Abstract:
A combine header transport trailer for transporting a combine header. The trailer includes electrically operated jacks or screw actuators for raising and lowering the header bar thereon and for moving the header bar inwardly and outwardly with respect to the trailer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a combine header transport trailer and more particularly to a combine transport trailer which may be used to transport combine headers of various sizes and shapes. More particularly, this invention relates to a combine header transport trailer wherein the header bar or rail of the trailer is easily horizontally and vertically adjusted through the use of a pair of electrically driven jacks or screw actuators. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Combine header transport trailers have been utilized for several years for transporting combine headers, after they have been removed from the combine, from one location to another. It is desirable to detach the headers from the combine so that the combine and the header may be separately moved over roads to one location to another. If the header is not removed from the combine, the width of the header on the combine makes it extremely hazardous to transport the combine from one location to another. 
     In most of the prior art combine header transport trailers, the header is positioned endwise on the trailer with the lower rearward end of the header being supported on a pair of back stops or brackets secured to one of the longitudinally extending frame members of the trailer frame with the underside of the header being supported by a longitudinally extending header bar at the other side of the trailer. Some combine header transport trailers have the capability of being able to adjust the position of the header bar to accommodate headers of different sizes and shapes. However, in the prior art transport trailers of which Applicants are aware, no one has previously provided a means for vertically and horizontally adjusting the header bar by means of electrically operated jacks or screw actuators. Further, Applicants are not aware of anyone who has been able to move the header bar horizontally with respect to the frame of the trailer and to also vertically raise or lower the header bar through the use of the same pair of electrically controlled jacks or screw actuators. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A trailer is provided for the endwise transport of a combine header with the combine header having a forward end, a rearward end, a first end, and a second end. The trailer includes an elongated wheeled frame having a forward end, a rearward end, a first side and a second side. The wheeled frame includes elongated first and second horizontally spaced-apart and longitudinally extending frame members which have forward and rearward ends. A plurality of spaced-apart cross-members, having first and second ends, are secured to the first and second frame members and extend transversely therebetween. 
     The trailer includes a first elongated and transversely extending header bar support member which has inner and outer ends. The first header bar support member has its inner end pivotally secured, about a horizontal axis, to one of the cross-members rearwardly of the forward end of the wheeled frame. The inner end of the first header bar support member is pivotally secured to the respective cross-member between the first and second ends thereof so as to extend therefrom towards the second frame member whereby the outer end of the first header bar support member is disposed laterally outwardly and above the second frame member. A first slider assembly is selectively slidably adjustably mounted on the first header bar support with the first slider assembly including a selective locking pin for locking the first slider assembly to first header bar support member. A first support is provided which has upper and lower ends with the upper end of the first support being pivotally secured to the first header bar support member between the inner and outer ends thereof. The lower end of the first support is selectively vertically adjustably secured to the respective cross-member. 
     The trailer also includes a second elongated and transversely extending header bar support member having inner and outer ends, the inner end thereof being pivotally secured about a horizontal axis, to one of the cross-members forwardly of the rearward end of the wheeled frame. The inner end of the second header bar support member is pivotally secured to the respective cross-member between the first and second ends thereof so as to extend therefrom towards the second frame member so that the outer end of the second header bar support member is disposed laterally outwardly and above the second frame member. A second slider assembly is selectively slidably adjustably mounted on the second header bar support member with the second slider assembly including a selective locking pin for selectively locking the second slider assembly to the second header bar support member. The trailer also includes a second support having upper and lower ends with the upper end of the second support being pivotally secured to the second header bar support member between the inner and outer ends thereof. The lower end of the second support is selectively vertically adjustably secured to the respective cross-member. 
     The trailer further includes an elongated and longitudinally extending header bar having a forward end and a rearward end. The header bar is mounted on and secured to the first and second slider assemblies and extends therebetween. A first electrically operated jack or screw actuator is also provided which has a base end and a rod end. The first jack is extendable and retractable with the base end of the first jack being selectively removably secured to the first header bar support member. The rod end of the first jack is selectively removably secured to the first slider assembly. 
     The trailer also includes a second electrically operated jack or screw actuator having a base end and a rod end. The base end of the second jack is selectively removably secured to the second header bar support member. The rod end of the second jack is selectively removably secured to the second slider assembly. 
     The extension of the first and second jacks, when the first and second slider assemblies are unlocked from the first and second header bar support members respectively, causing the first and second slider assemblies and the header bar thereon to move towards the outer ends of the first and second header bar support members. The retraction of the first and second jacks, when the first and second slider assemblies are unlocked from the first and second header bar support members respectively, causing the first and second slider assemblies and the header bar to move towards the inner ends of the first and second header bar support members. 
     An important feature of the invention is that the first jack may be disconnected from the first header bar support member and the first slider assembly and connected to the outer end of the first header bar support member and the second frame and wherein the second jack member may be disconnected from the second header bar support member and the second slider assembly and connected to the outer end of the second header bar support member and the second frame member to raise and lower the outer ends of the first and second header bar support members and the header bar when the first and second supports are disconnected from either the first and second header bar support members or the respective cross-members. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved combine header transport trailer. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a combine header transport trailer wherein the header bar thereof may be easily adjusted through the use of a pair of electrically operated jacks or screw actuators. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a trailer of the type described wherein a pair of electrically operated jacks or screw actuators may be used to not only move the header bar laterally outwardly or inwardly with respect to the trailer but which may also be used to raise and lower the header bar with respect to the trailer. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the combine header transport trailer of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the combine header transport trailer of this invention and which illustrates a combine header, in broken lines, supported on the trailer; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of one of the header support brackets of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial front view of the trailer with the broken liens illustrating the alternate position of one of the jacks of this invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of one of the header bar support members and associated structure; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial front perspective view of the first combine header support member and its associated structure; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial front perspective view of the first combine header support member but which shows the jack thereof in its alternate position; and 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the structure of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The trailer of this invention is designated by the reference numeral  10  which is designed for the endwise transport of a combine header  12 . Header  12  is conventional in design and includes a forward end  14 , rearward end  16 , and opposite ends. Trailer  10  includes a wheeled frame  18  having a forward end  20 , rearward end  22 , a first side  24  and a second side  26 . Wheeled frame  18  includes a first elongated and longitudinally extending frame member  28  and a second elongated and longitudinally extending frame member  30  which is horizontally spaced from frame member  28 . A cross-member  32  is secured to and extend between frame members  28  and  30  rearwardly of the forward end  20  of the frame  18 . Cross-member  32 ′ is secured to and extends between the frame members  28  and  30  at the rearward end of the frame  18 . A plurality of other cross-members also extend between the frame members  28  and  30  in conventional fashion. Inasmuch the header bar support structure  33  on cross-member  32  is identical to the header bar support structure  33 ′ on cross-member  32 ′, only the header bar support structure on cross-member  32  will be described in detail with identical structure on cross-member  32 ′ being designated by “′”. A running gear or rear wheel assembly  34  supports the rearward end of the frame  18 . A hitch  36  is provided at the forward end of frame  18  in conventional fashion. A pair of identical support brackets  38  and  40  are secured to frame member  28 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     Although the drawings illustrate two of the cross-members having header bar support structure thereon, additional support structures could be provided if so desired. The numeral  42  refers to a first header bar support member having an inner end  44  and an outer end  46 . Inner end  44  of header bar support member  42  is pivotally secured to cross-member  32  by a pivot pin  48 . A pair of spaced-apart ears  50  and  52  are provided at end  46  of header bar support member  42  which are adapted to have pin  54  extending therethrough. 
     Top wall  56  of header bar support member  42  has an opening  58  formed therein which defines intersecting rectangular slots  60  and  62  with slot  62  having a greater length than slot  60 . Side wall  64  of header bar support member  42  has an opening  66  formed therein with sidewall  68  having an opening formed therein which registers with opening  66  and which are adapted to receive pin  70  extending therethrough. 
     The numeral  72  refers to a support which is comprised of spaced-apart plates  74  and  76  having a plate or bar  78  extending therebetween. The upper end of plate  74  has an opening  80  formed therein which registers with opening  82  formed in the upper end of plate  76 . Plate  74  has a plurality of vertically spaced openings  84  formed therein which registers with a plurality of vertically spaced openings  86  formed in plate  76 . The upper end of support  72  is received between the side walls  64  and  68  of header bar support  42  and is secured thereto by pin  70 . The lower end of support  72  is adjustably vertically secured to cross-member  32  by pin  88 . Side wall  64  has a plurality of spaced-apart openings  90  formed therein which register with openings formed in side wall  68 . 
     The numeral  92  refers to a slider assembly which is slidably adjustably mounted on header bar support member  42  by pin  94  which extends through one of the openings  90 , through slider assembly  92 , and through registering openings in side wall  68 . Slider assembly  92  includes upstanding walls  96  and  98  which define a pocket  100 . Clevis  102  is secured to slider assembly  92  and is adapted to receive pin  104  extending therethrough. 
     The numeral  106  refers to an elongated header bar having a forward end  108  and a rearward  110 . Bracket  112  is secured to frame member  30  as seen in  FIG. 7  which is in alignment with the header bar support member  42  and which has a slot (not shown) formed in the lower end thereof which is identical to the slot  60  previously described. 
     The numeral  114  refers to a jack or screw actuator having a base  116  and a rod  118  extending therefrom which is movable between retracted and extended positions. The end of rod  118  has a connector  120  mounted thereon which is adapted to receive between the legs of the clevis  102  and secured thereto by pin  104 . An ear  122  is secured to base  116  and is secured to a connector  124  by pin  126 . Connector  124  has a rectangular base which is adapted to be inserted into the slot  60  as will be described hereinafter. 
     When it is desired to transport a combine header  12 , the trailer of this invention permits the header bar  106  to be adjustably moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to the trailer frame  18  and permits the header bar  106  to be adjustably moved upwardly and downwardly with respect to the trailer frame  18  to accommodate various sizes and shapes of the combine header which is to be transported. 
     Normally, the two jacks  114  and  114 ′ will not be positioned on the trailer  10 . If it is desired to move the header bar  106  inwardly or outwardly with respect to the trailer frame  18 , the face  126  of connector  124  on the jack  114  will be inserted downwardly into the slot  62  of opening  58 . The jack  114  is then rotated 90 degrees so that the base  126  will be positioned slot  60  and will be retained in opening  58 . The connector  120  of jack  114  is then connected to clevis  102  of slider assembly  92  by pin  104 . Pin  94  is then disconnected from header bar support member  42 . The same procedure is performed on the header bar supporting structure  33 ′. 
     The jacks  114  and  114 ′ are then electrically connected to a source of electrical power. The header bar  106  is adjustably moved outwardly with respect to the trailer frame  18  by extending the jacks  114  and  114 ′. The header bar  106  may be adjustably moved inwardly with respect to trailer frame  18  by retracting the jacks  114  and  114 ′ so that the slider assemblies  92  and  92 ′ slidably move inwardly on members  42  and  42 ′. The jacks  114  and  114 ′ will normally be disconnected from their respective slider assemblies and support members after the header bar  106  has been properly positioned. 
     If it is necessary to raise or lower the header  106 , the jack  114  will be connected to the outer end of support member  42  and the bracket  112 . Pin  88  is then removed from its connection with cross-member  32  and  72 . The jack  114 ′ will be similarly connected to the outer end of support member  42 ′ and the bracket  112 ′. Extension of the jacks  114  and  114 ′ cause the header bar  106  to be raised with respect to the trailer frame  18 . Retraction of jacks  114  and  114 ′ cause the header bar  106  to be lowered with respect to the trailer frame  18 . When the header bar  106  is in its proper position, the supports  72  and  72 ′ will then again be pinned to the cross-member  32  and cross-member  32 ′ respectively. Normally, the jacks  114  and  114 ′ will be disconnected from the outer ends of the support members  42  and  42 ′ and will be disconnected from the brackets  112  and  112 ′. 
     The combine header  12  is then placed upon the trailer  10  such as seen in  FIG. 2  in conventional fashion and secured thereto by adjustable tie-down straps. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.