Folding harvester with crop divider lift and frame lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022015293-A1
Application number	US-202016932541-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 17, 2020
Priority date	Jul 17, 2020
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A crop head for a harvester includes a folding frame having a first frame portion and a second frame portion configured to be folded in a transport state and unfolded in a harvesting state. The first and second frame portions are lockable with respect to each other to inhibit folding and unlockable with respect to each other to allow folding. A plurality of crop dividers is supported by the first frame portion. The plurality of crop dividers includes at least one movable crop divider that is movable with respect to the first frame portion. The crop head also includes a cylinder and a piston movable with respect to the cylinder. The piston is operable to move the movable crop divider between the first and second positions and is configured to directly engage the first and second frame portions to lock the first and second frame portions with respect to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A crop head for a harvester, the crop head comprising:
a folding frame having at least a first frame portion and a second frame portion, wherein the first and second frame portions are configured to be folded with respect to each other in a transport state and unfolded with respect to each other in a harvesting state, wherein the first and second frame portions are lockable with respect to each other to inhibit folding and unlockable with respect to each other to allow folding; a plurality of crop dividers supported by the first frame portion, wherein the plurality of crop dividers includes at least one movable crop divider that is movable with respect to the first frame portion between a first position and a second position; and a cylinder and a piston movable with respect to the cylinder between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the piston is operable to move the movable crop divider between the first and second positions, and wherein the piston is configured to directly engage the first and second frame portions to lock the first and second frame portions with respect to each other.

2 . The crop head of claim 1 , further comprising a linkage operatively coupled between the piston and the movable crop divider, wherein the linkage is pivotably coupled to the piston at a pivot, wherein the piston includes a distal end portion extending from the pivot away from the cylinder, and wherein the distal end portion is configured to directly engage the first and second frame portions to lock the first and second frame portions with respect to each other.

3 . The crop head of claim 2 , wherein the distal end portion is configured to be received in an aperture extending into the first and second frame portions.

4 . The crop head of claim 2 , wherein the linkage includes a first link pivotably coupled to the piston at the pivot and a second link pivotably coupled to the first frame portion.

5 . The crop head of claim 1 , wherein the first position is lowered with respect to the first frame portion and the second position is lifted with respect to the first frame portion.

6 . The crop head of claim 1 , wherein the piston is movable into and out of an aperture in at least one of the first or second frame portions to lock and unlock the first and second frame portions with respect to each other.

7 . The crop head of claim 1 , wherein one of the first or second frame portions includes a projection and the other of the first or second frame portions includes a receptacle configured to receive the projection, wherein the piston is configured to lock the projection in the receptacle.

8 . The crop head of claim 7 , wherein an aperture is disposed in the projection, and wherein the piston is received in the aperture in the extended position to lock the first and second frame portions with respect to each other.

9 . The crop head of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to move the first and second frame portions with respect to each other.

10 . The crop head of claim 1 , wherein the first and second frame portions align in the harvesting state to define a lock having a locking axis, wherein the piston is disposed coaxially with the locking axis.

11 . The crop head of claim 1 , further comprising a second plurality of crop dividers supported by the second frame portion.

12 . A crop head for a harvester, the crop head comprising:
a folding frame having at least a first frame portion and a second frame portion, wherein the first and second frame portions are lockable with respect to each other to inhibit folding in a harvesting state and unlockable with respect to each other to allow folding in a transport state, wherein the first and second frame portions are configured to be aligned in the harvesting state to define a lock having a locking axis extending through the first and second frame portions; a plurality of crop dividers supported by the first frame portion, wherein the plurality of crop dividers includes at least one movable crop divider that is movable with respect to the first frame portion between a first position and a second position; and a cylinder and a piston movable with respect to the cylinder between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the piston is operable to move the movable crop divider between the first and second positions, and wherein the piston is disposed coaxially with the locking axis.

13 . The crop head of claim 12 , wherein the lock includes an aperture extending into the first and second frame portions along the locking axis, wherein the piston is configured to be received in the aperture.

14 . The crop head of claim 12 , wherein one of the first and second frame portions includes a collar and the other of the first and second frame portions includes a projection, wherein the collar is configured to receive the projection in the harvesting state, wherein the lock includes an aperture extending into the collar and the projection.

15 . The crop head of claim 14 , wherein the piston is extendable into the aperture.

16 . The crop head of claim 12 , wherein the piston is operable to move the movable crop divider by way of a linkage coupled to the piston, wherein the linkage is coupled to the piston at a pivot, and wherein the piston includes a distal end portion extending from the pivot to be received in the lock.

17 . A crop head for a harvester, the crop head comprising:
a folding frame having at least a first frame portion and a second frame portion, wherein the first and second frame portions are lockable with respect to each other to inhibit folding in a harvesting state and unlockable with respect to each other to allow folding in a transport state, wherein the first and second frame portions are configured to be aligned in the harvesting state to define a lock having a locking axis extending through the first and second frame portions; a plurality of crop dividers supported by the first frame portion, wherein the plurality of crop dividers includes at least one movable crop divider that is movable with respect to the first frame portion between a first position and a second position; and an actuator having a piston and a cylinder, wherein the piston is movable with respect to the cylinder between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the piston is operable to move the movable crop divider between the first and second positions, and wherein the piston is configured to lock and unlock the first and second frame portions with respect to each other without the use of a linkage between the piston and the lock.

18 . The crop head of claim 17 , further comprising a linkage configured between the piston and the movable crop divider for converting motion of the piston into motion of the movable crop divider.

19 . The crop head of claim 18 , wherein the linkage is coupled to the piston at a pivot, and wherein the piston includes a distal end portion extending from the pivot coaxially with respect to the cylinder, wherein the distal end portion is configured to engage the first and second frame portions to lock the first and second frame portions with respect to each other.

20 . The crop head of claim 17 , wherein the piston is disposed coaxially with the locking axis and is movable into and out of the lock.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Windsor Eric D
• Krehbiel Nathan E
• Silver Dennis P
• Braet Andrew J
• Verhoef Todd M

Classifications

• A01D45/021

  Cornheaders · CPC title

• A01D41/144 Primary

  Foldable headers · CPC title

• A01D43/082

  Gathering units · CPC title