Patent Description:
An agricultural harvester e.g., a plant cutting machine, such as, but not limited to, a combine or a windrower, generally includes a header operable for severing and collecting plant or crop material as the harvester is driven over a crop field. The header has a plant cutting mechanism, e.g., a cutter bar, for severing the plants or crops via, for example, an elongate sickle mechanism that reciprocates sidewardly relative to a non-reciprocating guard structure. After crops are cut, they flow over crop ramps whereupon they are collected inside the header and transported via a conveyor such as a draper conveyor and/or auger conveyor towards a feederhouse located centrally inside the header.

Conventional agricultural harvester headers often include opposed lateral draper conveyors, i.e., endless belt conveyors, extending widthwise of the header that deliver cut crop to a central draper conveyor extending in the fore and aft direction of the header which delivers cut crop received from the lateral draper conveyors to the feederhouse. Some headers have flex arms pivotably connected to a rear of the header frame or chassis and extending between the upper and lower runs of the draper conveyors. The flex arms may be actuated by hydraulic cylinders or the like to selectively raise and lower portions of the cutter bar thereby flexing the cutter bar in order to cut crops of various heights across the width of the header.

The flex arms are spaced apart widthwise along the header and are pivotably connected along their sides to channel supports or beams that extend in the longitudinal direction of the draper conveyors. The upper surfaces of the channels are oftentimes covered with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) bearings or similar friction-reducing strips that reduce belt wear and drag as the draper conveyor moves over the channels. However, notwithstanding the presence of friction reducing bearings on the channels, it has been observed that when a flex arm is raised in relation to the flex arms on either side of it, the bottom surface of the upper run of the draper belt drives into the leading edges of the friction reducing bearings which creates, heat, drag and wear at these points which, in turn, causes damage to the belt as well as the friction reducing bearings.

Prior art document <CIT> discloses a header for an agricultural harvester comprising a frame, a cutter bar, a draper belt, and a cutter bar support sub-assembly connected to the frame. The cutter bar support sub-assembly generally includes a draper support sub-assembly and a support arm subassembly. The draper support sub-assembly is pivotably connected to the support arm sub-assembly and pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the support arm sub-assembly. The draper belt assembly is configured to pivot in unison with the cutter bar.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure provides a header for an agricultural harvester including an endless belt conveyor and a flex arm disposed between upper and lower runs of the endless belt conveyor. The flex arm includes an elongate beam having an upper surface, and a roller extending above the upper surface of the elongate beam for contacting the upper run of the endless belt conveyor.

According to an aspect, the roller raises the belt conveyor above the upper surface of the elongate beam, thereby minimizing contact between the upper run of the endless belt conveyor and friction reducing strips or bearings situated atop channel supports connected at opposite sides of the elongate beam. The resultant construction minimizes wear, heat and drag on the endless belt conveyor and the friction reducing bearings.

Other features and advantages of the subject disclosure will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the exemplary embodiments.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the subject disclosure, there are shown in the drawings exemplary embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the subject disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:.

Reference will now be made in detail to the various exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to <FIG>, a representative agricultural harvester <NUM>, which, e.g., may be a combine harvester, is shown. The harvester includes a header <NUM> incorporating a cut crop barrier interface or crop ramp <NUM> disposed between an elongate sidewardly extending cutter bar <NUM> and an elongate, sidewardly extending, endless belt draper conveyor <NUM> of the header <NUM>.

The header <NUM> comprises a frame <NUM>, a portion of which is shown extending forwardly from a rear support frame structure <NUM> to the cutter bar <NUM>. The frame <NUM> can have a variety of forms, but will generally comprise a chassis-like structure for supporting an elongate sidewardly extending cutter bar assembly <NUM> comprising the cutter bar <NUM>, as well as at least one elongate sidewardly extending draper assembly <NUM> comprising the draper conveyor <NUM>, i.e., an endless belt conveyor, and other aspects of the header.

As illustrated, the header <NUM> includes two draper assemblies 112A, 112B operable for conveying cut crop convergingly to a central conveyor <NUM>, as generally denoted by arrows A, as the harvester moves in a forward direction denoted by arrow F through a field while cutting the crops. The central conveyor <NUM>, in turn, conveys the cut crop into a feederhouse <NUM> of the harvester <NUM>, which conveys the crop into the harvester for threshing and separation of crop therefrom.

The cutter bar assembly <NUM> generally includes a sideward, longitudinally extending knife guard having a plurality of forward projecting fingers. A reel <NUM> extends across the header just above cutter bar assembly <NUM>, and operates to feed the crop to the cutter bar for cutting.

A plurality of flex arms <NUM> are situated beneath the upper run of the endless belt draper conveyor <NUM> and are spaced apart widthwise along the header. As described in greater detail below, the flex arms <NUM> are connected to a plurality of channel supports <NUM> that are located at opposite sides of the flex arms. An aft end of each of the flex arms <NUM> is pivotably mounted to the frame <NUM> of the header. As shown in <FIG>, the header further comprises an actuator <NUM> for pivoting the aft end of an elongate beam <NUM> of the flex arm and raising and lowering a fore end of the elongate beam. Referring again to <FIG>, fore ends of the flex arms are connected to the cutter bar <NUM> such that upward and downward movement of the flex arms causes flexing of the cutter bar in order cut crops of various heights across the width of the header.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown the endless belt draper conveyor <NUM> having upper and lower runs 106a and 106b, respectively. A flex arm <NUM> is disposed between the upper and lower runs of the endless belt conveyor. According to an exemplary embodiment, the flex arm comprises the elongate beam <NUM> which has an upper surface <NUM>, and a first exemplary embodiment of a roller <NUM> extending above the upper surface of the elongate beam for contacting the upper run 106a of the endless belt conveyor. The roller <NUM> is configured to roll in a direction of movement of the endless belt conveyor <NUM>.

The elongate beam <NUM> is constructed as a rigid member. The elongate beam incudes a through hole <NUM> and a portion of the roller extends upwardly through the through hole. According to an aspect, the flex arm <NUM> comprises a plurality of rollers <NUM> spaced apart along a length of the elongate beam in order to provide support across the width of the upper run 106a of the endless belt conveyor <NUM>. Although illustrated as having three rollers <NUM> located generally adjacent channel supports <NUM>, described below, attached to the elongate beam, the flex arm may carry as few as one roller, two rollers, or four or more rollers as may be necessary to adequately support the upper run 106a as it traverses the elongate beam and the ends of the channel supports.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the ends of adjacent channel supports <NUM> are pitvotably attached to opposite sides of the elongate beam <NUM>. Such pivotable attachment can be achieved by suitable fasteners <NUM> such as pins, rivets, bolts, or the like, that pass through openings <NUM> in flanges <NUM> (<FIG>) extending laterally from opposite sides of the elongate beam as well as through unillustrated openings provided in the ends of the channel supports <NUM>. Constructed and arranged as such, the channel supports <NUM> provide support for the upper run 106a of the endless conveyor belt as it moves about a respective draper assembly 112A or 112B. In order to minimize heat and drag as the endless conveyor belt <NUM> moves along the channel supports <NUM>, each channel support can include a friction reducing strip or bearing <NUM> along an upper surface thereof. According to an aspect, the friction reducing bearing <NUM> is a polymeric bearing, e.g., an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene bearing, or the like, and the roller is desirably positioned adjacent the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene bearing or between or directly between the channel supports about opposite lateral sides of the elongate beam. Further, in all exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure, a top surface of the roller is above an uppermost surface of the elongate beam <NUM> and an uppermost surface of the channel support <NUM> (including the friction reducing bearing <NUM>).

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, there is shown a connection between a flex arm <NUM> and another exemplary embodiment of a roller <NUM>. The flex arm <NUM> comprises an elongate beam <NUM> configured, e.g., as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The elongate beam may be constructed as an elongated plate or, as illustrated, a hollow elongated member. The roller <NUM> extends above an upper surface <NUM> of the elongate beam for contacting the upper run, e.g., 106a, of an endless belt conveyor. The elongate beam comprises a support <NUM> for rotatably supporting the roller <NUM>. As illustrated, the support may be constructed as a pair of pillow block-like supports located beneath the upper surface of the elongate beam at opposite ends of the roller, whereby an axis "X" of rotation of the roller is below the upper surface of the elongate beam.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, there is shown a connection between a flex arm <NUM> and another exemplary embodiment of a roller <NUM>. The flex arm <NUM> comprises an elongate beam <NUM>. The elongate beam may be constructed as an elongated plate or, as illustrated, a hollow elongated member. The roller <NUM> extends above an upper surface <NUM> of the elongate beam for contacting the upper run, e.g., 106a, of an endless belt conveyor. The elongate beam comprises a support <NUM> for rotatably supporting the roller <NUM>. As illustrated, the support <NUM> may comprise a downwardly directed flange <NUM> located beneath an upper surface of the elongate beam. The flange may be welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the elongate beam. According to an aspect, the support further comprises a fastener <NUM> such as a bolt, pin, rivet, or the like, which passes through the roller <NUM> and an opening <NUM> in the flange <NUM> for receiving the fastener <NUM>. If the fastener <NUM> is a bolt then the flange opening <NUM> can have internal threading configured to receive the externally threaded shaft of the bolt. Alternatively, the flange opening <NUM> can be smooth-walled such that the bolt may threadedly engage with a nut <NUM>. In either event, the roller <NUM> is captured for rotation between an enlarged head <NUM> of the bolt and the flange <NUM>, whereby an axis "X" of rotation of the roller is below the upper surface of the elongate beam.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, there is shown a connection between a flex arm <NUM> and another exemplary embodiment of a roller <NUM>. The flex arm <NUM> comprises an elongate beam <NUM>. The elongate beam may be constructed as an elongated plate or, as illustrated, a hollow elongated member. The roller <NUM> extends above an upper surface <NUM> of the elongate beam for contacting the upper run, e.g., 106a, of an endless belt conveyor. According to this exemplary embodiment, the roller <NUM> is constructed as a ball bearing and preferably includes a plurality of ball bearings spaced apart along the length of the elongate beam <NUM>. The elongate beam comprises a support <NUM> for rotatably supporting the roller <NUM>. As illustrated, the support <NUM> may comprise a plate <NUM> located beneath an upper surface of the elongate beam. The plate <NUM> is desirably provided with a truncated semispherical surface <NUM> which cooperates with a corresponding truncated semispherical surface <NUM> provided in the elongate beam <NUM> to capture the ball bearing roller <NUM> therein and permit rolling of the of the ball bearing as the upper run of the endless belt conveyor passes thereover. The support <NUM> further comprises at least one fastener <NUM> such as a bolt, pin, rivet, or the like, which passes through an opening <NUM> in the elongate beam <NUM> and an opening <NUM> in the plate <NUM>. According to an aspect, the support comprises a pair of fasteners <NUM> disposed on opposite sides of the roller <NUM>. If the fastener <NUM> is a bolt then the shaft of bolt may threadedly engage with a nut <NUM> to clamp the plate <NUM> to the elongate beam <NUM>, whereby the ball bearing roller <NUM> is retained for rolling between the truncated semispherical surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> of the plate and the elongate beam, whereby an axis "X" of rotation of the roller is below the upper surface <NUM> of the elongate beam.

In all exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure, the various rollers described herein may be formed from any suitable durable material such as a metal, e.g., steel, or a polymer, e.g., ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

Claim 1:
A header (<NUM>) for an agricultural harvester (<NUM>) comprising an endless belt conveyor (<NUM>) and a flex arm (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) disposed between upper and lower runs (106a, 106b) of the endless belt conveyor, the flex arm comprising:
an elongate beam (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having an upper surface (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the header (<NUM>) is characterised in that it further comprises a roller (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extending above the upper surface of the elongate beam for contacting the upper run of the endless belt conveyor.