Patent ID: 7913481
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A harvesting header operable to harvest a crop, said harvesting header comprising: a flexible cutterbar assembly extending lengthwise in a lateral direction relative to the normal direction of travel of the header; a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms being attached to and cooperatively supporting the flexible cutterbar assembly, said support arms being pivotal about a laterally extending axis so that the flexible cutterbar assembly is operable to flex along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced; and a pair of stops cooperating to define a variable range of angular movement of the support arms and a corresponding variable range of generally vertical movement of the flexible cutterbar assembly, a first one of the stops configured to engage at least one of the support arms and thereby define a first limit of the range of angular movement, a second one of the stops adjustably spaced from the first stop and configured to engage the at least one support arm and thereby define an adjustable second limit of the range of angular movement, said second stop being selectively positioned among an arm-locking position, in which the at least one support arm is concurrently engaged by both stops and the cutterbar assembly is thereby generally restricted from moving vertically, and a plurality of spaced apart arm-swinging positions defining corresponding distinct ranges of angular movement for the support arms, with the support arms being prevented from being in concurrent stopping engagement with both of the stops when the second stop is positioned in one of the arm-swinging positions such that the support arms are able to move angularly between the stops.