Floatation springs attached to adjustable skid shoes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11006571-B2
Application number	US-201916407279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2019
Priority date	May 9, 2019
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

A header floatation system that includes a header, a floatation mechanism which includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, an adjustment array which includes at least a first contact point, a bracket which includes at least a second contact point, a skid shoe, and a fastener. The first end of the floatation mechanism can be mechanically linked to the adjustment array. Either the adjustment array or the bracket can include a third contact point. The adjustment array can be mechanically linked to the skid shoe. The fastener can be positioned adjacent to, on, or through at least the first or second contact points aligning contact between the bracket and the adjustment array.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A header floatation system, comprising:
a header comprising a cutter bar positioned generally at the underside of the header;
a floatation mechanism comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end;
an adjustment array comprising at least a first contact point;
a bracket comprising at least a second contact point;
a fastener; and
a skid shoe;
wherein at least the first end of the floatation mechanism is mechanically linked to the adjustment array;
wherein either the adjustment array or the bracket comprises a third contact point;
wherein the adjustment array is operably and mechanically linked to the skid shoe; and
wherein the fastener is positioned adjacent to, on, or through at least the first and/or second contact point, thereby aligning contact between the bracket and the adjustment array and defining at least one cut height.

2. The header floatation system of claim 1 ,
wherein the adjustment array comprises a plurality of contact points;
wherein the contact points are holes;
wherein the contact points are arranged in a path;
wherein each contact point along the path defines a distinct cut height and a distinct operable mode.

3. The header floatation system of claim 1 , further comprising a trail frame and an apron positioned substantially horizontally across the top of the trail frame;
wherein the floatation mechanism comprises:
a spring positioned vertically or substantially vertically from the adjustment array to the apron and defining a cylindrical space; and
a bar positioned vertically or substantially vertically from the adjustment array to the apron and sharing or substantially sharing an axis with the cylindrical space defined by the spring;

wherein the spring is adjustable in position and creating tension upon the bar by attachment to the bar.

4. The header floatation system of claim 1 ,
wherein the header floatation system is adjustable in cut height in at least a first and a second operable mode;
wherein in the first operable mode, the adjustment array and the bracket are positionally aligned by the fastener operably linking the adjustment array and the bracket at the first contact point; and
wherein in the second operable mode, the adjustment array and the bracket are positionally aligned by the fastener operably linking the adjustment array and the bracket at the third contact point.

5. The header floatation system of claim 1 , further comprising a third operable mode;
wherein the third operable mode comprises the header at a height where the floatation mechanism is free or substantially free of tension.

6. The header floatation system of claim 4 , wherein the floatation mechanism has a stretch length while the header is positioned in the first operable mode that is substantially equal to the stretch length while the header is positioned in the second operable mode.

7. The header floatation system of claim 1 ,
wherein the adjustment array comprises a first array side and a second array side;
wherein the first array side comprises a first plurality of contact points that are a plurality of holes in a path corresponding to positions that determine a cut height of an operable position of the header floatation system upon alignment with the second contact point on the bracket;
wherein the second array side comprises a second plurality of contact points that are a plurality of holes;
wherein each of the holes in the second plurality of contact points is a pair with one of the holes in the first plurality of contact points;
wherein each pair of contact points has the same vertical placement on the first and the second array sides;

wherein the bracket comprises a first bracket side and a second bracket side; and
wherein the adjustment array is positioned between the first and the second bracket side.

8. The header floatation system of claim 1 , wherein the floatation mechanism is mechanically linked to the adjustment array at a point at or adjacent to the middle of a leading edge of the adjustment array.

9. The header floatation system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment array comprises from about two to about eight contact points.

10. A mower, comprising:
a tongue; and
a header floatation system ;
wherein the header floatation system comprises:
a trail frame;
a header comprising a cutter bar generally positioned on the underside of the header;
an adjustment array comprising at least a first contact point;
a bracket mechanically linked to the header and comprising at least a second contact point;
a floatation mechanism mechanically linked to the adjustment array at one end of the floatation mechanism and mechanically linked to the trail frame at an opposite end of the floatation mechanism;
a fastener; and
a skid shoe;

wherein the trail frame and header are mechanically linked by at least one pivot point;
wherein the adjustment array is operably and mechanically linked to the skid shoe;
wherein either the adjustment array or the bracket comprise at least a third contact point; and
wherein the fastener is positioned adjacent to, on, or through at least the first and/or second contact point, thereby aligning contact between the bracket and the adjustment array and defining at least one cut height.

11. The mower of claim 10 ,
wherein the adjustment array comprises a plurality of contact points;
wherein the contact points are holes; and
wherein the contact points are arranged in a path;
wherein each contact point along the path defines a distinct cut height and a distinct operable mode.

12. The mower of claim 10 , further comprising an apron positioned substantially horizontally across the top of the trail frame;
wherein the floatation mechanism comprises:
a spring positioned vertically or substantially vertically from the adjustment array to the apron and defining a cylindrical space; and
a bar positioned vertically or substantially vertically from the adjustment array to the apron and sharing or substantially sharing an axis with the cylindrical space defined by the spring;

wherein the spring is adjustable in position and creating tension upon the bar by attachment to the bar.

13. The mower of claim 10 ,
wherein the cutter bar is adjustable in cut height in at least a first and a second operable mode;
wherein in the first operable mode, the adjustment array and the bracket are positionally aligned by the fastener operably linking the adjustment array and the bracket at the first contact point; and
wherein in the second operable mode, the adjustment array and the bracket are positionally aligned by the fastener operably linking the adjustment array and the bracket at the third contact point.

14. The mower of claim 10 , further comprising a third operable mode;
wherein the third operable mode comprises the cutter bar positioned at a height where the floatation mechanism is free or substantially free of tension.

15. The mower of claim 13 , wherein the floatation mechanism has a stretch length while the cutter bar is positioned in the first operable mode that is approximately equal to the stretch length while the cutter bar is positioned in the second operable mode.

16. The mower of claim 10 ,
wherein the adjustment array comprises a first array side and a second array side;
wherein the first array side comprises a first plurality of contact points that are a plurality of holes in a path corresponding to positions that determine a cut height of an operable position of the cutter bar upon alignment with the second contact point on the bracket;
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Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Fay Ii Jeffrey Brown

Classifications

• A01D34/28 Primary

  Adjusting devices for the cutter-bar · CPC title

• A01D34/283 Primary

  Adjustment of the cutter bar in a vertical plane, i.e. to adjust the angle between the cutter bar and the soil · CPC title

• A01D34/032

  drawn by an animal or a vehicle · CPC title

• A01B63/008

  Vertical adjustment of tools (A01B63/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01B63/045

  for vertically adjusting wheels or similar rotary supporting elements · CPC title