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The disclosure relates to a dampening system useful for reducing the shimmying or movement of caster on suspension systems of harvesters, such as self-propelled windrowers. The suspension system utilizes hydraulic cylinders on harvesters which are operably linked to the caster and that respond to mo

The disclosure relates to a dampening system useful for reducing the shimmying or movement of caster on suspension systems of harvesters, such as self-propelled windrowers. The suspension system utilizes hydraulic cylinders on harvesters which are operably linked to the caster and that respond to movement of the caster and/or caster wheel during operation of the harvester in a high-speed operable mode.

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1. A harvester comprising: a vehicle frame configured for attachment to an implement to be moved in a longitudinal working direction across the ground;at least one rear axle positioned transversely to the longitudinal working direction of the harvester and operably attached to the vehicle frame;a fi

1. A harvester comprising: a vehicle frame configured for attachment to an implement to be moved in a longitudinal working direction across the ground;at least one rear axle positioned transversely to the longitudinal working direction of the harvester and operably attached to the vehicle frame;a first pair of actuator mounting brackets mounted on the axle by at least one fastening member at positions spaced transversely and on the axle, each actuator mounting bracket operably attached to a caster oppositely positioned below the axle;a first pair of ground wheels mounted on the casters;a pair of hydraulic actuators, each in fluid communication with at least one hydraulic circuit and operably mounted on the actuator mounting brackets configured for absorbing vibration from the casters during operation of the harvester in one or more operable modes;wherein the one or more operable modes comprise a first operable mode in which the harvester operates at a speed of from about 0 to about 15 miles per hour; and a second operable mode in which the harvester operates at a speed of from about 16 to about 30 miles per hour. 2. The harvester of claim 1, further comprising a ballast box attached by at least one fastening member to the rear edge of the frame. 3. The harvester of claim 1 further comprising a hydraulic fluid reservoir and a hydraulic valve manifold comprising the hydraulic circuit. 4. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the ground wheels are mounted on the casters with a pivotal attachment allowing independent pivotal movement about a vertical or substantially vertical axis along the center line of the pivotal attachment. 5. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the harvester is chosen from: a windrower, a lawn mower a hay forester, or a tractor. 6. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic actuator is a single rod hydraulic actuator. 7. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic actuator is a double rod hydraulic actuator. 8. A harvester comprising: a vehicle frame configured for attachment to an implement to be moved in a longitudinal working direction across the ground;at least one rear axle positioned transversely to the longitudinal working direction of the harvester and operably attached to the vehicle frame;a first pair of actuator mounting brackets mounted on the axle by at least one fastening member at positions spaced transversely and on the axle, each actuator mounting bracket operably attached to a caster oppositely positioned below the axle;a first pair of ground wheels mounted on the casters;a pair of hydraulic actuators, each in fluid communication with at least one hydraulic circuit and operably mounted on the actuator mounting brackets configured for absorbing vibration from the casters during operation of the harvester in one or more operable modes;wherein each hydraulic actuator comprises at least one fluid opening at one end of the hydraulic actuator that allows pressurized fluid to enter or exit the hydraulic actuator and displace a volume on one side of an actuator cylinder; andwherein the hydraulic circuit comprises:a source of pressurized fluid in fluid communication with at least the first fluid opening for supplying fluid to an returning fluid from the hydraulic actuator in the hydraulic circuit;a fluid stop valve in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid and the hydraulic actuator;a restrictive orifice positioned in parallel to the fluid stop valve within the circuit;a first and a second hydraulic state; whereby, in the first hydraulic state, the fluid stop valve is open allowing flow of pressurized fluid to and from the source of pressurized fluid and to and from the hydraulic actuator, in either configuration, without flow of pressurized fluid through the restrictive orifice; and whereby, in the second hydraulic state, the fluid stop valve is closed diverting flow of pressurized fluid form at least one actuator through the first fluid opening, through the restrictive orifice and subsequently into the source of pressurized fluid, wherein the restrictive orifice allows minimal flow in the hydraulic circuit thereby substantially increasing the damping force on the caster. 9. The harvester of claim 8, wherein the hydraulic controller further comprises a fluid controller, optionally integrated within the stop valve, that controls the flow of pressurized fluid through the fluid stop valve from the source of pressurized fluid or from the hydraulic actuator; said fluid controller is programmed to allow pressurized fluid flow through the fluid stop valve in the first hydraulic state, stop pressurized fluid flow through the fluid stop valve in the second hydraulic state, and wherein transition from the first to second hydraulic state is dependent upon movement of at least one caster and/or caster wheel. 10. The harvester of claim 9, wherein the harvester comprises a separate hydraulic circuit for each caster in the harvester, such that the one hydraulic circuits can dampen one of the caster's movement independent of the other caster hydraulic circuit and the other caster to which the other hydraulic circuit is operably attached. 11. The harvester of claim 9, wherein the fluid controller is a solenoid programmed to be energized and to close the fluid stop valve upon transition from the first to second hydraulic state. 12. The harvester of claim 8, wherein transition from the first to second hydraulic state is dependent upon movement of at least one caster and/or caster wheel. 13. The harvester of claim 8, wherein the one or more operable modes comprise a first operable mode in which the harvester operates at a speed of from about 0 to about 15 miles per hour; and a second operable mode in which the harvester operates at a speed of from about 16 to about 30 miles per hour; and wherein the wherein transition from the first to second hydraulic state is dependent upon transition from the first operable mode to the second operable mode. 14. A method of damping vibration in a harvester comprising a vehicle frame configured for attachment to an implement to be moved in a longitudinal working direction across the ground;a rear axle positioned transversely to the longitudinal working direction of the harvester and operably attached to the vehicle frame;a first pair of actuator mounting brackets mounted on the axle by at least one fastening member at positions spaced transversely and on either end of a center line of the axle, each actuator mounting bracket operably attached to a caster oppositely positioned below the axle;a first pair of ground wheels mounted on the casters for independent pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis along the center line of the harvester;a pair of hydraulic actuators, each in fluid communication with a hydraulic circuit and operably mounted on the actuator mounting brackets;the method comprising operating the harvester;absorbing vibration from the casters through the hydraulic actuators;transitioning the hydraulic circuit from a first hydraulic state to a second hydraulic state; wherein said first hydraulic state comprises diverting pressurized fluid in the circuit from at least one restrictive orifice, thereby maintaining a flow of pressurized fluid from a reservoir in the circuit to the hydraulic actuator. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing information to an operator via an operator interface about whether the harvester is in a field operating mode or a high-speed mode. 16. A dampening system, configured for operation on a harvester comprising at least one axle, comprising: at least one caster positioned beneath the axle;at least one actuator mounting bracket configured for being mounted on the axle of the harvester by at least one fastening member at a position between one end or proximate to one end of the axle and the caster positioned below the axle;a hydraulic actuator, in fluid communication with at least one hydraulic circuit and operably mounted on the actuator mounting bracket, said hydraulic actuator configured for absorbing vibration from the caster during operation of the harvester in one or more operable modes. 17. The dampening system of claim 16, wherein the dampening system comprises one rear axle positioned transversely to the longitudinal working direction of the harvester and configured for attachment to a frame of the harvester. 18. The dampening system of claim 16, wherein the dampening system comprises a right-hand and left-hand rear axle positioned transversely to the longitudinal working direction of the harvester and each configured for attachment to a frame of the harvester. 19. The dampening system of claim 16, wherein the dampening system comprises: a pair of oppositely positioned rear suspended axles;a pair of oppositely positioned actuator mounting brackets mechanically linked to the axles at a position spaced transversely from the center of the longitudnal axis defined by horizontal plane of each axle;a pair of oppositely positioned casters operably linked to the actuator mounting brackets below the rear suspended axles configured for mounting a wheel assembly of the harvester;a pair of oppositely positioned hydraulic actuators operably linked to the actuator mounting brackets and the axles, each hydraulic actuator in fluid communication with at least one hydraulic circuit;wherein each hydraulic actuator is configured for absorbing vibration from each caster during operation of the harvester in one or more operable modes. 20. A kit comprising: at least one actuator mounting bracket configured for being mounted on the axle of a harvester by at least one fastening member at a position between at or proximate to one end of an axle of the harvester and a caster positioned below the axle;at least one hydraulic actuator;at least one hydraulic circuit comprising a hydraulic circuit manifold;wherein the hydraulic circuit manifold and the hydraulic actuator are configured for fluid communication with each other and a hydraulic circuit in a harvester; andwherein the hydraulic actuator is configured for attachment to the actuator mounting bracket or the axlea software program product that is configured for use with a software system of the harvester and comprises executable code that executes transition of the hydraulic circuit between a first hydraulic state and a second hydraulic state;said first hydraulic state comprising diverting pressurized fluid in the circuit from at least one restrictive orifice, thereby maintaining a flow of pressurized fluid from a reservoir in the circuit to the hydraulic actuator;said second hydraulic state comprising allowing pressurized fluid through the restrictive orifice, thereby decreasing the flow of pressurized fluid in the circuit. 21. The kit of claim 20, wherein the software program product comprises executable code that executes transition of the hydraulic circuit between a first hydraulic state and a second hydraulic state in synchrony or substantial synchrony with transition between a low-speed operable mode and a high speed operable mode of the harvester.