A harvesting head for a combine and method of operating. An attachment frame at an aft end of the head attaches with a combine feederhouse. A main frame of the head is movably connected to the attachment frame, and the main frame has a range of travel with respect to the attachment frame. A resilient float element is provided between the attachment and main frames. A flexible cutterbar on the main frame operates to cut crops. The cutterbar is supported on the main frame by a plurality of pivoting arms distributed across a width of the head. With the main frame in a nominal intermediate position within the range of travel, the plurality of pivoting arms have 10 percent or less of total available travel as upward travel and at least 90 percent of total available travel as downward travel when the head is set in the nominal position.

Method and apparatus for controlling the height of a header for use with an agricultural harvester. The header height is controlled by detecting a first height value of the header with respect to ground, detecting a second height value of the header with respect to ground, selecting a representative height value (e.g., the smallest height value) from the first and the second height values, and controlling the position of the header with respect to the agricultural harvester responsive the selected representative height value.

A harvester includes a main frame, first side frame, and a second side frame. The first and second side frames are rotatable about the main frame between a deployed position and a stowed position. A first crop divider is rotatable with respect to the first side frame to change an angle between the first crop divider and the ground. A first biasing member biases the first crop divider into the raised position. A second crop divider is rotatable with respect to the second side frame to change an angle between the second crop divider and the ground. A second biasing member biases the second crop divider into the raised position. During movement of the first and second side frames into the stowed position, the first and second crop dividers are moved into the lowered position against the biasing force of the respective biasing member.

An agricultural vehicle header system having a center section, an inboard height sensor located on the center section between a lateral centerline and an end of the center section, a wing section movably attached to the end of the center section, a number of outboard height sensors located on the wing section between an inboard end and an outboard end of the wing section, and a header control subsystem. Each of the outboard height sensors is configured to output a respective outboard height sensor signal. The header control subsystem is operatively connected to the outboard height sensors, and configured to receive the respective outboard height sensor signals from each of the outboard height sensors, and generate a single emulated outboard height sensor signal based on the outboard height sensor signals.

A control system and method for operating an articulating header of a combine harvester in a failsafe mode. The method includes monitoring the articulating header, alerting a user when a fault condition is detected in the articulating header, and converting the articulating header to a non-articulating header in response to the fault condition so that the combine harvester may be operated in a failsafe mode.

A harvesting system includes a header pivotably attached to a combine. The header includes a center section to which a left wing and right wing are pivotably attached. A wing locking system of the harvesting system includes first and second engageable states that enable dynamic wing behavior and reduce structural load. The first state corresponds to a harvesting configuration of the header in which the wings are allowed to pivot to allow the header to follow changes in terrain. The second state corresponds to a configuration in which the header is elevated relative to the ground. In the second state, the ability of the wings to pivot is minimized as compared to the first state, which allows the header to be maintained in a substantially flat configuration while minimizing the amount of dynamic load imparted by the header on the combine during non-harvesting transport of the header.

A wing locking system for a harvesting header is provided. The wing locking system includes an accumulator, a fluid cylinder operably attached to a wing of the harvesting header, a hose fluidly connecting the accumulator and the fluid cylinder, and a valve operably disposed between the accumulator and the fluid cylinder. The valve includes a first selectable position configured to permit a first fluid flow rate between the accumulator and the fluid cylinder and a second selectable position configured to permit a second fluid flow rate from the accumulator to the fluid cylinder. The first fluid flow rate is greater than the second fluid flow rate.

An agricultural vehicle including a chassis, at least one power take off member, and a folding header operably coupled to the agricultural vehicle and supported by the chassis. The folding header includes a center section operably coupled to the chassis of the agricultural vehicle. The center section includes a pair of lateral ends and at least one drive assembly operably coupled to the at least one power take off member of the agricultural vehicle. The folding header also includes at least one additional section pivotally coupled to one of the lateral ends of the center section and operably coupled to the at least one drive assembly. The at least one additional section is selectively pivotable between an operational position and a nonoperational position. The center section is configured to harvest a crop material in both of the operational position and nonoperational position of the at least one additional section.

A header for a harvester includes a hinge assembly, a center portion having a single center top beam that spans laterally relative to a longitudinal centerline of the header, and a wing portion having a single lateral top beam that is arranged forward of and lower than the single center top beam. The wing portion is attached to the center portion by the hinge assembly wherein the wing portion is pivotable between an unfolded position wherein the wing portion extends laterally away from the longitudinal centerline and a folded position wherein the lateral top beam nests forward of and below the center top beam. A cradle member may be attached to the center portion, the cradle portion receives the lateral top beam when the wing portion is in the folded position. The hinge assembly positions the lateral top beam forward of and below the center top beam in folded and unfolded positions.

A harvesting header for a combine harvester comprises a central header section and two lateral header sections hinged to and arranged to rotate relative to the central section for assuming a working configuration, in which the three header sections are mutually horizontally aligned, and a transport configuration, in which the lateral header sections overlap the central section. The header sections are provided with a support frame and a cutting bar associated with the support frame by a hydraulic suspension and comprising a blade having substantially trapezoid-shaped knives capable of to-and-fro movement by a motor-driven control member. The header sections also include a pick-up reel supported on the support frame by means of swivel arms, a transport belt conveyor arranged downstream of the cutting bar and configured to feed the material cut by the cutting bar downstream of the harvesting header toward a rear part of the harvesting header.