Support bracket for combine header

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9814178-B2
Application number	US-201514869601-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2015
Priority date	Sep 29, 2015
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A header for an agricultural harvesting machine includes a cutting bar for cutting agricultural material, a first frame portion, a second frame portion, and a bracket assembly for pivotably coupling the second frame portion to the first frame portion. The first frame portion includes a conveyor for moving cut material and a pair of supports. The first frame portion also includes a pin extending between the supports and secured to the supports. The second frame portion includes a conveyor for moving cut material. The bracket assembly includes a first portion and a second portion removably coupled to the first portion such that the pin is positioned between the first portion and the second portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A header for an agricultural harvesting machine, the header comprising:
a cutting bar for cutting agricultural material;
a first frame portion including a conveyor for moving cut material, a pair of supports, and a pin extending between the supports, the pin secured to the supports;
a second frame portion including a conveyor for moving cut material; and
a bracket assembly for pivotably coupling the second frame portion to the first frame portion, the bracket including a first portion and a second portion removably coupled to the first portion such that the pin is positioned between the first portion and the second portion.

2. The header of claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes a trough and the pin is received within the trough.

3. The header of claim 2 , wherein the second portion includes a groove such that the groove and trough form an enclosed opening when the second portion is secured to the first portion.

4. The header of claim 3 , wherein the enclosed opening is symmetric about the line of separation between the first portion and the second portion.

5. The header of claim 3 , wherein the second portion includes a leg extending around a first portion of the groove and a projection extending around a second portion of the groove opposite the first portion.

6. The header of claim 1 , further comprising a first bushing extending around the pin, wherein coupling the second portion to the first portion compresses the bushing between the pin and the bracket assembly.

7. The header of claim 1 , wherein the bracket assembly is a first bracket assembly and the pair of supports is a pair of first supports, wherein the first frame portion includes a pair of second supports and a second pin extending between the second supports and secured to the second supports, the second supports extending parallel to the first supports, the header further comprising a second bracket assembly including a third portion and a fourth portion removably coupled to the third portion such that the second pin is positioned between the third portion and the fourth portion.

8. The header of claim 7 , wherein the first supports are spaced apart from one another by a first distance, wherein the second supports are spaced apart from one another by a second distance, wherein the first bracket assembly is positioned between the first supports and has a width less than the first distance, wherein the second bracket assembly is positioned between the second supports and has a width substantially equal to the second distance.

9. An agricultural harvesting machine comprising:
a chassis;
a feederhouse for receiving agricultural material; and
a header for cutting and gathering agricultural material, the header including,
a cutting bar for cutting agricultural material;
a first frame portion including a conveyor for moving cut material, a pair of supports, and a pin extending between the supports, the pin secured to the supports;
a second frame portion including a conveyor for moving cut material; and
a bracket assembly for pivotably coupling the second frame portion to the first frame portion, the bracket assembly including a first portion and a second portion removably coupled to the first portion such that the pin is positioned between the first portion and the second portion.

10. The agricultural harvesting machine of claim 9 , wherein the first portion includes a trough and the pin is received within the trough.

11. The agricultural harvesting machine of claim 10 , wherein the second portion includes a groove such that the groove and trough form an enclosed opening when the second portion is secured to the first portion.

12. The agricultural harvesting machine of claim 11 , wherein the enclosed opening is symmetric about the line of separation between the first portion and the second portion.

13. The agricultural harvesting machine of claim 12 , wherein the second portion includes a leg extending around a first portion of the groove and a projection extending around a second portion of the groove opposite the first portion.

14. The agricultural harvesting machine of claim 9 , further comprising a first bushing extending around the pin, wherein coupling the second portion to the first portion compresses the bushing between the pin and the bracket assembly.

15. The agricultural harvesting machine of claim 9 , wherein the bracket assembly is a first bracket assembly and the pair of supports is a pair of first supports, wherein the first frame portion includes a pair of second supports and a second pin extending between the second supports and secured to the second supports, the second supports extending parallel to the first supports, the header further comprising a second bracket assembly including a third portion and a fourth portion removably coupled to the third portion such that the second pin is positioned between the third portion and the fourth portion.

16. The agricultural harvesting machine of claim 15 , wherein the first supports are spaced apart from one another by a first distance, wherein the second supports are spaced apart from one another by a second distance, wherein the first bracket assembly is positioned between the first supports and has a width less than the first distance, wherein the second bracket assembly is positioned between the second supports and has a width substantially equal to the second distance.

17. A method for coupling a first frame portion of a header for an agricultural harvesting machine to a second frame portion of the header, the first frame portion being movable relative to the second frame portion, the method comprising:
inserting a pin between a pair of support members on the first frame portion;
positioning the pin in a trough formed on a first bracket portion secured to the second frame portion; and
securing a second bracket portion to the first bracket portion such that the pin is positioned between the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein inserting the pin includes inserting the pin through a bushing positioned between the support members, wherein securing the second bracket portion causes the first and second bracket portions to exert a compressive force on the bushing.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising
inserting a second pin between a pair of second support members;
positioning a second pin in a second trough formed on a third bracket portion; and
securing a fourth bracket portion to the third bracket portion such that the second pin is positioned between the third bracket portion and the fourth bracket portion.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein securing the second bracket portion to the first bracket portion includes positioning a portion of the pin within a groove formed on the second bracket portion.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Mossman Michael W

Classifications

• A01D57/20

  with conveyor belts · CPC title

• A01D41/14 Primary

  Mowing tables · CPC title

• A01D41/06

  Combines with headers · CPC title

• A01D41/12 Primary

  Details of combines · CPC title