Patent ID: 7730700
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: A01D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A ground sensor system for a combine header comprising: a front ground sensor arm, said front ground sensor arm being pivotally attached to a front aspect of a header substantially at a cutter bar; a rear ground sensor arm pivotally mounted to a sensor mount; said rear ground sensor arm having a rearward extent substantially equivalent to a rearward extent of the header; a linkage bar, said linkage bar having a forward end being pivotally attached to a lower portion of said forward ground sensor arm and said linkage bar having a rear end being pivotally attached to a forward portion of said rear ground sensor arm; a potentiometer linkage, said potentiometer linkage being pivotally attached to said forward ground sensor arm at a position intermediate to the pivotal attachment of said forward sensor arm to said cutter bar and the pivotal attachment of said linkage bar to said forward ground sensor arm; said potentiometer linkage being operatively engaged with a potentiometer mounted on said header, said potentiometer being configurable to send an electronic signal in response to movement of said potentiometer linkage; whereby movement of either said rear ground sensor arm or said forward ground sensor arm caused by contact with the ground causes movement in said potentiometer linkage sufficient to operatively engage said potentiometer, regardless of whether the other of said sensor arms is also moved by ground contact.