An actuator assembly for moving an implement attached to an agricultural vehicle. The actuator assembly includes an actuator comprising a longitudinal axis, a cylinder extending along the longitudinal axis, and a piston rod extending from the cylinder along the longitudinal axis and that is configured to be attached to the implement at a connection point. A safety stop is pivotably attached at the connection point and is movable between a deployed position where the safety stop is configured to block retraction of the actuator, and a retracted position where the safety stop is not configured to block retraction of the actuator. The safety stop is configured to rotate with respect to the actuator about a first rotational axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, as well as a second rotational axis that is orthogonal to both the longitudinal axis and the first rotational axis.

A system for controlling an operative parameter of a harvesting header of an agricultural harvesting machine comprises a first sensing arrangement for sensing a property of a field in front of the header in a contact-less manner, a second sensing arrangement for providing a signal suited to derive a value of an adjustable work parameter of the header, an actuator for adjusting the work parameter, and a control unit for determining a control signal for the actuator based on the signal from the first sensing arrangement and on the signal from the second sensing arrangement. The second sensing arrangement is arranged to detect the position of a reference point, which indicates the work parameter, in a contact-less manner, and that the first sensing arrangement and the second sensing arrangement are relatively fixed.

In one aspect, a system for adjusting harvesting implement orientation of an agricultural harvester may include a harvesting implement configured to be coupled to the agricultural harvester in a manner that permits a fore/aft tilt angle defined between a longitudinal axis of the harvesting implement and a field surface to be adjusted. The system may also include a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a distance between the harvesting implement and the field surface. Furthermore, the system may include a controller configured to receive an input associated with a predetermined characteristic of the harvesting implement. The controller may also be configured to monitor the distance between the harvesting implement and the field surface based on data received from the sensor and initiate adjustments of the fore/aft tilt angle based on the received input and the monitored distance.

The invention relates to a cutting system (1) for a combine harvester (2), having a support frame (3) for a cutting table (4), which has, on the cutting side, a cutting bar (6) which is fastened in an articulated manner to the support frame (3), is flexible transversely to the cutting direction (5) and can be adjusted in height with respect to the support frame (3) by means of a plurality of axle levers (7) which are arranged distributed over the width of the cutting system and engage at one end on the cutting bar (6) and at the other end on the support frame (3), wherein actuators (8) and thus the axle levers (7) with the cutting bar (6) can be actuated by a controller (12). In order to create advantageous cutting conditions, it is proposed that the cutting bar (6) is assigned a plurality of sensors (11) which are arranged in a distributed manner over the width of the cutting system, record the ground clearance of the cutting bar (6) and are provided in the cutting direction (5) in front of each axle lever (7) on the cutting bar (6), wherein the sensors (11) are skids (13) arranged on the bottom side of the cutting bar (6) for measuring the ground contact pressure of the respective skid (13) or for measuring the distance between the skid (13) and the cutting bar (6).

A harvesting machine includes: a machine main body 1; a harvesting unit 15 that is provided forward of the machine main body 1 and is capable of swinging upward and downward relative to the machine main body 1; a height detection unit that is capable of detecting a height position H at which the harvesting unit 15 is located; and an obstacle detection unit that is capable of detecting an obstacle that is located forward thereof in a travel direction. The obstacle detection unit includes: a first sensor 21 and a second sensor 22 that are provided at different positions in a vertical direction, and output detection information regarding a detection area that is located forward thereof in the travel direction; a selection unit that selects at least either the detection information from the first sensor 21 or the detection information from the second sensor 22 based on the height position H of the harvesting unit 15; and a determination unit that determines the obstacle based on the detection information selected by the selection unit.

A harvesting header for use with a crop-harvesting machine includes a header frame (202), at least one harvesting tool (204) carried by the header frame, a rotatable arm (306) coupled to the header frame at a pivot point (308) and extending forward of the harvesting tool, a wheel (304) coupled to the rotatable arm and configured to roll along a soil surface leading the harvesting tool, and a sensor (402) coupled to the header frame at the pivot point and configured to measure an angle of the rotatable arm with respect to the header frame. An agricultural harvester includes a chassis, a feederhouse, a processing system, a grain bin, a harvesting header, and a control system. A method of operating an agricultural harvester includes propelling the agricultural harvester through an agricultural field, sensing a contour of a soil surface leading harvesting tool; and adjusting a height of the harvesting header based on the sensed contour.

A method of autonomously controlling the ground speed of a harvester, such as a self-propelled or towed wind rower, uses both the engine speed and the header speed as control parameters to increase or decrease the ground speed as necessary to maintain efficient harvester operation over varying terrain and crop conditions. A control system includes a controller which receives signals from sensors indicative of engine speed, header speed and harvester ground speed and uses actuators to control the header speed, engine speed and harvester ground speed. An operator interface permits an operator to engage or disengage the autonomous mode of control system operation, as well as to directly control the harvester.

A combine harvester is provided with a controller, and the controller functions as an automatic traveler and a switch. The automatic traveler executes the automatic traveling of the combine harvester in the automatic straight work. The switch switches automatic traveling of the combine harvester to manual traveling, during the performing of the automatic traveling, when detecting a shift from an un-mowed area to an already mowed area.

A self-propelled harvester having a height-adjustable pick-up device, on which an attachment pivotable about a virtual pendulum axis of the pick-up device is positioned for picking up harvested material is disclosed. The pick-up device is configured for adaptive adjustment of a vertical distance of the attachment from the ground. Further, at least one support wheel is positioned at least on the outer lateral regions of the attachment. The support wheel may be guided in a height-movable manner by a hydraulic cylinder connected to a hydraulic circuit of a hydraulic system having a pressure source. Position regulation of the attachment transverse to the forward direction of travel by pivoting about the virtual pendulum axis is independent of a transverse guidance of the attachment controlled or regulated by the harvester.

Systems and methods for automated lockout systems for moving a cutterbar between a rigid configuration and a flexible configuration in response to actuation of one or more gauge wheels. In some implementations, a cutterbar is movable into a rigid configuration in response to extension of a gauge wheel. In some implementations, the cutterbar is movable into a flexible configuration in response to retraction of a gauge wheel. In some implementations, movement of a cutterbar into a rigid configuration occurs simultaneously with extension of a gauge wheel. In some implementations, movement of the cutterbar into a flexible configuration occurs simultaneously with retraction of a gauge wheel. In some implementations, movement of a gauge wheel and a cutter bar is performed in response to fluidic pressure.