Patent Description:
A harvesting machine generally includes a header and a vehicle (e.g., a tractor) for carrying the header. One end of the header is attached to the vehicle. The other end of the header includes ground wheels for supporting the vehicle in movement across the ground. When the header needs to be transported to another location after the harvesting operation, the header is detached from the vehicle and a trailer is usually used for transporting the header.

<CIT> shows a combine harvester with a header with two pairs of wheels. Each pair of wheels is rotatably connected to a first bar, which on its end is connected at its center to a second bar enclosing an angle of <NUM>° with the first bar. The second bar is mounted to the header pivotally around an axis extending parallel to the header longitudinal axis and moved between a transport in which the wheels are above the ground and a harvest position in which the wheels support the header. The header can be pulled behind the combine by means of a drawbar during transport.

<CIT> shows another combine header with two pairs of wheels connected to a first bar that is connected to a second bar which is mounted around two rotation axes to the header such that in a transport position, the wheels are under the header and the first bar transverse to the longitudinal axis of the header and in a harvest position, the wheels are behind the header and the first bar is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the header.

<CIT> shows a swather supported on pairs of wheels that can be rotated by <NUM>° around a vertical axis between a harvest and a transport position.

<CIT> describes a header transport trailer with steerable front wheels supported on king pins, connected to a drawbar.

Various objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will become more apparent and better understood by referring to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters identify corresponding elements, throughout.

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. However, it will be clear and apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology is not limited to the specific details set forth herein and may be practiced using one or more implementations.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for road transporting a header of a harvesting machine between different field sites according to some embodiments. The road transport systems enable the header to be transported using the ground wheels of the header without using a trailer according to some embodiments. The road transport systems enable transition of the header between a field operation mode and a road transport mode according to some embodiments. When the header is in the field operation mode, the ground wheels of the header are in a field operation direction to support the header under field operation according to some embodiments. When the header is switched to the road transport mode, the ground wheels of the header are turned to a road transport direction to transport the header according to some embodiments. The road transport systems include a kingpin steering system installed in at least two of the ground wheels, which allows the ground wheels to steer the vehicle when the header is under the road transport mode according to some embodiments.

Referring now to <FIG>, a diagram of a transport system <NUM> for a header <NUM> of a harvesting machine (e.g., a combine) is illustrated according to some embodiments. The harvesting machine includes the header <NUM> and two pairs of ground wheels <NUM> and <NUM> according to some embodiments. The two pairs of the ground wheels <NUM> and <NUM> are installed in two wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> according to some embodiments. The wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> are connected to the header <NUM> to support the header <NUM> according to some embodiments. The wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> support each pair of ground wheels, respectively, and define a distance between two wheels of each pair of ground wheels <NUM> and <NUM> according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the wheel frame <NUM> and the wheel frame <NUM> have same size of frame. In some embodiments, the wheel frame <NUM> has a smaller width compared to the wheel frame <NUM>. In some embodiments, the wheel frame <NUM> is connected to the pair of wheels <NUM> through a kingpin steering system <NUM>. In some embodiments, the wheel frame <NUM> does not include a steering system and the connection between the wheel frame <NUM> and the pair of wheels <NUM> is different from the connection between the wheel frame <NUM> and the pair of wheel <NUM>. In some such embodiments, the pair of wheels <NUM> are the front wheels and the pair of wheels <NUM> are back wheels when the road transport system <NUM> is in the road transport mode. In some embodiments, the wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> both include kingpin steering systems and either pair of wheels <NUM> or <NUM> can be used as front wheels for road transport.

The wheel frame <NUM> is connected to a tow arm <NUM> according to some embodiments. The tow arm <NUM> is used for connecting the transport system <NUM> to a tow vehicle according to some embodiments. The pair of wheels <NUM> are installed in the wheel frame <NUM> through the kingpin steering system <NUM> according to some embodiments. The wheel frame <NUM> and wheel frame <NUM> can be rotated according to some embodiments. When the wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> are rotated to a longitudinal direction (not shown) along the header <NUM>, the road transport system <NUM> is in the field operation mode according to some embodiments. While the road transport system <NUM> is in the field operation mode, the kingpin steering system <NUM> is disabled by locking the kingpin connection according to some embodiments. When the wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> are rotate <NUM> degrees to a transverse direction as shown in <FIG>, the road transport system <NUM> is in the road transport mode according to some embodiments. While the road transport system <NUM> is in the road transport mode, the kingpin steering system <NUM> is enabled by unlocking the kingpin connection according to some embodiments. The tow arm <NUM> is connected to the wheel frame <NUM> when the road transport system <NUM> is in the road transport mode and is disconnected from the wheel frame <NUM> when the road transport system <NUM> is in the field operation mode according to some embodiments.

<FIG> is a diagram of the road transport system <NUM> of <FIG> according to some embodiments. The wheel frame <NUM> includes a vertical axle <NUM> connected to the header <NUM> according to some embodiments. The vertical axle <NUM> can be rotated for switching the road transport system <NUM> between the road transport mode and field operation mode according to some embodiments. The wheel frame includes a horizontal axle <NUM> that is connected to the vertical axle <NUM> at a middle point of the horizontal axle <NUM> according to some embodiments. A top end 202a of the vertical axle <NUM> has a first rotatable connection with the header <NUM>, which enables the vertical axle <NUM> to switch between a road transport position and a field operation position according to some embodiments. A bottom end 202b of the vertical axle <NUM> has a second rotatable connection with the horizontal axle <NUM>, which enables the horizontal axle <NUM> to switch between a road transport position and a field operation position according to some embodiments. When the road transport system <NUM> is in the road transport mode as shown in <FIG>, the vertical axle <NUM> is rotated at the end connection 202a to the road transport position and horizontal axle <NUM> is rotated at the end connection 202b to the road transport position according to some embodiments. The wheel frame <NUM> includes two struts <NUM> for fixing the horizontal axle <NUM> in the road transport position or in the field operation position according to some embodiments. When the fixing beams are connected to the header, a relative position between the horizontal axle <NUM> and the vertical axle <NUM> is fixed and the connection 202b between the axles <NUM> and <NUM> cannot be rotated or moved according to some embodiments.

The horizontal axle <NUM> is connected to the pair of wheels <NUM> at each end of the axle <NUM> through a kingpin steering system <NUM> according to some embodiments. The kingpin steering system <NUM> enables the pair of wheels <NUM> to rotate with respect to the horizontal axle <NUM> and the vertical axle <NUM> according to some embodiments. The kingpin steering system <NUM> enables the wheels that is connected to the wheel frame <NUM> to rotate or turn in order to steer the header <NUM> in a turning direction of the tow vehicle according to some embodiments. The kingpin steering system <NUM> enables separating the rotation of the wheels <NUM> from the rotation of the wheel frame <NUM> so that the header is more stable during turning in road transport according to some embodiments. For example, when the tow vehicle turns, the kingpin steering system responds to the turning and allows the wheels <NUM> to rotate in response to the turning, and enables the wheel frame <NUM> to delay responding to the turning according to some embodiments. In this way, the header <NUM> does not make sharp and quick turns so that the transport of the header <NUM> is much more stable.

The kingpin steering system <NUM> includes a spindle <NUM> at each end of the horizontal axle <NUM>. A wheel axle of each wheel <NUM> is connected to the spindle <NUM> according to some embodiments. The kingpin steering system <NUM> also includes two steering tie rods <NUM> connecting between each spindle <NUM> and a frame mount <NUM> according to some embodiments. The frame mount <NUM> is located at the middle point of the horizontal axle <NUM> according to some embodiments. The frame mount <NUM> is connected to the steering tie rods <NUM> at one end and connected to the tow arm <NUM> at the other end according to some embodiments. The frame mount <NUM> is connected to the horizontal axle <NUM> via a pin <NUM> that allows the frame mount <NUM> to rotate along with the tow arm <NUM> according to some embodiments. For example, when the tow vehicle turns, the tow arm <NUM> turns along with the tow vehicle according to some embodiments. The frame mount <NUM> also turns along with the tow arm <NUM> via the pin connection <NUM> according to some embodiments. When the frame mount turns <NUM>, the steering tie rod <NUM> moves and pushes or pulls the spindles <NUM> to turn the wheels <NUM> according to some embodiments. In this way, the steering system <NUM> moves the wheels to make turns according to some embodiments. The steering system <NUM> enables the wheels <NUM> to move along with the tow arm <NUM> and turn independently from the wheel frame <NUM> according to some embodiments. The kingpin steering system <NUM> enables rotation of the wheels <NUM> with respect to the vertical axis and the horizontal axle204 according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the horizontal axle <NUM> has a desired length in order to increase the stability in road transport according to some embodiments.

<FIG> are diagrams of the road transport system <NUM> of <FIG> according to some embodiments. The road transport system <NUM> includes a hooking system including a cable hook <NUM> and a spinning component <NUM> according to some embodiments. When the road transport system <NUM> converts from the field operation mode to the road transport mode, in order to rotate the wheel frame <NUM> from the field operation position to the road transport position, the road transport system <NUM> raises the header <NUM> so that the ground wheels <NUM> are lifted from the ground according to some embodiments. When the header <NUM> raises, the weight load from the wheel frame <NUM> and the wheels <NUM> are on the pin connection 202a between the wheel frame <NUM> and the header <NUM> according to some embodiments. In order to reduce load on the pin connection 202a, the road transport system <NUM> utilizes the hooking system to hook the wheel frame <NUM> to the header <NUM>. The hooking system can use any suitable hooking mechanisms (e.g., a pulley system according to some embodiments. The wheel frame <NUM> includes a hook receiver <NUM> located on the surface of the vertical axle <NUM> according to some embodiments. When the header <NUM> is raised up, one end of the cable hook <NUM> is connected to the hook receiver <NUM> and the other end of the cable hook <NUM> is connected to a spinning component <NUM> to through one or more pulleys according to some embodiments. The cable hook <NUM> can be tied and/or released using the spinning component <NUM> according to some embodiments. When the vertical axle <NUM> rotates from the field operation position to the road transport position, the cable hook <NUM> is slowly released via the spinning component so that the wheel frame <NUM> is slowly lowered to the ground according to some embodiments.

<FIG> are diagrams of the road transport system <NUM> of <FIG> according to some embodiments. When the road transport system <NUM> is in the field operation mode, the wheel frame <NUM> is latched to a support beam <NUM> of the header <NUM> via two pins <NUM> and <NUM>. When the road transport system <NUM> switches from the field operation mode to the road transport mode, the wheel frame <NUM> is unlatched from the support beam <NUM> according to some embodiments. The pins <NUM> and <NUM> are located at each end of the horizontal axle <NUM> according to some embodiments. When the pins <NUM> and <NUM> are located at a latch position (e.g., the 402a position, the wheel frame <NUM> is latched to the support beam <NUM> according to some embodiments. When the pins <NUM> and <NUM> are located at an unlatched position (e.g., the 402b position, where the pin <NUM> is pulled out and turned over, the wheel frame <NUM> is unlatched from the support beam <NUM> according to some embodiments.

5A-C are diagrams of the road transport system <NUM> of <FIG> according to some embodiments. The road transport system <NUM> includes a pin <NUM> for enabling and disabling rotation between the vertical axle <NUM> and the horizontal axle <NUM> according to some embodiments. When the pin <NUM> is pushed in, the rotational connection between the vertical axle <NUM> and the horizontal axle <NUM> is locked to a fixed connection, so that the horizontal axle <NUM> is not rotatable along the vertical axis according to some embodiments. When the pin <NUM> is pulled out, the rotational connection between the vertical axle <NUM> and the horizontal axle <NUM> is unlocked to be rotatable, so that the horizontal axle <NUM> can be rotated along the vertical axis according to some embodiments. When the road transport system <NUM> switches between road transport and field operation modes, the pin <NUM> is pulled out, and the wheel frame <NUM> is rotated along the vertical axis between road transport and field operation positions according to some embodiments. When the road transport system <NUM> is in either the road transport mode or the field operation mode, the pin <NUM> is pushed in and the wheel frame <NUM> is no longer rotatable along the vertical axis according to some embodiments.

<FIG> are diagrams of the road transport system <NUM> of <FIG> according to some embodiments. When the wheel frame <NUM> is rotated from the field operation position to the road transport position during switching of the road transport system <NUM> from the field operation mode to the road transport mode, the struts <NUM> are rotated up into main frame mounts <NUM> of the header <NUM> according to some embodiments. Pins <NUM> are then installed through both the frame mounts <NUM> and the struts <NUM> according to some embodiments. One end of the pin <NUM> has a fixed stopper 604a and the other end of the pin <NUM> has a rotatable keeper 604b according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, a spring <NUM> is installed at the fixed stopper end 604a to tighten the pin to the mounts <NUM> according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, any suitable tightening mechanisms can be used according to some embodiments. The rotatable keeper 604b is rotated to a longitudinal position along the pin <NUM> when inputting the pin <NUM> through the frame mounts <NUM> and the struts <NUM>, and is rotated <NUM> degrees after going through to keep the pin locked into the frame mounts <NUM> and the struts <NUM> according to some embodiments.

7A-C are diagrams of the road transport system <NUM> of <FIG> according to some embodiments. The road transport system <NUM> includes a light bar <NUM> installed on the header <NUM> according to some embodiments. The light bar <NUM> is located on a first side of the header 102a when the road transport system <NUM> is in the field operation mode according to some embodiments. The light bar <NUM> is relocated on a second side of the header 102b when the road transport system <NUM> is in the road transport mode according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the light bar <NUM> can be install on the header using any suitable mounting and/or fastening mechanisms, such as using R-clips, pins, etc..

<FIG> are diagrams of the road transport system <NUM> of <FIG> according to some embodiments. The tow beam <NUM> includes a rear beam part <NUM> attached to the wheel frame <NUM> and an extension beam part <NUM> stored on the header during the field operation according to some embodiments. When the road transport system <NUM> is switched to the road transport mode, the extension beam part <NUM> is taken out from the header <NUM> and connected to the rear beam part <NUM> according to some embodiments. A storage pin is located on the rear beam part <NUM> and used for securing the connection between the rear beam part <NUM> and the extension beam part <NUM> according to some embodiments.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of a process of converting a road transport system <NUM> of a header <NUM> from a field operation mode to a road transport mode according to some embodiments. The header <NUM> includes two pair of wheels <NUM> and <NUM> installed on two wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> according to some embodiments. At operation <NUM>, the header <NUM> is raised so that the wheels <NUM> and <NUM> of the header <NUM> are lifted up from the ground according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, raising the header <NUM> includes attaching a cable hook <NUM> from the header <NUM> to each wheel frame <NUM> and <NUM> in order to reduce load on the connecting pins between the wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> and the header <NUM>.

At operation <NUM>, the wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> are released from support arms <NUM> of the header <NUM> according to some embodiments. In the field operation mode, a horizontal axle of each wheel frame <NUM> and <NUM> is latched to a support arm <NUM> of the header <NUM> according to some embodiments. Releasing the wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> from the support arms <NUM> includes unlatching the horizontal axles <NUM> from the support arms <NUM> and slowly lowering the wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> until the wheels <NUM> and <NUM> touching the ground using the cable hook <NUM> according to some embodiments. Lowering the wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> includes rotating a vertical axle <NUM> of the wheel frame <NUM> via a rotatable connection between the vertical axle <NUM> and the header <NUM> according to some embodiments.

At operation <NUM>, rotating the wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> from a field operation position to a road transport position includes rotating the vertical axle <NUM> of each wheel frame along a vertical axis <NUM> degrees to the road transport position according to some embodiments. In the filed operation position, the wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> are located longitudinally along the header <NUM> according to some embodiments. In the road transport position, the wheel frames <NUM> and <NUM> are located transversely to the header <NUM> according to some embodiments.

At operation <NUM>, installing struts <NUM> includes installing struts <NUM> from each end of the horizontal axle <NUM> of each wheel frame <NUM> and <NUM> into a frame mount <NUM> and installing a pin <NUM> through both the frame mount <NUM> and the strut <NUM> according to some embodiments.

At operation <NUM>, moving rear light bar <NUM> to a transport position includes moving the rear light bar <NUM> from a first side 102a of the header <NUM> to a second side 102b of the header <NUM> according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, moving the rear light bar <NUM> includes removing one or more R-clips and pins, lifting the light bar out of storage tubes, moving the light bar <NUM> over to the second side 102b of the header, and slid mounting plate over an end shield rear pin according to some embodiments.

At operation <NUM>, connecting a tow beam <NUM> of the header to a towing vehicle includes lifting an extension tow beam part <NUM> from a beam storage location, connecting a rear tow beam part <NUM> to a first end of an extension tow beam part <NUM>, and connecting a second end of the extension tow beam part <NUM> to the towing vehicle according to some embodiments.

At operation <NUM>, connecting transport harness includes inserting a transport connector into a header connector and inserting cable in J-hooks to secure to the tow beam according to some embodiments.

It should be understood that while the use of words such as desirable or suitable utilized in the description above indicate that the feature so described may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as "a," "an," or "at least one" are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim.

It should be noted that certain passages of this disclosure can reference terms such as "first" and "second" in connection with side and end, etc., for purposes of identifying or differentiating one from another or from others. These terms are not intended to merely relate entities (e.g., a first side and a second side) temporally or according to a sequence, although in some cases, these entities can include such a relationship. Nor do these terms limit the number of possible entities (e.g., sides or ends) that can operate within a system or environment.

Claim 1:
A header (<NUM>) of a harvesting machine, the header (<NUM>) comprising a road transport system (<NUM>) with two pairs of wheels (<NUM>, <NUM>) and two wheel frames (<NUM>, <NUM>), each wheel frame (<NUM>, <NUM>) connected to one of the pairs of wheels (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein:
the two wheel frames (<NUM>, <NUM>) are rotatable between a field operation position and a road transport position and each of the two wheel frames (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes a vertical axle (<NUM>) and a horizontal axle (<NUM>), and
a first end (202a) of the vertical axle (<NUM>) is connected to the header (<NUM>) and a second end (202b) of the vertical axle (<NUM>) is connected to a middle point of the horizontal axle (<NUM>),
characterized in that the header (<NUM>) comprises a steering system (<NUM>) connected between at least one of the two pairs of wheels (<NUM>) and a corresponding wheel frame (<NUM>), and that the steering system (<NUM>) includes a kingpin connection between each steered wheel (<NUM>) and an end of the horizontal axle (<NUM>) of the corresponding wheel frame (<NUM>).