Tool-less folding divider for combine head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11234371-B2
Application number	US-201916534320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2019
Priority date	Aug 7, 2019
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

A divider of a header for an agricultural vehicle including a divider body, a receiving member configured for being connected to the frame of the header, and an adjustable connector positionable in between an unfolded work position and a folded transport position. The adjustable connector includes a first member, a second member, and an articulating joint for pivotally connecting the first and second members. The first member mounts the divider body, the second member is slidably connected to and received within the receiving member, and the articulating joint is at least partially received within the receiving member in the unfolded work position such that the first and second members are substantially immobilized and the articulating joint is positioned outside of the receiving member in the folded transport position such that the first and second members are movable relative to one another.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A divider of a header for an agricultural vehicle, the header comprising a frame, the divider comprising:
a divider body;
a receiving member configured for being connected to the frame of the header; and
an adjustable connector positionable in between an unfolded work position and a folded transport position, the adjustable connector comprising a first member, a second member, and an articulating joint for pivotally connecting the first and second members, the first member mounts the divider body, the second member is slidably connected to and received within the receiving member, and the articulating joint is at least partially received within the receiving member in the unfolded work position such that the first and second members are substantially immobilized without a resilient member urging the receiving member over the articulating joint and the articulating joint is positioned outside of the receiving member in the folded transport position such that the first and second members are movable relative to one another.

2. The divider of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable connector remains connected to the receiving member in the unfolded work position and the folded transport position, and the first member folds inwardly for folding the divider body inwardly in the folded transport position.

3. The divider of claim 1 , further comprising a locking member configured for being connected to the frame of the header, and the locking member selectively engages with the adjustable connector and prevents the adjustable connector from sliding.

4. The divider of claim 3 , wherein the locking member is in the form of a latch that is configured for being pivotally connected to the frame of the header.

5. The divider of claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises at least one mating protrusion and the second member comprises at least one mating protrusion configured for mating with the at least one mating protrusion of the first member.

6. The divider of claim 5 , wherein the first member comprises a pair of mating protrusions and the second member comprises a single mating protrusion positioned in between the pair of mating protrusions of the first member.

7. The divider of claim 5 , wherein the at least one mating protrusion of the first member and the at least one protrusion of the second member overlap with one another.

8. The divider of claim 7 , further comprising a fastener, wherein the at least one mating protrusion of the first member and the at least one mating protrusion of the second member each comprise a receiving hole for receiving the fastener, and the articulating joint is comprised of the at least one mating protrusion of the first member, the at least one mating protrusion of the second member, and the fastener.

9. The divider of claim 1 , wherein the receiving member is a receiving tube, the first member is a mounting tube pivotally connected by way of the articulating joint to the second member, and the second member is a telescoping tube which slides relative to the receiving tube.

10. A header for an agricultural vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
a receiving member connected to the frame of the header; and
at least one divider movably connected to the frame, the at least one divider comprising:
a divider body; and
an adjustable connector positionable in between an unfolded work position and a folded transport position, the adjustable connector comprising a first member, a second member, and an articulating joint for pivotally connecting the first and second members, the first member mounts the divider body, the second member is slidably connected to and received within the receiving member, and the articulating joint is at least partially received within the receiving member in the unfolded work position such that the first and second members are substantially immobilized without a resilient member urging the receiving member over the articulating joint and the articulating joint is positioned outside of the receiving member in the folded transport position such that the first and second members are movable relative to one another.

11. The header of claim 10 , wherein the adjustable connector remains connected to the receiving member in the unfolded work position and the folded transport position, and the first member folds inwardly for folding the divider body inwardly in the folded transport position.

12. The header of claim 10 , further comprising a locking member connected to the frame of the header, and the locking member selectively engages with the adjustable connector and prevents the adjustable connector from sliding.

13. The header of claim 12 , wherein the locking member is in the form of a latch that is pivotally connected to the frame of the header.

14. The header of claim 10 , wherein the first member comprises at least one mating protrusion and the second member comprises at least one mating protrusion configured for mating with the at least one mating protrusion of the first member.

15. The header of claim 14 , wherein the first member comprises a pair of mating protrusions and the second member comprises a single mating protrusion positioned in between the pair of mating protrusions of the first member.

16. The header of claim 14 , wherein the at least one mating protrusion of the first member and the at least one protrusion of the second member overlap with one another.

17. The header of claim 16 , further comprising a fastener, wherein the at least one mating protrusion of the first member and the at least one mating protrusion of the second member each comprise a receiving hole for receiving the fastener, and the articulating joint is comprised of the at least one mating protrusion of the first member, the at least one mating protrusion of the second member, and the fastener.

18. A method for operating a header comprising a frame for an agricultural vehicle, comprising:
providing a divider comprising a divider body, a receiving member configured for being connected to the frame of the header, and an adjustable connector positionable in between an unfolded work position and a folded transport position, the adjustable connector comprising a first member, a second member, and an articulating joint for pivotally connecting the first and second members, the first member mounts the divider body, the second member is slidably connected to and received within the receiving member; and
positioning the adjustable connector in one of:
the folded transport position by sliding the adjustable connecter outwardly away from the receiving member such that the articulating joint is positioned outside of the receiving member and the first and second members are movable relative to one another, and folding the first member inwardly for folding the divider body inwardly; and
the unfolded work position by unfolding the first member and the second member and sliding the adjustable connecter further within the receiving member such that the articulating joint is at least partially received within the receiving member and the first and second members are substantially immobilized without a resilient member urging the receiving member over the articulating joint.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the divider further comprises a locking member configured for being connected to the frame of the header, and the locking member selectively engages with the adjustable connector and prevents the adjustable connector from sliding, and the step of positioning the adjustable connector in the folded transport posit

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Sorensen Douglas D

Classifications

• A01D63/04 Primary

  Non-rotating dividers · CPC title

• A01D47/00

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

• A01D63/02

  Rotating dividers · CPC title

• A01D45/021

  Cornheaders · CPC title

• A01D41/14

  Mowing tables · CPC title