A01B73/005

Suspension compliance to reduce frame loading

A harvesting system includes a header pivotally attached to a combine. The header includes a center section to which a left wing and right wing are pivotally attached. A suspension 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.

TOWED OR SEMI-MOUNTED AGRICULTURAL MACHINE HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE AXLE DEVICE
20220095523 · 2022-03-31 · ·

A towed or semi-mounted agricultural machine having a chassis on which an axle device connecting two wheels to the chassis is mounted, this axle device being provided with at least one movable part and one fixed part in such a way that the spacing between the wheels can be modified, at least one of the wheels being integral with a movable part that is connected slidingly along a longitudinal axis to the fixed part, which is integral with the chassis. Each movable part is additionally connected mechanically to the chassis by a respective articulated link, which is articulated on the one hand with the movable part by a first articulation and on the other hand with the chassis by a second articulation.

COMBINE HEADER EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATED HEADER TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND HEADER STEERING MECHANISM

A header including a front and rear wheel assembly, each assembly having an axle and two wheels. Each wheel assembly is coupled to the main body of the header by an actuating system having an actuator mechanism for actuating a swivel movement of the axle and the wheels to bring the wheel assembly to or from a road transport position. The front and rear wheel assemblies are equipped with tie rod arrangements for steering the header when it is transported on the road. The wheels of the wheel assemblies are operated as caster wheels. The tie rod arrangement of the front wheel assembly is coupled to a pivotable base connected to, or connectable to, a drawbar. The wheel assemblies have respective actuators which are synchronized so as to synchronize the position of the front and rear wheels.

COMBINE HEADER EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATED HEADER TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND DRAWBAR

A header that includes at least one support and transport wheel assembly having an axle and two wheels. The wheel assembly is coupled to the main body of the header by an actuating system that includes an actuator mechanism configured to actuate a swivel movement of the axle and the wheels, the swivel movement being configured to bring the wheel assembly to or from a position wherein the axle is transversal to the longitudinal direction of the header. The wheel assembly is equipped with a drawbar that is deployable from a storage position to a deployed position, wherein the movement of the drawbar between the positions is synchronized with the swivel movement of the wheel assembly.

COMBINE HEADER EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATED HEADER TRANSPORT SYSTEM

A header including at least one support and transport wheel assembly having an axle and two wheels. The wheel assembly is coupled to the main body of the header by an actuating system that has two actuator mechanisms. When changing from the field mode to the transport mode, the first actuator mechanism brings the wheel assembly forward from a position behind the header, after the header has been lifted up from the ground. After completion of this first movement, a second actuator mechanism swivels the wheel assembly to a position that is transversal to the header, after which the header is lowered to the ground. The two-step approach enables the changeover between field mode and transport mode without pivoting or otherwise moving the header relative to the feeder. The wheel axle may be pivotably suspended from a frame element that executes the swiveling movement.

TRANSPORT WHEEL ARRANGEMENT FOR A CROP HARVESTING HEADER
20210307247 · 2021-10-07 ·

A header for a crop harvesting machine includes front and rear wheel arrangements that pivot about respective upright axis between a field orientation and a perpendicular transport orientation, while having respective suspensions arrangements movable between different suspended heights. A biasing spring provides lift assist to carry weight of the wheel arrangement during adjustment of the suspension elevation while being isolated from the suspension once set at any one elevation. The front wheel arrangement includes an anti-rotation latch that locks the front wheel in the field orientation automatically upon disconnection of a hitch arm. A second wheel of the rear wheel arrangement can be held in a raised position relative to a first wheel in a field orientation. Load bearing surfaces between the suspended rear wheels and the header frame abut one another when latching to the header frame to isolate the suspension from the header frame in the transport orientation.

TRANSPORT WHEEL ARRANGEMENT FOR A CROP HARVESTING HEADER
20210307233 · 2021-10-07 ·

A header for a crop harvesting machine includes front and rear wheel arrangements that pivot about respective upright axis between a field orientation and a perpendicular transport orientation, while having respective suspensions arrangements movable between different suspended heights. A biasing spring provides lift assist to carry weight of the wheel arrangement during adjustment of the suspension elevation while being isolated from the suspension once set at any one elevation. The front wheel arrangement includes an anti-rotation latch that locks the front wheel in the field orientation automatically upon disconnection of a hitch arm. A second wheel of the rear wheel arrangement can be held in a raised position relative to a first wheel in a field orientation. Load bearing surfaces between the suspended rear wheels and the header frame abut one another when latching to the header frame to isolate the suspension from the header frame in the transport orientation.

Combined gage wheel and integrated transport system
11178806 · 2021-11-23 · ·

The present disclosure relates to a steering system for an agricultural machine. The steering system includes a first and second wheel assembly. Each wheel assembly includes an axle assembly including an axle, wheels rotatably connected to the axle, and a double-action hydraulic cylinder. In some embodiments, the double-action hydraulic cylinder is configured to pivot the wheels in either direction to indicate a direction of turn. In some embodiments, the double-action hydraulic cylinder of the first wheel assembly is hydraulically linked in its operation to an operation of the double-action hydraulic cylinder of the second wheel assembly.

LATERAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL MOWER
20210298214 · 2021-09-30 · ·

An agricultural mowing device that includes a tongue configured for connecting to an agricultural vehicle, a trail frame rotatably connected to the tongue about an axis of rotation, a first trail-frame wheel and a second trail-frame wheel each being rotatably connected to the trail frame, and a cutter bar connected to the trail frame. The cutter bar includes a front end and a back end. The mowing device also includes a transport system that has a transport frame rotatably connected to the tongue and a first transport wheel and a second transport wheel each being rotatably connected to the transport frame. In the transport position, the first and second transport wheels support the trail frame. The first transport wheel is radially closer to the axis of rotation of the trail frame than the front end of the cutter bar in the transport position.

LATERAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL MOWER WITH NON-PARALLEL AXES OF TRANSPORT DEPLOYMENT AND WHEEL ROTATION
20210298237 · 2021-09-30 · ·

An agricultural mowing device that includes a tongue configured for connecting to an agricultural vehicle, a trail frame, first and second trail-frame wheels and a transport system. The transport system includes a transport frame rotatably connected to the tongue and rotatable relative to the tongue about a frame axis of rotation and first and second transport wheels for supporting the tongue in the transport position. The first transport wheel and the second transport wheel each being rotatable about a respective wheel axis of rotation, and each respective wheel axis of rotation is not parallel to the frame axis of rotation.