Header lift system with hydraulic counterweight

• US 6,901,729 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2004
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.), CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: McLean, Kenneth W., Otto, Douglas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FABIAN-KOVACS, ARPAD
• Application Number:
  US10/822,464
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 562/08, 562/09, 56/108, 56/102.A, 56/102.E, 604/69, 604/13, 414/641, 172/260.4, 172/260.5, 172/464
• US Class Current: 56/208
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/145 Header lifting devices

Abstract

A hydraulic lift/flotation system for the header of a crop harvesting machine wherein each side of the header is supported by a single cylinder, which performs both the flotation and lift functions. To accommodate unbalanced headers (center of gravity not centered between the lift arms), hydraulic oil is sent to the return side of the lift cylinder on the lighter side of the header, thus resulting in even raising, lowering and float.

Claims

1. A harvesting machine comprising:

a frame adapted for movement over the ground, the frame having a front end, an opposing rear end, and an operator platform;

an elongate crop harvesting header having a first end and a second opposing end, the first and second ends defining the length of the elongate header, the header supported at first and second support points, intermediate the first and second ends, by the frame across the front end of the frame for generally vertical movement relative to the ground; and

a header lift and flotation system interconnecting the header and the frame for selectively raising and lowering the header relative to the ground and setting flotation parameters, the header lift and flotation system including left and right hand hydraulic cylinders interconnecting the frame and the header adjacent the respective first and second support points;

a hydraulic fluid reservoir;

an electro-hydraulic circuit;

a manually manipulable switch; and

an electronic programmable controller,

the electro-hydraulic circuit including valves operated by electrical signals that interconnect the hydraulic fluid reservoir and the respective left and right hand hydraulic cylinders, and the electronic programmable controller interconnecting the switch and the valves such that manipulation of the switch causes the controller to emit electrical signals to the valves to establish flotation and lift settings for the valves,

wherein the electronic programmable controller controls the valves of the electro-hydraulic circuit to apply hydraulic pressure to one of the left and right hand hydraulic cylinders, thereby applying a hydraulic counterweight.

2. The harvesting machine according to claim 1, wherein the electro-hydraulic circuit includes an hydraulic pump and a single hydraulic accumulator.

3. The harvesting machine according to claim 2, wherein the switch is located on the operator platform.

4. The harvesting machine according to claim 3, wherein the switch is a rocker switch.

5. The harvesting machine according to claim 4, wherein each of the left and right hand hydraulic cylinders has a lifting end which, when hydraulic oil under pressure is applied, raises the header, and the two lifting ends of the left and right hand hydraulic cylinders are hydraulically connected together and thence to the hydraulic pump, a control manifold and the accumulator;

and

the switch has a first position that signals the controller to allow hydraulic oil to enter the accumulator to reduce header contact force with the ground.

6. The harvesting machine according to claim 5, wherein the switch has a second position that signals the controller to allow hydraulic oil to exit the accumulator to increase header contact force with the ground.

7. The harvesting machine according to claim 6, further comprising a pressure reducing valve located in the hydraulic circuit such that through manipulation of the pressure reducing valve hydraulic pressure can be selectively applied to one or the other of the left and right hand hydraulic cylinders.

8. The harvesting machine according to claim 7, wherein the pressure reducing valve is electro-hydraulic;

and a second switch is located on the operator platform and is electrically connected to the pressure reducing valve to control the pressure reducing valve to selectively apply hydraulic pressure to one or the other of the left and right hand hydraulic cylinders.

9. In a harvesting machine having a frame adapted for movement over the ground, the frame having a front end, an opposing rear end, and an operator'"'"'s platform, an elongate crop harvesting header having a first end and a second opposing end, the first and second ends defining the length of the elongate header, the header supported at first and second support points, intermediate the first and second ends, by the frame across the front end of the frame for generally vertical movement relative to the ground, the improvement comprising:

a header lift and flotation system interconnecting the header and the frame for selectively raising and lowering the header relative to the ground and setting flotation parameters, the header lift and flotation system including;

left and right hand hydraulic cylinders interconnecting the frame and the header adjacent the respective first and second support points;

a hydraulic fluid reservoir;

substantially independent left and right hand electro-hydraulic circuits, including valves operated by electrical signals, interconnecting the hydraulic fluid reservoir and the respective left and right hand hydraulic cylinders;

left and right hand manually manipulated switches;

an electronic programmable controller interconnecting the switches and the valves such that independent manipulation of the switches causes the controller to emit electrical signals to the valves to establish independent flotation and lift settings for the left and right hand hydraulic cylinders.

10. The improvement of claim 9, further including a pressure reducing valve located in the hydraulic circuit such that through manipulation of the pressure reducing valve hydraulic pressure can be selectively applied to one or the other of the left and right hand hydraulic cylinders.

11. The improvement of claim 10, wherein:

the pressure reducing valve is electro-hydraulic; and

a second switch is located on the operator platform and is electrically connected to the pressure reducing valve to control the pressure reducing valve to selectively apply hydraulic pressure to one or the other of the left and right hand hydraulic cylinders.

12. The improvement of claim 11, wherein:

the electro-hydraulic circuit further includes an hydraulic pump and a single hydraulic accumulator.

13. The improvement of claim 12, wherein:

the switch is located on the operator'"'"'s platform and is a rocker-type switch.

14. The improvement of claim 9, wherein:

the switch has a first position that signals the controller to allow hydraulic oil to enter the accumulator to reduce header contact force with the ground, and

the switch has a second position that signals the controller to allow hydraulic oil to exit the accumulator to increase header contact force with the ground.

15. The improvement of claim 14 wherein:

the valves return to the preset flotation condition whenever the float mode is selected, irrespective of subsequent header lift and lower operations.

16. A crop harvesting machine comprising:

a self-propelled frame adapted for movement over the ground, the frame having a front end, an opposing rear end;

an operator'"'"'s platform affixed to and supported by the frame;

an elongate crop harvesting header having a first end and a second opposing end, the first and second ends defining the length of the elongate header, the header supported at first and second support points, intermediate the first and second ends, by the frame across the front end of the frame for generally vertical movement relative to the ground;

a header lift and flotation system interconnecting the header and the frame for selectively raising and lowering the header relative to the ground and setting flotation parameters, the header lift and flotation system including;

left and right hand hydraulic cylinders interconnecting the frame and the header adjacent the respective first and second support points;

a hydraulic fluid reservoir;

an electro-hydraulic circuit, including valves operated by electrical signals, interconnecting the hydraulic fluid reservoir and the respective left and right hand hydraulic cylinders;

the left and right hand hydraulic cylinders are hydraulically connected such that hydraulic oil is sent to the return side of the respective cylinder on the lighter side of the header;

a manually manipulated switch; and

an electronic programmable controller interconnecting the switch and the valves such that manipulation of the switch causes the controller to emit electrical signals to the valves to establish flotation and lift settings for the left and right hand hydraulic cylinders.

17. The crop harvesting machine of claim 16, wherein:

the electro-hydraulic circuit further includes an hydraulic pump and single hydraulic accumulator.

18. The crop harvesting machine of claim 17, wherein:

the switch is located on the operator'"'"'s platform.

19. The crop harvesting machine of claim 18, wherein:

the switch is a rocker switch;

the switch has a first position that signals the controller to allow hydraulic oil to enter the respective accumulator to reduce header contact force with the ground; and

the switch has a second position that signals the controller to allow hydraulic oil to exit the respective accumulator to increase header contact force with the ground.

20. The crop harvesting machine of claim 18, further including:

a pressure reducing valve located in the hydraulic circuit such that through manipulation of the pressure reducing valve hydraulic pressure can be selectively applied to one or the other of the left and right hand hydraulic cylinders.

21. The crop harvesting machine of claim 20, wherein:

the pressure reducing valve is electro-hydraulic; and

a second switch is located on the operator'"'"'s platform, and is electrically connected to the pressure reducing valve to control the pressure reducing valve to selectively apply hydraulic pressure to one or the other of the left and right hand hydraulic cylinders.