Sensor arm for combine header
DCFirst Claim
1. In an agricultural machine having an adjustable platform supported by the machine and a control system for setting an operating height of said platform relative to the ground, said control system including a sensor responsive to an angular position of a shaft and generating a signal representative of said operating height, a sensor arm coupled to said shaft and comprising an operating portion for contacting the ground and being curved at the segment of said operating portion adjacent said shaft, such that the distance between a center of rotation of said shaft and the point at which said sensor arm contacts the ground decreases as the operating height of said platform is decreased.
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Abstract
In a control system for an agricultural combine having an adjustable platform, a sensor arm is coupled to a rotatable sensor shaft and adapted to engage and ride along the ground to monitor the operating height of the platform. The sensor arm has a continuously curved operation portion and provides a faster response time as ground contour changes are encountered. Moreover, the response increases for lower operating heights to reduce the possibility that the platform will contact the ground and to reduce the time to adjust the operating height to the desired setting. Thus, operating speed and productivity may be increased.
32 Citations
9 Claims
- 1. In an agricultural machine having an adjustable platform supported by the machine and a control system for setting an operating height of said platform relative to the ground, said control system including a sensor responsive to an angular position of a shaft and generating a signal representative of said operating height, a sensor arm coupled to said shaft and comprising an operating portion for contacting the ground and being curved at the segment of said operating portion adjacent said shaft, such that the distance between a center of rotation of said shaft and the point at which said sensor arm contacts the ground decreases as the operating height of said platform is decreased.
- 7. In an agricultural machine having a platform carried by the machine, and a control system for setting an operating height of said platform relative to the ground, said control system including a sensor mechanism comprising a member rotatable about an axis, a sensor arm mounted to said rotatable member and including an operating portion for contacting the ground, characterized in that a forward segment of said operating portion is substantially continuously curved whereby when said platform is set at a lower operating height, the distance between said rotatable member and the point at which said arm contacts the ground continuously decreases as the operating height of said platform is decreased.
Specification