Header for Agricultural Harvester Equipped with Dual Cutter Bar System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016270291-A1
Application number	US-201615067505-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 11, 2016
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A header for a combine harvester has a first cutter bar for cutting crops at a first height so that the cut portions are gathered towards the central area of the header by an auger or draper mechanism, and a second cutter bar configured to cut the remaining stalks of the crops at a second height lower than the first height. The second cutter bar is displaceable with respect to the header body without separating it from the header body, the header body including a header back wall, side walls and floor portion. The second cutter bar is movable to an inactive position. The header is operable with the first cutter bar as a single cutter bar, when the second cutter bar is in the stored position.

First claim

1 . A header for an agricultural harvesting machine comprising:
a header body consisting of a back wall, a pair of side walls and a floor portion extending between the side walls and in front of the back wall, a first cutter bar for cutting crops at a first height, a crop guiding mechanism mounted between the side walls and above or at the upper surface of the floor portion, for transporting the harvested crop portions that have been cut at the first height, towards a central area of the header, a second cutter bar for cutting the remaining portion of the crops at a second height lower than the first height,
a movable support for displacing the second cutter bar with respect to the header body without separating it from the header body, said the movable support configured to store the second cutter bar in a position in which the second cutter bar is incapable of cutting crops, and wherein the header is operable with the first cutter bar as a single cutter bar, when the second cutter bar is in the stored position.

2 . Header according to claim 1 , further comprising a compartment for storing the second cutter bar.

3 . Header according to claim 1 , wherein the movable support comprises a plurality of support arms carrying the second cutter bar, the support arms being pivotable about a pivot axis located near the front of the header body, with the arms extending towards the back of the header body.

4 . Header according to claim 1 , further comprising a lock to lock the second cutter bar in the stored position.

5 . Header according to claim 1 , wherein the second cutter bar substantially lies within the footprint of the header body.

6 . Header according to claim 1 , wherein the second cutter bar is configured to be driven by a drive mounted on the second cutter bar and connected or connectable to a power shaft of the header or of the harvesting machine itself, through a telescopic power shaft.

7 . Header according to claim 1 , wherein the second cutter bar is configured to be driven by a drive mounted on the second cutter bar, wherein said drive is actuated through a belt drive comprising a driven wheel mounted on the second cutter bar and a driving wheel mounted on the header body, and provided with a tensioner that enables the belt to remain under tension when the second cutter bar is displaced with respect to header body.

8 . Header according to claim 1 , wherein the cutting action of the second cutter bar is configured to be driven by a hydraulic motor.

9 . Header according to claim 1 , in combination with an agricultural harvesting machine, wherein the header is mounted to a feeder of the harvester.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Van Vooren Sandor
• Borry Stijn

Classifications

• A01D34/14 Primary

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• A01D34/40

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• A01D2101/00

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