein the locating bar spans the two side
walls.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ~RAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a header according to the present
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invention showing in schematic manner only the layout of the frame, cutter bar
and
drapers attached to a harvesting vehicle for transport of the header in a
harvesting
action.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of a header according to the present
invention showing in schematic manner only the header of Figure 1 arranged for
towing by the harvesting vehicle.
Figure 3 is an isometric view of a header according to the present
invention showing the header in more detail but where the support wheels and
frame
only are shown, thus omitting for convenience of illustration the cutting
knife, drapers
and crop guide panels, the support wheels being arranged in the position for
towed
transport.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of that part only of the header of Figure 3
showing the wheels at what is the rear end of the header in the towed
position.
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the components shown in Figure 3
showing the wheels in the harvesting position.
Figure 6 is an isometric view of the components shown in Figure 3
showing the wheels in the harvesting position.
Figure 7 is an isometric view of the components shown in Figure 3
showing the wheels in the towed position.
Figure 8 is an isometric view of the swing arm portion only of the
components shown in Figure 3 swing arm in the harvesting position.
Figure 9 is an isometric view of the swing arm portion only of the
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components shown in Figure 3 swing arm in the towed position,
Figure 10 is a rear elevational view of the components shown in Figure
3 showing the wheels in the harvesting position.
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 11-11 of Figure 10
showing the wheels in the harvesting position.
Figure 12 is a rear elevational view of a part only of the components
shown in Figure 11 on an enlarged scale showing one detail.
Figure 13 is a top plan view of a part only of the components shown in
Figure 14 on an enlarged scale showing one detail.
Figure 14 is a front elevational view of the locking mechanism only for
holding the wheel shown in Figure 4 in the transport position.
Figure 15 is a bottom plan view of the locking mechanism of Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a side elevational view of the wheel height adjustment
mechanism only for the wheel as shown in Figures 10 and 11, shown in a set
position of the wheel.
Figure 17 is a side elevational view similar to that of Figure 16, shown
in an adjustment position of the wheel.
Figure 18 is a side elevational view of the wheel height adjustment
mechanism as shown in Figure 16 on an enlarged scale showing one detail.
Figure 19 is a side elevational view of the wheel height adjustment
mechanism as shown in Figure 17 on an enlarged scale showing one detail.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
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19
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference is made to US patents 5,005,343 and 5,243,810 of the
present assignees which show some detail of the header on which the design of
the
present embodiment is based. That header is generally used in conjunction with
a
conventional combine harvester generally indicated at 10 with a header
indicated at
11.
The conventional combine harvester is shown only schematically and
includes a feeder housing 12 through which the crop from the header is
intended to
pass into the main body of the combine harvester. The feeder housing includes
a
front mounting section 13 shown only schematically which is coupled to the
header
to provide support of the header for movement across the ground.
Most conventional headers are rigidly coupled to the front of the feeder
housing so as to remain at the predetermined orientation directly across the
front of
the combine harvester. The present header is however mounted in a manner
including a linkage including as shown three links 13A, 13B and 13C or four
links
which allow some pivotal movement of the header to occur about a horizontal
axis
extending forwardly along the line of intended working direction of the
combine
harvester.
The header conventionally comprises a main frame tube 14 extending
along the full length of the header which acts as the main backbone providing
rigidity
to the header. The frame further includes a plurality of generally L-shaped
frame
CA 02534200 2006-01-13
members 15 which extend vertically downwardly from the tube 14 and then have a
leg section extending forwardly from a lower end of the vertical portion. At
the
forward end of the L-shaped leg sections is provided a flange 16 on which is
mounted a conventional sickle knife 17 for cutting the standing crop. The
standing
5 crop is transported inwardly of the header by a pair of side drapers 18 and
19 which
provide an upper run of the canvas extending from the outside end of the
header
inwardly toward a central section generally indicated at 20. At the central
section is
provided a feed draper 21 which moves the crop which has been fed to the
center
section rearwardly through an opening 22 at the feeder housing. A rotating
confining
10 and feeding member 23 is provided at the feeder housing to assist in
directing the
material downwardly and rearwardly into the feeder housing for proper supply
to the
combine harvester. A reel 24 is mounted on reel arms 25 supported from the
tube
14 in conventional manner.
All of the above features are shown and described in the above
15 mentioned US patents and further details can be obtained from study of
these
patents. For convenience of illustration the reel and the confining member are
omitted from Figures 1 and 3 and the reel and the draper are omitted from
Figure 5.
The previous machine of the present assignees also includes a pair of
gauge wheels mounted on the rear part of the L-shaped frames 15 so as to
project
20 rearwardly from the frame in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 2.
However in
the previous machine the gauge wheels are simply provided to act as gauge
wheels
and are spring loaded into engagement with the ground. In the transportation
of the
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machine previously manufactured, the header is simply mounted on a separate
trailer in conventional manner whereupon the gauge wheels do not in any way
assist
in the transportation process.
The machine as shown herein however is modified so that the gauge
wheels can also be used for the transportation of the header when disconnected
from the combine harvester.
The gauge wheels therefore comprises a Iefthand gauge wheel system
generally indicated at 26 and a righthand gauge wheel system generally
indicated at
27. The gauge wheel system 26 includes a pair of gauge wheels 28 mounted upon
an arm 29 carried upon a bracket 30 pivotally connected to the rear part of
the frame
15. The righthand gauge wheel system includes a pair of ground wheels 31 and
32.
In Figure 3 the system according to the present invention is shown
generally which includes the header 11 including the frame members previously
described. Thus the frame members include inner frame members 15A and 15B
which are arranged for aftaehment to the support structure of the transport
vehicle.
The frame members further include outer frame members 15C and 15D which are
arranged to be attached to the ground wheels generally indicated in this
embodiment
at 31 and 32. The ground wheel assembly 31 includes two side by side wheels 33
and 34 which are connected to a common support system 35 which carried the
ground wheels on the frame member 15C for height adjustment of the wheels
relative to the frame member 15C for use in the operating position in the
field, Also
the mounting assembly 35 carries the pair of wheels 33 and 34 so that they can
be
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22
rotated from the operating position parallel to the working direction and to
the
transport position shown in Figure 3 which is at right angles to the transport
position.
The wheel assembly 32 includes a first wheel 36 and a second wheel
37. The first wheel 36 is mounted on a first assembly 38 which carries that
wheel in
an arrangement which provides height adjustment for the working position and
which
also provides rotation about the vertical axis to move from the operating
position to
the transport position.
The wheel 37 is however separate from the wheel 36 in that it is
mounted on a swing arm 39 which pivots about a mounting 40 allowing the wheel
to
move from the operating position to the transport position. In the operating
position
the wheel 37 is located immediately adjacent the wheel 36 and is connected to
that
wheel, In the transport position the wheel 37 is moved on the swing arm 39 to
the
front of the header underlying the cutter bar 16. Thus the second wheel in the
transport position is moved so that it provides support for the header on the
opposite
side of the center of gravity relative the wheel 36 so that, as previously
described,
the header can be towed longitudinally by a hitch pole connected to the wheel
assembly 31.
Turning now to Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, further detail of the wheel
assembly 32 is shown. The swing arm 39 is mounted on the frame member 15D by
a bracket 41. The bracket is attached at one end 41A to the frame member 15D
and
extends outwardly to one side of the frame member 15D. The bracket 41 thus
provides a pivot 42 for the swing arm at a vertical pivot axis located along
side the
CA 02534200 2006-01-13
23
frame member 15D. This allows the swing arm to swing about the generally
vertical
axis defined by the pivot 42 from a position at right angles to the cutter bar
16 from
the position at the rear of the frame to the position at the front of the
frame. The
position at the front of the frame is the transport position and is shown in
Figures 4
and 7 and the position at the rear of the frame is the operating position
shown in
Figures 5 and 6. The bracket 41 and the pivot 44 are arranged so that in the
operating position as best shown in Figure 6 swing arm 39 can move upwardly
and
downwardly about a generally horizontal axis through the bracket 41 allowing
the
wheel 37 upwardly and downwardly in an adjusting action. The pivot 42 thus is
basically a vertical pivot but also provides some freedom to move about the
transverse horizontal axis.
The bracket 41 and the pivot 42 is further arranged so that as the
swing arm moves from the working position towards the transport position the
ability
of the swing arm to move upwardly and downwardly is reduced or removed so that
the height of the swing arm is fixed as it moves towards the cutter bar 16.
Thus at
the cutter the swing arm approaches the cutter bar at a specified height
relative to
the cutter bar so that the swing arm is presented at the required height for
it proper
engagement with the cutter as described hereinafter.
Thus in use when the operator wishes to transfer the wheel assembly
32 from the operating position to the transport position, the operator raises
the frame
from the ground so that the wheels are free of the ground thus allowing the
wheel 37
to be free and to be moved on the swing arm around the pivot 42. At the
working
CA 02534200 2006-01-13
24
position the swing arm is located by the pivot 42 so that it is raised from
the ground
but a lowermost position of the adjustment system described hereinafter. The
operator is thus free to push manually the wheel 37 and the swing arm around
the
axis of the pivot 42 toward the transport position shown in Figure 7 and the
swing
arm and the wheel 37 thus pivot freely to the transport position requiring
little effort
until the swing arm reaches the position at right angles to the cutter bar 16
which is
the transport position.
In order to obtain this required height of the swing arm in the transport
position, the bracket 41 includes a cam surface which engaged an underside of
the
swing arm to locate the swing arm as it moves around the pivot 42.
Swing arm 39 includes a tower portion 43 which extends upwardly
from the swing arm to engage the underside of the cutter bar 16 so that the
cutter
bar can rest on the tower portion 43 and apply force through the tower portion
43 to
the swing arm. The swing arm further includes a brace 44 which extends from
the
outer end of the swing arm forwardly and inwardly toward to the opposite wheel
36
as shown in the transport position in Figure 7 so that the brace 44 extends
from the
end of the swing end forwardly and inwardly to a forward end 45 which is
attached to
the cutter bar 16.
The construction of the swing arm 39 and the tower 43 together with
the brace 44 is best shown in Figures 8 and 9. In this figure it will be noted
that the
outer end of the swing arm carries a hub 46 to which the wheel 37 is attached.
The
tower 43 can be moved to a folded position shown in Figure 8 by pivotal
movement
CA 02534200 2006-01-13
about a mounting bracket 47 attached to the top of the swing arm 39. Thus the
tower 43 can be moved from its folded position shown in Figure 8 and pivoted
upwardly to a position at which an upper end 48 of the tower can engage
against a
suitable undersurface of the cuiter 16. A pin 49 is provided on the tower
which can
5 be engaged into position on top of the swing arms 39 to hold the tower
against
collapse when in the unfolded position so that it provides a rigid support
fixed
relative to the swing arm to transfer loads from the weight of the frame and
the cutter
bar 96 through the tower into the swing arm. The tower 43 includes two side
walls
50 which are triangular in shape so that the pin 49 engages underneath the
swing
10 am in the folded position and engages on top of the swing arm in the raised
position.
The brace 44 is mounted on one side of the swing arm on a pivot bracket 51 so
that
pivot out from the folded position in which it lies along side the swing arm
as shown
in Figure 8 to the extended position shown in Figure 9. The brace 44 is formed
as
an angle member with an upstanding flange 44A and a underlying flange 44B. At
15 the forward end of the brace is provided a coupling 52 described in more
detail
hereinafter. in the folded position the brace has its upstanding flange 44A
lying
along one side wall of the swing arms 39 and that flange is located between
the side
wall 50 of the tower and the side wall of the swing arm so that it is retained
in place
along side the swing arm after the tower is folded down on the outside of the
20 upstanding flange 44A of the brace 44. The bottom flange 44B of the brace
engages underneath the bottom surface of the swing arm and is again trapped in
place by the pin 49 which extends undemeath the boitom flange 44B and
CA 02534200 2006-01-13
26
underneath the bottom surface of the swing arm so as to hold the brace in
place
when the tower 43 is folded down and locked in placed by the pin 49.
Thus when the operator has moved the swing arm from the operating
position to the transport position, the tower 43 and the brace 44 can simply
be
expanded into position and because the swing arm is at the right height, the
tower
engages up under the cutter bar to the required height without necessity for
adjustment and the brace moves to the required position so that the coupling
52 at
the forward end can be attached to the underside of the cutter bar as
described in
detail hereinafter.
The coupling 52 is shown in more detail in Figures 14 and 15. The
coupling 52 co-operates with a plate 53 attached to the underside of the
cutter bar
16. The plate 53 has a key hole opening 54 with a wider end 54A and a narrower
end 54B. The coupling 52 further includes a pin 55 which extends from the end
of
the brace 44 to a bearing member 56 which can project through the key hole
slot 54.
The bearing member has a size such that it can engage through the larger end
54A
of the slot 54 but when moved into the narrower end 54B is located above the
plate
53 so as to hold the forward end of the rod 55 against the underside of the
plate 53.
In order to hold the bearing member 56 at the required position at the
narrower end of the slot 54B, there is provided a spring pin 57 of a
conventional
nature which can pop into a hole 58 provided in the plate 53. Thus the pin 57
merely
acts to located the rod 55 and the bearing member 56 at the required position
on the
plate 53 so that the bearing remains in 1position at the narrower end 54B. The
CA 02534200 2006-01-13
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loading from the brace is thus transferred from the plate 53 to the bearing
member
56 and the pin 57 receives little loading. When the pins 57 is pulled against
its
spring mounting and retracted from the hole 58 the bearing member 56 can
simply
slide to the larger end 54A of the slot and thus can be removed from the slot
54
allowing the coupling 52 to be disconnected from the plate 53.
This arrangement therefore provides a simple mounting of a load
bearing member 56 in a way which can communicate forces between the load
bearing member and the plate 53 while the bearing member can be simply and
easily removed from its position simply by the operator pulling the pin 57.
Turning now to Figures 11 and 12, the wheels 36 and 37 are shown in
the working position of Figure S. In this position the wheels have a coupling
60
which connects the wheels together for co-operation. The hub 46 of the wheel
37 is
thus connected to a hub 61 of the wheel 36. This coupling 60 is effected by a
pin
and receptacle arrangement best shown in Figures 12 and 13 where there is
provided a pin 62 which engages into a receptacle 63 and is latched in place
to hold
the hubs in parallel arrangement with the height of the hubs aligned.
Each hub 46 and 61 can rotate relative to its mounting about a
generally vertical pivot member indicated at 46A and 61A respectively. This
allows
the hub to rotate through 90 degrees from the working position shown in Figure
10
and Figure 5 to the transport position best shown in Figure 4. The hub carries
a
manually graspable handle including a handle 468 on the hub 46 and a handle 61
B
on the hub 61. The hubs are locked in place at the required orientation by a
CA 02534200 2006-01-13
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respective spring pin 46C and 61C carried on the respective hub 46, 61. The
spring
pin can be manually pulled from a locking position in which a lower end of the
pin
engages through plates on the hub and mounting the hub so that the locating
hole
on the hub is aligned with respective holes in the mounting plate for the hub
and the
pin engaged into the selected hole for required orientation of the hub and
therefore
of the respective wheel.
The wheel 36 and the hub 61 are connected to a height adjustment
mechanism generally indicated at 65. This mechanism is shown in more detail in
Figures 16 through 19. In general the height adjustment mechanism 65 is
mounted
on the frame member 15D and allows the height of the hub 61 to be adjusted
relative to the rear end of the frame member 15D so as to adjust the working
height
of the wheel 36 relative to the frame. The height adjustment mechanism 65 is
connected only to the hub 61 so that it is free of the hub 46 and its wheel
37.
In general, in operation therefore, with the hub 46 disconnected from
the hub 61 and free to swing on its swing arm 39, the height of the wheel 36
and the
hub 61 attached thereto is adjusted by operating the height adjustment
mechanism
65 as described hereinafter. As only a single wheel 36 is being adjusted at
this time,
the weight of the wheel is relatively low and can be lifted and lowered
manually to
the required height and the adjustment mechanism 65 operated to locate the
wheel
and the hub at that selected height. A spring assist 68 is provided for taking
a part
of the weight of the wheels 36 and its hub 61 so that the operator requires
only to lift
that part of the weight which is unsupported by the spring assist. A suitable
CA 02534200 2006-01-13
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arrangement for the spring assist will be apparent to a person skilled in the
art which
provides a connection between the hub 61 or an element connected to the hub
relative to the frame so as to lift the hub 61 and provide partial support for
the hub.
In general, after the wheel 36 and its hub 61 have been adjusted to the
required height and located by the height adjustment mechanism 65, the wheel
37
and its hub 46 is moved into position along side the hub 61 and the latching
mechanism 60 operated to locate the wheel 37 and the hub 46 in position along
side
the hub 61. When connected in this way the two wheels are connected together
at
the selected height and thus remain fixed to the frame to provide a gauging
action
between the frame and the ground.
The height adjustment mechanism is shown in more detail in Figures
16 through 19. The height adjusting mechanism 65 includes a track 70 carried
in the
frame member 15D in the vertical section of that frame member as indicated at
15D1
together with a lift arm 71 which extends downwardly to the hub 61 and is
attached
thereto to raise and lower the hub. The lower end of the lift arm 71 is
connected by
a transverse pin 72 to the hub at a suitable location thereon. The lift arm 71
includes
two parallel sides and a transverse joining web to form a channel member which
slides inside two side walls of the track 70. The track 70 defined by the two
side
walls which are attached inside the vertical portion 15D1 include a vertical
track
portion 73 and a series of receptacle portions 74 at spaced positions along
the
vertical track portion 73. The side walls of the lift arm 71 include a
transverse pirr75
which connects the side walls. As shown in Figure 18, the pin 75 in a locked
CA 02534200 2006-01-13
position of the height adjustment mechanism 65 is engaged into a selected one
of
the recesses 74 from the track 73. When the pin 75 is locked in position
within the
receptacle 74, the pin 75 cannot move vertically upwardly or downwardly
relative to
the track 70 since the pin is fixed in position in the selected receptacle 74.
The
5 receptacle 74 as best shown in Figure 18 in order that weight applied
downwardly
from the frame member 15D through the track 70 is applied downwardly onto the
pin
75 thus tending to push the pin 75 further into the upwardly curved track
receptacle
74 so that weight tends to maintain the system in the fixed position.
When the pin 75 is moved out of the receptacle 74 into the vertical
10 track portion 73, the pin 75 can move upwardly and downwardly on the track
portion
73 as shown in Figure 3.
The pin 75 is attached to the lift arm 71 by a lever 76. The lever 76
carries a second pin 77 which extends transversely across the track 70 along
side
the pin 75 but spaced from the pin 75. A comparison of the positions shown in
15 Figures 18 and 19 will show that the lever 76 in the focked position of
Figure 18 is
moved manually downwardly to a position in which the pin 77 is located in the
track
portion 73 and the pin 75 is forced into the receptacle 74. If the lever 76 is
moved
upwardly to the position shown in Figures 17 and 19, the pivotal movement of
the
lever 76 about the pin 77 acts to pull the pin 75 out of the receptacle 74 to
a position
20 in which the pins 77 and 75 are aligned in the track portion 73. In this
position both
pins are in the track set portion 73 and both pins can slide upwardly and
downwardly
within the track portion until the pin 75 reaches the selected receptacle 74.
When
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31
the pin 75 is at the required height as adjusted by the operator, the operator
can
manually move the lever 76 downwardly thus pivoting the lever about the pin 77
and
forcing the pin 75 into the selected receptacle 74.
In this way the operator can simply lift the lever 76 to the slide position
shown in Figures 17 and 19, can move the wheel upwardly and downwardly as
assisted by the spring 68 until the selected position is achieved whereupon
the lever
76 is moved downwardly to lock the pin 75 in the required receptacle. A
further
transverse locking pin 78 can be manually inserted in place across the lever
76 as
shown in Figures 16 and 18 so as to ensure that the lever is fixed in its
downward
locked position thus holding the pin in 75 in place in the receptacle 74 and
preventing inadvertent release of the pin 75 by inadvertent pivoting of the
lever 76.
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 department 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.
