Dual cut header assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10477763-B2
Application number	US-201615294253-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2016
Priority date	Oct 14, 2015
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A dual cut header assembly a header, a chopper suspended from the header, and at least one actuator is provided between the chopper and the header for adapting a distance between the chopper and the header. The dual cut header assembly further includes at least one sensor for measuring a state of the chopper, and an actuator steering module connected to the at least one actuator. The header is provided to be lifted by an agricultural combine to cut crop material from a field at a first height. The chopper is provided to cut the crop material at a second height lower than the first height. The actuator steering module is configured to automatically adapt the distance based on the measured state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dual cut header assembly comprising;
a header;
a chopper suspended from the header;
an actuator system consisting of one or more hydraulic cylinders having a first end connected to the chopper and a second end connected to the header for adapting a distance between the chopper and the header such that the actuator system solely connects the chopper to the header;
at least one sensor for measuring a state of the chopper in the form of a pressure exerted by the chopper on a ground surface, the at least one sensor is a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure exerted by the chopper on the ground surface; and
an actuator steering module connected to the actuator system, the actuator steering module comprises a hydraulic accumulator,
wherein the header is provided to be lifted by an agricultural vehicle to cut crop material from a field at a first height, and the first height is selectable by an operator of the agricultural vehicle,
wherein the chopper is provided to cut the crop material at a second height lower than the first height, and
wherein the actuator steering module is configured to automatically adapt the distance based on the measured state of the chopper for automatically keeping the chopper at its second height.

2. The dual cut header assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is mounted to the accumulator to measure a pressure in the accumulator, thereby indirectly measuring the pressure exerted by the chopper on the ground surface.

3. The dual cut header assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the accumulator is configured to be connected to a hydraulic on/off valve at the agricultural vehicle so that the pressure in the accumulator is controllable to be within a predetermined range.

4. The dual cut header assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the predetermined range is selectable via a user interface by an operator of the agricultural vehicle.

5. The dual cut header assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator steering module is configured to carry at least 50% of the weight of the chopper so that a pressure exerted by the chopper on the ground surface is limited to 50% of its weight.

6. The dual cut header assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the chopper comprises sliding skids for minimizing a bulldozer effect when sliding the chopper over the ground surface.

7. The dual cut header assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an actuator blocking valve between the actuator system and the actuator steering module so that a position of the actuator system can be fixed when the actuator blocking valve is used.

8. The dual cut header assembly of claim 1 , wherein the dual cut header assembly is a sunflower header.

9. The dual cut header assembly of claim 1 , wherein the chopper is cantilevered from the header by the actuator system.

10. The dual cut header assembly of claim 2 , wherein the chopper at least partially rests on the ground surface such that a height between the chopper and the ground surface is zero.

11. The dual cut header assembly of claim 10 , wherein the accumulator provides a predetermined hydraulic pressure for the actuator system and operates as a spring providing an upward force for carrying at least part of a weight of the chopper such that the actuator steering module automatically regulates the pressure exerted by the chopper on the ground surface to automatically adapt the distance between the chopper and the header based on the measured state of the chopper.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Jonckheere Marc R M
• Pauwels Karel C F
• Teetaert Koen
• Vermote Erik

Classifications

• A01D47/00

  Headers {for topping of plants, e.g. stalks with ears} · CPC title

• A01D41/141 Primary

  Automatic header control · CPC title

• A01D41/06

  Combines with headers · CPC title

• A01D41/147

  Sunflower header attachments · CPC title

• A01D45/00

  Harvesting of standing crops (A01D44/00 takes precedence; threshing machines adapted for special crops, threshing devices for combines adapted for special crops A01F11/00; harvesting of mushrooms A01G18/70) · CPC title