A ground contour sensing system and method for a vehicle with a mowing head. The system includes a sensor system that measures a ground contour in front of the mowing head, and generates contour measurement signals; and a controller that determines whether to move the mowing head based on the contour measurement signals, and generates movement commands for the mowing head when it determines to move the mowing head. The mowing head can include tilt and lift cylinders, and the controller can determine whether to move the mowing head using the tilt or lift cylinders. The sensor system can include a pivot arm that moves in response to changes in the ground contour, and an angle sensor that measures an angle of the pivot arm. There can be one or more sensor systems positioned between the right and left sides of the mowing head.

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.

An integrated transport system for an agricultural harvesting header that pivotable rotates the agricultural harvesting header from a working position to a transport position allowing the agricultural harvesting header to be transported in a substantially vertical position. The agricultural harvesting header includes at least one actuator to pivotable move the agricultural harvesting header from the working position to the transport position and at least one transport wheel. The agricultural harvesting header may be further provided with gauge wheels being repositionable for use as a the at least one transport wheel.

A header positioning assembly for adjusting a header relative to a chassis includes a lift mechanism configured to couple the header to the chassis, at least one lift actuator configured to apply a force to the lift mechanism to adjust and maintain an orientation of the lift mechanism relative to the chassis, and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the at least one lift actuator or to the lift mechanism. The adjustment mechanism is positionable in at least two orientations and configured so that when the adjustment mechanism is in the at least two orientations, and without uncoupling the adjustment mechanism from the at least one lift actuator or the lift mechanism to which the adjustment mechanism is coupled, the adjustment mechanism changes one or more of a location and a direction of the force applied to the lift mechanism by the at least one lift actuator.

An agricultural system that includes a cylinder and a rod that moves axially in and out of the cylinder to raise and lower a header. A cylinder lock system controls movement of the rod. The cylinder lock system includes a cap-end fixture that couples to the cylinder and receives the rod. A rod-end fixture couples to an end of the rod. The system includes a lock piston. The lock piston includes a protrusion. The lock piston rotates about the rod and selectively couples the protrusion to the cap-end fixture to lock and unlock the rod-end fixture to the cap-end fixture.

A harvesting header on a vehicle such as a combine harvester includes a mounting assembly comprising left and right float elements each for applying controlled left and right lift forces and arranged to allow upward floating of each end of the header in response to ground contact. Left and right sensors detect the angle of tilt of the header and a control system operates to reduce the left lift force when the left end is raised and to reduce the right lift force when the right end is raised. On a combine harvester this can be done by rotating the face plate of the feeder house in the required direction. In other systems the force generated by the left and right float elements can be directly modified. The changes to the lift force are applied only when the propulsion vehicle is tilted beyond a predetermined angle.

An integrated transport system for an agricultural harvesting header that pivotable rotates the agricultural harvesting header from a working position to a transport position allowing the agricultural harvesting header to be transported in a substantially vertical position. The agricultural harvesting header includes at least one actuator to pivotable move the agricultural harvesting header from the working position to the transport position and at least one transport wheel. The agricultural harvesting header may be further provided with gauge wheels being repositionable for use as a the at least one transport wheel.

A float cylinder and accumulator are coupled between a header main frame and an attachment frame. The float cylinder is orientated so that its mechanical advantage in applying a float force to the header varies with the position of the main frame relative to the attachment frame. Similarly, the pressure exerted by the cylinder varies inversely with its mechanical advantage.

A crop harvesting header having a frame mounted on a propulsion vehicle has a cutter bar carrying a sickle knife and a draper transport. The draper is guided at its front edge by a longitudinally extending rail mounted on the frame for movement therewith. The cutter bar is mounted on the frame at spaced positions by spring blades attached to a fixed beam at the rear which allow up and down flexing movement of the cutter bar relative to the draper engagement member. At the center discharge the cutter bar is carried on shorter blades which are carried on a beam in front of the front draper roller. The small amount of flexing of the cutter bar combines with a balanced three piece header frame to provide effective ground following.

A header is supported by a pair of hydraulic float cylinders, where a float pressure to the cylinders is directly controlled by an electronic control supplying a variable control signal to a PPRR valve arrangement to maintain the float pressure at a predetermined value. At the set pressure a predetermined lifting force is provided to the header. A position sensor is used to generate an indication of movement and/or acceleration and/or velocity. The electronic control is arranged, in response to changes in the sensor signal, to temporarily change the control signal to vary the lifting force and thus change the dynamic response of the hydraulic float cylinder. A lift force greater than that required to lift the header can be provided by a lift cylinder and can be opposed in a controlled manner to apply a controlled downforce by the back of the same cylinder or by a separate component.