Integrated draper belt support and skid shoe in an agricultural harvesting machine

Abstract

A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes at least one platform section. Each platform section has a cutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless belt with a leading edge, and a plurality of skid shoes. Each skid shoe extends rearwardly from the cutterbar assembly and has an upper surface defining a belt support for the leading edge of the endless belt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A replaceable skid plate for use with a cutting platform in an agricultural harvesting machine, said skid plate comprising:
 a lower, substantially flat, surface positionable in association with a ground surface over which the harvesting machine traverses, wherein said skid plate has a plurality of interconnected reinforcing ribs extending from its upper surface and terminating in upper surfaces cooperating to define a continuous uninterrupted contour that reduces in height towards the periphery of said skid plate, whereby said reinforcing ribs terminate adjacent the surface of a hollow cavity of a skid shoe providing support for a leading edge of an endless belt incorporated in the cutting platform.   
     
     
         2 . The skid plate of  claim 1 , wherein said skid plate has a plurality of openings for removeable attachment to the skid shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The skid plate of  claim 2 , wherein a pair of openings are at one end of said skid plate and another pair are at the opposite end of said skid plate. 
     
     
         4 . The skid plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interconnected reinforcing ribs are arranged with a central rib and integral ribs extending therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The skid plate of  claim 4 , wherein the ribs extending from said central rib are arranged in a chevron pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The skid plate of  claim 4 , wherein said ribs have ends that terminate at a distance from the periphery of said skid plate. 
     
     
         7 . The skid plate of  claim 1 , wherein said skid plate is made from plastic.