Patent ID: 6289659
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: A01D,Y10S

Abstract:
A harvesting unit adapted for movement in a forward direction over soil having an irregular soil surface, the harvesting unit including lift structure for raising and lowering the unit relative to the soil surface during operation in a field and for raising and lowering the unit between transport and field-working positions, and a height sensing shoe assembly including:an arm having upper and lower ends, the upper end pivotally connected to the harvesting unit for rocking vertically about an arm axis generally transverse to the forward direction;a soil contacting shoe elongated in the forward direction and having a central portion;a pivot connecting the central portion of the shoe to the lower end of the arm for rocking about a shoe axis generally parallel to the arm axis;an actuator member responsive to the rocking of the arm about the arm axis for operating the lift structure to maintain a preselected position of the unit relative to the soil surface;wherein the rocking of the shoe about the shoe axis reduces rocking of the arm about the arm axis as the shoe passes over irregularities in the soil surface to thereby limit vertical fluctuations of the arm and provide a mechanical averaging effect to the actuator member as the shoe passes over the irregularities; andwherein the arm includes a contact area limiting the rocking of the shoe about the shoe axis to a preselected angular range relative to the horizontal, the angular range changing as the unit is moved between the field-working and transport positions.