Patent ID: 8966871
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a harvesting header mounted on a forward end of a windrower and operable to cut and collect standing crop in a field, the header having a laterally extending crop cutting assembly for severing crop from the ground as the windrower moves across the field, the method comprising: selecting a fore/aft pitch angle of the header; measuring the fore/aft pitch angle with a header pitch sensor; selecting an operating height of the header at which the cutting assembly is configured to cut crop; raising the header from the operating height to a raised, non-operating height by operator action using a header hydraulic system when reaching the end of a row in the field; in response to raising the header, automatically generating a pitch angle signal with an electronics control module that causes operation of at least one solenoid valve in the header hydraulic system to move the header to a zero-tilt position; lowering the header from the raised, non-operating height to the operating height by operator action using the header hydraulic system when reaching a new row in the field; and in response to lowering the header, automatically generating a pitch angle signal with the electronics control module that causes operation of at least one solenoid valve in the header hydraulic system to move the header to back to the selected fore/aft pitch angle as measured by the header pitch sensor.