Flexible cutting platform to follow ground contour in an agricultural harvesting machine

Abstract

A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes at least one platform section having a frame, a plurality of float arms movably coupled with the frame, an endless belt carried by the plurality of float arms, a cutterbar assembly carried by the plurality of float arms, and a plurality of crop ramps extending from the cutterbar assembly. The plurality of crop ramps are movable relative to each other and overly a leading edge of the endless belt. The endless belt and the cutterbar assembly are movable in a localized manner across the cutting platform in upwards and downwards directions.

1 . An agricultural harvesting machine, comprising:
 a feeder housing; and   a cutting platform attached to said feeder housing, said cutting platform including at least one platform section having a frame, a plurality of float arms coupled with and articulated with respect to said frame, an endless belt carried by said plurality of float arms, and a cutterbar assembly carried by said plurality of float arms and movable in a localized manner across said cutting platform in upwards and downwards directions.   
     
     
         2 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 1 , wherein said cutterbar assembly includes a flexible substrate and a plurality of knife guards carried by said flexible substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 2 , wherein each said platform section includes a plurality of crop ramps extending from said cutterbar assembly, said plurality of crop ramps being movable relative to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of crop ramps overlie a leading edge of said endless belt. 
     
     
         5 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 1 , wherein each said float arm is pivotally coupled with said frame. 
     
     
         6 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of float arms include a pair of outboard float arms positioned at opposite ends of said respective platform section, said endless belt partially wrapping and reversing travel directions around each said outboard float arm. 
     
     
         7 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 6 , wherein each said outboard float arm includes a roller, said endless belt partially wrapping said roller. 
     
     
         8 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one platform section includes an adjacent pair of said platform sections which are pivotally coupled together about a corresponding axis. 
     
     
         9 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one platform section comprises three platform sections. 
     
     
         10 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting platform is one of a flexible draper with a plurality of platform section which are movable relative to each other, and a rigid draper with a plurality of platform section which are substantially immovable relative to each other. 
     
     
         11 . A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine, comprising:
 at least one platform section including a frame, a plurality of float arms coupled with and articulated with respect to said frame, an endless belt carried by said plurality of float arms, a cutterbar assembly carried by said plurality of float arms, a plurality of crop ramps extending from said cutterbar assembly, said plurality of crop ramps being movable relative to each other and overlying a leading edge of said endless belt, said endless belt and said cutterbar assembly being movable in a localized manner across said cutting platform in upwards and downwards directions.   
     
     
         12 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 11 , wherein said cutterbar assembly includes a flexible substrate and a plurality of knife guards carried by said flexible substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 11 , wherein each said float arm is pivotally coupled with said frame. 
     
     
         14 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one platform section includes an adjacent pair of said platform sections which are pivotally coupled together about a corresponding axis. 
     
     
         15 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one platform section comprises three platform sections. 
     
     
         16 . The agricultural harvesting machine of  claim 11 , wherein said cutting platform is one of a flexible draper with a plurality of platform section which are movable relative to each other, and a rigid draper with a plurality of platform section which are substantially immovable relative to each other. 
     
     
         17 . A flexible cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine, comprising:
 at least one transversely extending platform section including a frame, a plurality of float arms coupled with and articulated with respect to said frame, an endless belt carried by said plurality of float arms, a cutterbar assembly carried by said plurality of float arms, a plurality of crop ramps extending from said cutterbar assembly, said plurality of crop ramps being movable relative to each other and overlying a leading edge of said endless belt, said endless belt and said cutterbar assembly being movable in a localized manner across said cutting platform in upwards and downwards directions.