Combine Harvester Draper Header Having Flexible Cutterbar

Abstract

A harvesting header having a flexible cutterbar assembly utilizes draper belts behind the cutterbar assembly to gently consolidate the severed crop materials and deliver them to a point of discharge and delivery, such as to the feederhouse of a combine harvester. One embodiment has draper assemblies and a central conveyor fixed relative to the flexible cutterbar assembly, while another has the draper assemblies and central conveyer flexible with the cutterbar assembly.

1 . In a harvesting header, the improvement comprising: 
 a flexible cutterbar assembly extending transversely of the normal direction of travel of the header and including an elongated, flexible cutterbar and a plurality of ground-engaging skids attached to said cutterbar along the length thereof for permitting the cutterbar assembly to flex along its length in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced; and    draper mechanism behind the cutterbar assembly for receiving severed crop materials from the cutterbar assembly and conveying the materials in a lateral direction with respect to the normal direction of travel of the header.    
   
   
       2 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 said draper mechanism being supported against flexing movement with the cutterbar assembly.    
   
   
       3 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 said draper mechanism being supported for flexing movement with the cutterbar assembly.    
   
   
       4 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 3 , 
 said draper mechanism including a left draper assembly and a right draper assembly that are laterally spaced apart to present a centrally disposed opening,    said left and right draper assemblies being driven in mutually opposite directions to deliver crop materials centrally to said central opening,    further comprising a central conveyor disposed in said central opening for receiving crop materials from the left and right draper assemblies,    said central conveyor being operable to deliver crop materials in a rearward direction toward an outlet.    
   
   
       5 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 4 , 
 said central conveyor being mounted for up and down movement with the cutterbar assembly during flexing thereof.    
   
   
       6 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 3 , 
 further comprising an elongated header frame spaced rearwardly from said cutterbar assembly, and a plurality of support arms spaced along said frame and projecting forwardly therefrom,    said arms being connected adjacent front ends thereof with said cutterbar assembly for up and down movement therewith as the cutterbar assembly flexes along its length in response to changes in the terrain during harvesting operations,    said arms being individually pivotally connected adjacent rear ends thereof to said frame to permit independent movement with the cutterbar assembly.    
   
   
       7 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 6 , 
 further comprising a coupling assembly between the front end of at least certain of the arms and certain of the skids.    
   
   
       8 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 7 , 
 said coupling assembly including components permitting the corresponding skid to move about a fore-and-aft axis relative to the arm.    
   
   
       9 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 8 , 
 said components including structure defining a recess on a skid, a projection on an arm received within said recess, and a resilient bushing surrounding the projection within the recess.    
   
   
       10 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 6 , 
 further comprising flotation mechanism operably coupled with said arms for lightening the load on the skids.    
   
   
       11 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 10 , 
 said flotation mechanism comprising hydraulic cylinder units connected between the frame and at least some of said arms.    
   
   
       12 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 6 , 
 said draper mechanism including a pair of spaced rollers supported by a corresponding pair of the arms for up and down movement with the arms independently of one another,    said draper mechanism further including an endless flexible draper belt entrained around said rollers.    
   
   
       13 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 12 , 
 said draper belt having upper and lower runs,    said arms being disposed within said draper belt between said upper and lower runs thereof.    
   
   
       14 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 13 , 
 further comprising a support panel extending rearwardly from said cutterbar assembly in overlying relationship to the arms and underlying relationship to the upper run of the draper belt for supporting portions of the upper run of the draper belt.    
   
   
       15 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 14 , 
 said draper belt having a front edge,    further comprising a transition panel extending rearwardly from said cutterbar assembly and overlying said front edge of the draper belt.    
   
   
       16 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 6 , 
 said draper mechanism including a left draper assembly and a right draper assembly that are laterally spaced apart to present a centrally disposed opening,    said left and right draper assemblies being driven in mutually opposite directions to deliver crop materials centrally to said central opening,    further comprising a central conveyor disposed in said central opening for receiving crop materials from the left and right draper assemblies,    said central conveyor being operable to deliver crop materials in a rearward direction toward an outlet.    
   
   
       17 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 16 , 
 said central conveyor being mounted for up and down movement with the cutterbar assembly during flexing thereof.    
   
   
       18 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 17 , 
 said central conveyor being connected at a front end thereof to a skid and pivotally connected at a rear end thereof to the header frame.    
   
   
       19 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 18 , 
 further comprising a center-gathering auger mounted on said header frame adjacent said outlet at a level above the central conveyor.    
   
   
       20 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 6 , ‘further comprising a mounting bracket mounted on said header frame for releasably attaching the header to the front end of a combine feeder house.  
   
   
       21 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 20 , 
 said bracket being pivotally attached to said header frame to permit angular adjustment between the bracket and the header frame about a transverse horizontal axis.    
   
   
       22 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 21 , 
 said header frame including a beam extending transversely across the header substantially the full width thereof and disposed below said outlet.    
   
   
       23 . In a harvesting header as claimed in  claim 20 , 
 said header frame including a beam extending transversely across the header substantially the full width thereof and disposed below said outlet.