IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0369940
(2012-02-09)
|
등록번호 |
US-8292328
(2012-10-23)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Honas, Robert
- Sauerwein, Christopher T.
- Lohrentz, Randy
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
18 |
초록
▼
An agricultural header assembly broadly includes a header and a header transport assembly. The header is disposed in a transport orientation when a rigid beam thereof is out of vertical alignment with the header center of gravity. The transport assembly includes first and second pairs of spaced apar
An agricultural header assembly broadly includes a header and a header transport assembly. The header is disposed in a transport orientation when a rigid beam thereof is out of vertical alignment with the header center of gravity. The transport assembly includes first and second pairs of spaced apart wheels shiftably connected to the rigid beam for movement between a transport position and a field position. The first and second pairs of wheels define respective first and second midpoints therebetween when in the transport position. The first and second midpoints are each disposed in general vertical alignment with the header center of gravity when the header is in the transport orientation to substantially balance the header on the transport assembly.
대표청구항
▼
1. An agricultural header assembly to be carried across a field by an implement in a normal operational direction and being removable from the implement for transport, said header assembly comprising: a header operable to cut and convey crop as the header assembly is moved across the field, said hea
1. An agricultural header assembly to be carried across a field by an implement in a normal operational direction and being removable from the implement for transport, said header assembly comprising: a header operable to cut and convey crop as the header assembly is moved across the field, said header including: a header frame including a rigid beam extending laterally relative to the normal operational direction,said header presenting a header center of gravity and a vertical plane that intersects the header center of gravity and extends laterally along the header,said header being in a transport orientation when the rigid beam is out of vertical alignment with the vertical plane; anda transport assembly operable to support the header in the transport orientation when the header assembly is removed from the implement, with at least substantially all of the support provided by the transport assembly being through the rigid beam, said transport assembly including: a first pair of spaced apart wheels shiftably connected to the rigid beam for movement between a transport position and a field position, with each of the wheels being connected to the rigid beam at a connection location entirely on one side of the vertical plane when the header is in the transport orientation,said first pair of wheels defining a first midpoint therebetween when in the transport position,said first midpoint being disposed in general vertical alignment with the vertical plane when the header is in the transport orientation to substantially balance the header on the transport assembly. 2. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 1, said first pair of spaced apart wheels being disposed for rotation along a first common axis. 3. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 2, said first common axis being generally orthogonal to the rigid beam. 4. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 1, said connection location for each of the first wheels being the same as the connection location for other of the first wheels so as to present a single common connection location, with one of the first wheels being closer to the rigid beam than the other of the first wheels. 5. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 4, said rigid beam being entirely on one side of the vertical plane when the header is in the transport orientation. 6. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 4, said transport assembly further including a first wheel supporting assembly carrying the first pair of spaced apart wheels for rotation thereon when in the transport position. 7. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 6, said first wheel supporting assembly operably connecting the first wheels to the rigid beam at the common connection location. 8. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 7, said first pair of spaced apart wheels being disposed for rotation along a first common axis,said first wheel supporting assembly including a pair of support arms and a first common axle bar disposed along the first common axis,each support arm extending generally transverse to the rigid beam when in the transport position,each support arm presenting opposite end margins, with one of each of the end margins intersecting the first common axle bar. 9. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 8, one of said support arms being longer than the other. 10. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 7, said first wheel supporting assembly further including a pair of first stabilizer bars, with each of the stabilizer bars extending from a portion of one of the support arms adjacent a respective one of the first wheels to the rigid beam to connect thereto at a location inboard of the common connection location. 11. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 10, said transport assembly further including a storage bracket configured to carry the first wheel supporting assembly when in the field position. 12. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 1, said transport assembly further including a second pair of spaced apart wheels shiftably connected to the rigid beam for movement between the transport and field positions, with each of the second wheels being connected to the rigid beam at a second connection location entirely on one side of the vertical plane when the header is in the transport orientation,said second pair of wheels defining a second midpoint therebetween when in the transport position,said second midpoint being disposed in general vertical alignment with the vertical plane when the header is in the transport orientation to substantially balance the header on the transport assembly. 13. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 12, said second connection location for each of the second wheels being the same as the second connection location for the other of the second wheels so as to present a single second common connection location, with one of the second wheels being closer to the rigid beam than the other of the second wheels. 14. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 13, said rigid beam being entirely on one side of the vertical plane when the header is in the transport orientation. 15. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 12, said first pair of spaced apart wheels being disposed for rotation along a first common axis,said second pair of spaced apart wheels being disposed for rotation along a second common axis,said first and second common axes being generally orthogonal to the rigid beam and spaced laterally from one another. 16. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 12, said transport assembly further including a first wheel supporting assembly carrying the first pair of spaced apart wheels for rotation thereon when in the transport position,said transport assembly further including a second wheel supporting assembly carrying the second pair of spaced apart wheels for rotation thereon when in the transport position,said second pair of spaced apart wheels being disposed for rotation along a second common axis. 17. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 16, said first-mentioned connection location for each of the first wheels being the same as the first-mentioned connection location for other of the first wheels so as to present a single first common connection location, with one of the first wheels being closer to the rigid beam than the other of the first wheels,said second connection location for each of the second wheels being the same as the second connection location for the other of the second wheels so as to present a single second common connection location, with one of the second wheels being closer to the rigid beam than the other of the second wheels,said first wheel supporting assembly operably connecting the first wheels to the rigid beam at the first common connection location,said second wheel supporting assembly operably connecting the second wheels to the rigid beam at the second common connection location,said first and second common connection locations being spaced laterally from one another along the rigid beam. 18. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 17, said second wheel supporting assembly including a single arcuate support arm and a second common axle bar disposed along the second common axis,said single arcuate support arm presenting opposite end margins, with one of the end margins pivotally intersecting the second common axle bar. 19. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 18, said second wheel supporting assembly further including a second stabilizer bar, with the second stabilizer bar extending from a portion of the single arcuate support arm spaced from the pivotal intersection with the second common axle bar to the rigid beam to connect thereto at a location inboard of the second common connection location. 20. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 16, each of said first and second wheel supporting assemblies being interconnected with the respective first and second wheels and with the rigid beam with a plurality of pin connections, such that the transition between the transport and field positions is substantially tool-less. 21. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 18, said transport assembly further including an elongated tongue element configured to be pulled by a vehicle in a transport direction generally transverse to the normal operational direction of the agricultural header,said elongated tongue element presenting opposite end margins, with one of the end margins being connected to the second wheel supporting assembly at a tongue connection location generally centrally disposed along the second common axle bar. 22. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 1, said header including a crop-cutting assembly mounted to the header frame and extending laterally along the frame to define a header cutting width dimension,said rigid beam extending along the entire header cutting width dimension. 23. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 22, said crop-cutting assembly being substantially flexible and shiftably mounted to the header frame, such that the crop-cutting assembly floats relative to the rigid beam. 24. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 23; and a crop-conveying assembly supported on the header frame rearwardly of the crop-cutting assembly and configured to convey crop severed by the crop-cutting assembly,said crop-conveying assembly being substantially flexible and shiftably mounted to the header frame, such that the crop-conveying assembly floats relative to the rigid beam. 25. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 22, said crop-cutting assembly being located along a front margin of the header relative to the operational direction, with the rigid beam located along a rear margin of the header. 26. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 1, said rigid beam being disposed along a lower margin of the header frame. 27. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 26, said header frame presenting opposite side margins, with the rigid beam extending continuously therebetween. 28. The agricultural header assembly as claimed in claim 1, said transport assembly being coupled to the header through only the rigid beam when header is in the transport orientation, such that the header is supported entirely through the rigid beam. 29. A header transport assembly operable to provide mobile support to an agricultural header when the header is in a transport orientation, where the header includes a header frame with a rigid beam extending laterally and presenting a header center of gravity located within a laterally extending vertical plane, with the header being in the transport orientation when the rigid beam is out of vertical alignment with the vertical plane, said header transport assembly comprising: a first pair of spaced apart wheels shiftably connectable to the rigid beam for movement between a transport position and a field position, with the first pair of wheels defining a first midpoint therebetween and operable to be connected to the rigid beam at first connection locations entirely on one side of the vertical plane when in the transport position; anda second pair of spaced apart wheels shiftably connectable to the rigid beam for movement between the transport and field positions, with the second pair of wheels defining a second midpoint therebetween and operable to be connected to the rigid beam at second connection locations entirely on one side of the vertical plane when in the transport position,said first and second midpoints each being configured to be disposed in general vertical alignment with the vertical plane when the header is in the transport orientation to substantially balance the header on the transport assembly when connected thereto,said transport assembly being connectable to the header through only the rigid beam when the header is in transport orientation, such that the transport assembly is configured to support the header entirely through the rigid beam. 30. The header transport assembly as claimed in claim 29, said first connection locations comprising a first common connection location,said second connection locations comprising a second common connection location, with one of the first wheels being closer to the rigid beam than the other of the first wheels and one of the second wheels being closer to the rigid beam that the other of the second wheels. 31. The header transport assembly as claimed in claim 29, said first pair of spaced apart wheels being disposed for rotation along a first common axis,said second pair of spaced apart wheels being disposed for rotation along a second common axis,said first and second common axes being generally orthogonal to the rigid beam and spaced laterally from one another. 32. The header transport assembly as claimed in claim 31; and a first wheel supporting assembly carrying the first pair of spaced apart wheels for rotation thereon when in the transport position,said first wheel supporting assembly including a pair of support arms and a first common axle bar disposed along the first common axis,each support arm presenting opposite end margins, with one of each of the end margins intersecting the first common axle bar. 33. The header transport assembly as claimed in claim 32; and a second wheel supporting assembly carrying the second pair of spaced apart wheels for rotation thereon when in the transport position,said second wheel supporting assembly including a single arcuate support arm and a second common axle bar disposed along the second common axis,said single arcuate support arm presenting opposite end margins, with one of the end margins pivotally intersecting the second common axle bar. 34. The header transport assembly as claimed in claim 33, said first wheel supporting assembly being configured to operably connect the first wheels to the rigid beam at a first common connection location,said second wheel supporting assembly being configured to operably connect the second wheels to the rigid beam at a second common connection location,said first and second common connection locations being spaced laterally from one another along the rigid beam. 35. The header transport assembly as claimed in claim 34, said first wheel supporting assembly further including a pair of first stabilizer bars, with each of the stabilizer bars being configured to extend from a portion of one of the support arms adjacent a respective one of the first wheels to the rigid beam for connection thereto at a location inboard of the first common connection location,said second wheel supporting assembly further including a second stabilizer bar, with the second stabilizer bar being configured to extend from a portion of the single arcuate support arm spaced from the pivotal intersection with the second common axle bar to the rigid beam for connection thereto at a location inboard of the second common connection location.
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