Patent ID: 7975458
Filing Date: 2011-07-12
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A crop harvesting header for use with a work vehicle, the header comprising: a first arm pivotably secured to the header and configured to support a cutterbar, the first arm configured to move in response to encountering ground undulations when the header is in a first operating mode; a shaft having an axis and secured to the header, the shaft including a member outwardly extending from the shaft, the shaft extending substantially transverse to a longitudinal direction of travel of the header, the shaft being configured to rotate about the axis in response to a portion of the member distal from the shaft being brought into abutting contact with the first arm when the header is in the first operating mode; a second arm rotatably movable about the axis of the shaft, a surface of the second arm facing the ground is configured to encounter ground undulations when the header is in a second operating mode, wherein a leading end of the first arm and a leading end of the second arm are each positioned adjacent to the shaft and the first and second arms extend substantially in the direction of travel of the header; and a sensor operatively connected to the second arm and to a controller, the sensor configured to sense when a position of the second arm is located at a predetermined position that is at least in close proximity of ground undulations when the header is in the second operating mode; in response to the sensor sensing the position of the second arm at the predetermined position when the header is in the second operating mode, the sensor communicates with the controller to effect at least one of vertical and rotational movement of the header with respect to the ground.