Patent Description:
Combine harvesters (or combines) are multipurpose machines for agricultural harvesting operations including reaping, threshing, and winnowing. Combines can perform harvesting operations on crops such as wheat, oats, corn, soybeans, sunflowers, rice, etc. Combines are equipped with removable headers, and in some implementations, headers can be designed for particular crops. For example, a combine can be equipped with a header optimized for harvesting corn, and then that header can be detached from the combine so that a header optimized for harvesting wheat can be installed on the combine.

Some combine headers (e.g., grain headers) have a full length auger for feeding cut crops to the center of the header. Some combine headers (e.g., draper headers) have a belt system that facilitates feeding the cut crops to the center (see as an example <CIT>). Combine headers that use belt systems can collect dirt, roots, and other materials at the cutterbar and underneath the belts, such that the combine headers would have to be stopped periodically to remove accumulated dirt. The present disclosure provides crop ramp designs for use in a combine header to reduce material buildup and accumulation and to address other problems that may arise while using the combine header.

According to some implementations, the present disclosure provides a crop ramp for use in a combine header. The crop ramp includes: (a) a flat section for coupling the crop ramp to a cutterbar of the combine header; (b) a curved section extending from the flat section, the curved section configured to facilitate transfer of crop to a belt system of the combine header, wherein the crop is transferred in a first direction defined from the flat section to the curved section; and (c) a flange extending from the curved section, the flange configured to hover above the belt system of the combine header to prevent dirt from flowing in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.

According to some implementations, the present disclosure provides a combine header comprising: (a) a cutterbar configured to cut crops; (b) a belt system configured to facilitate movement of the cut crops toward a feeder house; and (c) a plurality of crop ramps. A respective crop ramp of the plurality of crop ramps includes: (i) a flat section for coupling the respective crop ramp to the cutterbar; (ii) a curved section extending from the flat section, the curved section facilitating transfer of the cut crops to the belt system, wherein the cut crops travel along a surface of the curved section in a first direction, the first direction oriented from the flat section towards the curved section; and (iii) a flange extending from the curved section, the flange configured to hover above the belt system to prevent dirt from flowing in a second direction which is oriented opposite to the first direction.

The foregoing and additional aspects and implementations of the present disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments and/or implementations, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided next.

The foregoing and other advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.

While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific implementations have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the present disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.

The present inventions can be embodied in many different forms. Representative embodiments are shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail. The present disclosure is an example or illustration of the principles of the present disclosure, and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the disclosure to the embodiments illustrated. To that extent, elements and limitations that are disclosed, for example, in the Abstract, Summary, and Detailed Description sections, but not explicitly set forth in the claims, should not be incorporated into the claims, singly or collectively, by implication, inference, or otherwise. For purposes of the present detailed description, unless specifically disclaimed, the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and the word "including" means "including without limitation. " Moreover, words of approximation, such as "about," "almost," "substantially," "approximately," and the like, can be used herein to mean "at, near, or nearly at," or "within <NUM>-<NUM>% of," or "within acceptable manufacturing tolerances," or any logical combination thereof, for example.

Combine headers come in different flavors or types. For example, there are grain headers, flex headers, corn headers, pick-up headers, draper headers, etc. Embodiments of the present disclosure will be illustrated with draper headers. Draper headers are merely used as an example, and some embodiments can be applied to a different type of combine header. Compared to grain headers and flex headers, draper headers do not have a full length auger for feeding crops to the center of the header. Instead, draper headers have one or more belts that feed crops from the sides of the header to the center of the header.

<FIG> illustrates a front perspective view of a combine harvester system <NUM> according to some implementations of the present disclosure. The combine harvester system <NUM> includes a combine <NUM> attached to a header <NUM>. In some implementations, the header <NUM> is a draper header. The header <NUM> attaches to the combine <NUM> at a feeder house <NUM>. The combine <NUM> includes wheels <NUM> for propelling the combine harvester system <NUM> in a forward direction while the combine harvester system <NUM> is performing harvesting operations.

In <FIG>, the header <NUM> attached to the combine <NUM> includes a reel <NUM>, a decorative cover <NUM> covering a frame of the header <NUM>, and a bottom deck <NUM> including a plurality of knives or teeth. As the combine harvester system <NUM> travels in the forward direction, the knives on the bottom deck <NUM> cut crops at a certain height. The height where crops are cut is dependent on a relative height of the knives from the ground. As the crops are being cut, the reel <NUM> rotates in a direction that facilitates the cut crops to be collected on the bottom deck <NUM>. The reel <NUM> is supported on the frame of the header <NUM> by one or more supporting bars <NUM>. The reel <NUM> includes a cylindrical member <NUM> with extensions that support a plurality of tines <NUM>. The plurality of tines <NUM> facilitate collecting the cut crops on the bottom deck <NUM>. The bottom deck <NUM> can be a flexible component where parts within the bottom deck <NUM> can move relative to each other. The bottom deck <NUM> includes a feeder system (not shown) for directing the collected cut crops to the feeder house <NUM>. The feeder system in a grain header is an auger, and the feeder system in a draper header are conveyor belts.

<FIG> illustrates a side view of the combine <NUM> with the header <NUM> of <FIG>. The header <NUM> can range from <NUM> feet to <NUM> feet long in a direction transverse to the forward direction of travel of the combine harvester system <NUM>. In some implementations, the header <NUM> can weigh in excess of <NUM>,<NUM> pounds ("lbs"), even reaching <NUM>,<NUM> lbs. Thus, stopping the combine <NUM> and the header <NUM> to remove dirt and other accumulated debris from the bottom deck <NUM> can be an involved process due to the sheer size of the header <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a bottom deck <NUM> of a header (e.g., the header <NUM>) according to some implementations of the present disclosure. The bottom deck <NUM> includes a left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> and a right side belt <NUM>-<NUM>. The left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> is a conveyor belt that moves in a direction indicated by an arrow <NUM>-<NUM>. The right side belt <NUM>-<NUM> is a conveyor belt that moves in a direction indicated by an arrow <NUM>-<NUM>. The bottom deck <NUM> can include a center belt (not shown) that moves in a direction indicated by an arrow <NUM>. The left side belt <NUM>-<NUM>, the right side belt <NUM>-<NUM>, and the center belt form a belt system (or feeder system) for directing collected cut crops to a feeder house (e.g., the feeder house <NUM>).

The bottom deck <NUM> includes a cutterbar <NUM>. Combine headers that use belt systems can collect dirt, roots, and other materials at the cutterbar and underneath the belts, such that the combine headers should be stopped periodically to remove accumulated dirt. The header moves in a direction indicated by an arrow <NUM> when harvesting crops, such that the cutterbar <NUM> on the bottom deck <NUM> cuts crops.

The bottom deck <NUM> includes a plurality of crop ramps attached to the cutterbar <NUM>. The plurality of crop ramps promotes cut crops to be collected on the belt system of the bottom deck <NUM>. The left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> and the right side belt <NUM>-<NUM> move cut crops laterally while the plurality of crop ramps facilitates crop movement onto the lateral belts. Cut crops can move in a direction (e.g., the direction <NUM>) that is substantially orthogonal to the lateral movement of the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> and the right side belt <NUM>-<NUM>. The plurality of crop ramps includes a set of crop ramps on a left side of the bottom deck <NUM> and a set of crop ramps on a right side of the bottom deck <NUM>. The bottom deck <NUM> is shown without crop ramps in the center for illustration purposes so that the cutterbar <NUM> is visible. In some implementations, the plurality of crop ramps includes a set of crop ramps on the center of the bottom deck <NUM>.

The set of crop ramps on the left side includes first left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM>, second left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM>, and third left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM>. The first left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> can be attached at locations on the cutterbar <NUM> near edges of the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM>. The first left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> can aid in evacuating debris caught inside the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM>. The first left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> can thus be provided at the locations on the cutterbar <NUM> which are close to rollers of the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM>. The second left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> can be attached at locations on the cutterbar <NUM> across from where flex arms (not shown) of the bottom deck <NUM> are located. The third left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> fill in locations on the left side of the bottom deck <NUM> that are not taken by the first left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> and the second left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM>.

Similarly, the set of crop ramps on the right side includes first right side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM>, second right side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM>, and third right side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM>. The first right side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> can be attached at locations on the cutterbar <NUM> near edges of the right side belt <NUM>-<NUM> and can aid in evacuating debris caught inside the right side belt <NUM>-<NUM>. The first right side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> can thus be provided at the locations on the cutterbar <NUM> which are close to rollers of the right side belt <NUM>-<NUM>. The second right side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> can be attached at locations on the cutterbar <NUM> across from where flex arms (not shown) of the bottom deck <NUM> are located. The third right side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> fill in locations on the right side of the bottom deck <NUM> that are not taken by the first right side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> and the second right side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM>.

Although discussed in connection with three types of crops ramps on each side of the bottom deck <NUM>, in some implementations, the bottom deck <NUM> is only provided with one type of crop ramp, two types of crop ramps, four types of crop ramps, five types of crop ramps, etc. Additionally, arrangement of the types of crop ramps can vary in some implementations. <FIG> is merely provided as an example arrangement for the different types of crop ramps.

<FIG> illustrates crop ramps on the left side of the bottom deck <NUM> of <FIG>. The third left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> can be arranged in consecutive positions along the cutterbar <NUM> to form one or more third crop ramp sets <NUM> that include a plurality of third left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM>. Each of the one or more third crop ramp sets <NUM> is separated by one second left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM>. A similar arrangement of crop ramps can be provided on the right side of the crop ramp and is not shown herein.

<FIG> illustrates a side view of part of the left side of the bottom deck <NUM> of <FIG> according to some implementations of the present disclosure. The first left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> is shown next to other left side crop ramps (e.g., the second left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM>). The other left side crop ramps include a wall that substantially limits a volume between the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> and the other left side crop ramps. The wall is positioned such that the wall overhangs or is flush with the cutterbar <NUM> so that any debris or material that enters the volume between the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> and the wall falls directly down and does not sit and accumulate on the cutterbar.

The first left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> does not have the wall, and hence, there is a larger volume between the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> and the first left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM>. The first left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> is also shown to hover and/or substantially touch the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> to prevent dirt and other debris from moving from the belt into the volume between the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> and the first left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM>. Each of the crop ramps includes this feature of substantially toughing the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> to prevent material from entering a volume between the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> and a respective crop ramp.

<FIG> illustrates a flex arm <NUM> being connected to the cutterbar <NUM> underneath one of the second left side crop ramps <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>, according to some implementations of the present disclosure. The second left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> is provided in on the cutterbar <NUM> at a location across from the flex arm <NUM>. Flex arms (including the flex arm <NUM>) are provided under the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> such that the flex arms provide a shaping to the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM>. The shaping prevents the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> from collapsing at locations that are distant from the rollers of the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM>. The flex arms also allow the bottom deck <NUM> to be flexible such that the bottom deck <NUM> can contour a surface or terrain that the header is tracing during harvesting. That is one flex arm can be at a higher level compared to another flex arm depending on the terrain. Each of the crop ramps are provided as individual pieces to accommodate such changes in terrain such that bends in the cutterbar <NUM> can be translated to the crop ramps. The crop ramps can interlock, allowing each neighboring piece to move in a direction dictated by the flex arms.

The flex arm <NUM> is attached to the cutterbar <NUM> using a casting <NUM>. The flex arm <NUM> fits within the casting <NUM> and is attached to the casting <NUM> with a bolt <NUM>. The casting <NUM> includes extensions <NUM> that fit under the second left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM>. The extensions are secured to the cutterbar <NUM> using bolts <NUM>, and the second left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> includes one or more enclosures for receiving the extensions <NUM>. Although illustrated as using the casting <NUM> with the extensions <NUM>, in some implementations, the flex arm <NUM> is fashioned as a monolith to have a shape of the casting <NUM> and the extensions <NUM> for direct coupling to the cutterbar <NUM> and the second left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM>.

As provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure, some crop ramps include walls and others do not, and some can include spacing for accommodating flex arms. Furthermore, the crop ramps can interlock with each other to simulate a continuous part that allows movement within the interlocking regions such that the cutterbar can contour or trace a surface where crops are being cut. Interlocking crop ramps also prevent cut crops being transported by the lateral belts (e.g., the left side belt <NUM>-<NUM> or the right side belt <NUM>-<NUM>) from hairpinning on the crop ramps while the cut crops are being transported to the center of the header. The following description discusses examples of crop ramps for at least providing the aforementioned features.

<FIG> illustrate different views of a first type of crop ramp <NUM> according to some implementations of the present disclosure. <FIG> provides a back perspective view the first type of crop ramp <NUM> from one side. <FIG> provides a back perspective view of the first type of crop ramp <NUM> from an opposite side. <FIG> provides a right side view of the first type of crop ramp <NUM>. <FIG> provides a bottom perspective view of the first type of crop ramp <NUM>. The first type of crop ramp <NUM> can be described in sections that include a flat section <NUM>, a curved section <NUM>, and a flange <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the flat section <NUM> includes a top surface 702a (and a bottom surface 702b as illustrated in <FIG>). The flat section <NUM> facilitates coupling the crop ramp <NUM> to a cutterbar (e.g., the cutterbar <NUM> of <FIG>). The flat section <NUM> includes one or more holes <NUM> for enabling the coupling of the crop ramp <NUM> to the cutterbar. When the crop ramp <NUM> is coupled to the cutterbar, the bottom surface 702b (as illustrated in <FIG>) of the crop ramp <NUM> is in contact with the cutterbar.

The curved section <NUM> includes a top arched surface 706a and a top flat surface 708a (and a bottom arched surface 706b and a bottom flat surface 708b as illustrated in <FIG>). The curved section <NUM> extends from the flat section <NUM> and facilitates transfer of cut crops to a belt system. Cut crops are transferred in a direction defined from the flat section <NUM> to the curved section <NUM>.

The flange <NUM> is a lip that extends from the curved section <NUM>. The flange <NUM> includes a top surface 710a and a bottom surface 710b. The flange <NUM> is configured to hover above a belt (e.g., the right side belt <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>) to prevent dirt or other debris from flowing in a direction defined from the curved section <NUM> to the flat section <NUM>. The flange <NUM> is angled such that the top surface 710a hinders cut crops or other material from flowing in the direction, thus promoting the cut crops to stay on the belt.

In some implementations, one side of the crop ramp <NUM> includes a section <NUM> for providing a groove <NUM> (as illustrated in <FIG>). The groove <NUM> can contour the curved section <NUM> and/or the flange <NUM> on the one side of the crop ramp <NUM>. In some implementations, another side of the crop ramp <NUM> includes a section <NUM> that fits inside a groove of a neighboring crop ramp. For example, the crop ramp <NUM> is a crop ramp arranged in the middle of two crop ramps such that the crop ramp <NUM> has a first neighboring crop ramp and a second neighboring crop ramp. The groove <NUM> facilitates connecting the first neighboring crop ramp such that a section of the first neighboring crop ramp fits into the groove <NUM> to interlock the crop ramp <NUM> and the first neighboring crop ramp. The section <NUM> of the crop ramp <NUM> then fits into a groove of the second neighboring crop ramp to interlock the crop ramp <NUM> and the second neighboring crop ramp. Since the groove <NUM> is provided in the section <NUM>, a top surface of the section <NUM> is slightly elevated compared to the top flat surface 708a, the top arched surface 706a, and the top surface 710a. As such, in some implementations, surfaces of interlocked neighboring crop ramps have a step where a groove of a first crop ramp transitions to a top flat (or arched) surface of a second crop ramp.

In some implementations, the crop ramp <NUM> includes a vertical wall with wall surfaces 714a and 714b. The vertical wall is provided at the curved section <NUM>. The vertical wall can be provided at any position on the curved section <NUM> along the bottom arched surface 706b. In some implementations, the vertical wall is provided at a position on the curved section <NUM> at the bottom flat surface 708b. The wall surface 714a faces the belt while the wall surface 714b faces away from the belt. The vertical wall reduces an effective volume underneath the crop ramp that is exposed to the belt. That is, a vertical wall positioned closer to the flat section <NUM> allows more volume underneath the crop ramp to be exposed to the belt than a vertical wall positioned closer to the flange. In some implementations, the vertical wall surface 714a is flush with the cutterbar such that a combined length of the flat section <NUM> and a position of the vertical wall is about a width of the cutterbar. In some implementations, the combined length is greater than the width of the cutterbar such that the vertical wall overhangs the cutterbar.

The curved section <NUM> can further include one or more sidewalls <NUM> for providing structural support to the vertical wall. The crop ramp <NUM> is shown to have four equally spaced sidewalls <NUM>. In some implementations, the sidewalls <NUM> are not equally spaced. In some implementations, the number of sidewalls <NUM> is two. The one or more sidewalls <NUM> extend from the bottom arched surface 706b to meet the vertical wall at the wall surface 714b. The vertical wall can have a trapezoidal cross sectional area such that the vertical wall does not extend into the section <NUM> (as illustrated in <FIG>) but does extend into the section <NUM>. Angles of the vertical wall on the trapezoidal edges can be chosen such that two crop ramps can be removed together. That is, two crop ramps can wedge in and out during servicing. Having this feature prevents a technician from having to remove an extensive and unnecessary amount of crop ramps during servicing. In some implementations, the vertical wall has a rectangular cross sectional area such that when two neighboring crop ramps are interlocked, vertical walls of the crop ramps abut each other.

Referring to <FIG>, the crop ramp <NUM> can further include a texture provided between the curved section <NUM> and the flange <NUM>. The texture can facilitate trapping dirt particles underneath the flange <NUM> to prevent the dirt particles from continuing further in a direction towards to the walls surface 714a. In some implementations, the texture includes a plurality of stiffening ribs or a plurality of panels <NUM> extruding from the bottom surface 710b of the flange <NUM>. The plurality of panels <NUM> can be configured to structurally support the flange <NUM> with the curved section <NUM>. The plurality of panels <NUM> can communicate stresses on the flange <NUM> exerted by cut crops or debris on the belt to the curved section <NUM> to prevent excess strain on the flange <NUM>. Although the texture is shown as the plurality of panels <NUM>, other texture designs are possible, for example a cross-hatched design, straight instead of angled panels, etc..

The crop ramp <NUM> is an example of the third right side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM>. The third left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> differs from the third right side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> in that the section <NUM> and the section <NUM> are switched. For example, if the third right side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> has the section <NUM> with the groove <NUM> on its left side, then the third left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> has a section with a groove on its right side. Each of the plurality of panels <NUM> is shown in <FIG> extending from the bottom surface 710b at an angle away from the groove <NUM>. The third left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> should keep a same orientation with a plurality of panels provided at an angle away from the groove on its right side.

In some implementations, a depth of a crop ramp (e.g., the first type of crop ramp <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>) is about <NUM>. That is, the combined length of the flat section <NUM>, the curved section <NUM>, and the flange <NUM> is about <NUM> when measured from the side profile in <FIG>. In some implementations, a height of a crop ramp (e.g., the first type of crop ramp <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>) is about <NUM>. In some implementations, a width of a crop ramp (e.g., a width spanning the section <NUM> and the section <NUM>, inclusive, as depicted in <FIG>) is about <NUM>. In some implementations, a crop ramp fits into a volume defined by <NUM> by <NUM> by <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate different views of a second type of crop ramp <NUM> according to some implementations of the present disclosure. <FIG> provides a perspective view the second type of crop ramp <NUM> from one side. <FIG> provides a perspective view of the second type of crop ramp <NUM> from an opposite side. <FIG> provides a right side view of the second type of crop ramp <NUM>. <FIG> provides a bottom perspective view of the second type of crop ramp <NUM>. Similar to the crop ramp <NUM>, the second type of crop ramp <NUM> can be described in sections that include a flat section <NUM>, a curved section <NUM>, and a flange <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the flat section <NUM> includes a top surface 802a (and a bottom surface 802b as illustrated in <FIG>). The flat section <NUM> facilitates coupling the crop ramp <NUM> to a cutterbar (e.g., the cutterbar <NUM> of <FIG>) and to a flex arm (e.g., the flex arm <NUM> of <FIG>). The flat section <NUM> includes one or more holes <NUM> for enabling the coupling of the crop ramp <NUM> to the cutterbar and the flex arm. The flat section <NUM> has a height <NUM>. The height <NUM> is provided because when the flat section <NUM> is coupled to the cutterbar, the flat section <NUM> forms an enclosure with a height dictated by the height <NUM>. In some implementations, the height <NUM> is about <NUM>. When the crop ramp <NUM> is coupled to the cutterbar and the flex arm, the bottom surface 802b (as illustrated in <FIG>) of the crop ramp <NUM> is in contact with the cutterbar and the flex arm (or a casting coupled to the flex arm, as shown in <FIG>).

Similar to <FIG>, the curved section <NUM> of <FIG> includes a top arched surface 806a and a top flat surface 808a (and a bottom arched surface 806b and a bottom flat surface 808b as illustrated in <FIG>). The curved section <NUM> extends from the flat section <NUM> and facilitates transfer of cut crops to a belt system. The flange <NUM> is a lip that extends from the curved section <NUM>. The flange <NUM> includes a top surface 810a and a bottom surface 810b. The flange <NUM> is angled such that the top surface 810a hinders cut crops or other material from moving from the belt back onto the crop ramp <NUM>.

The crop ramp <NUM> can include a section <NUM> for providing a groove <NUM> (as illustrated in <FIG>). The crop ramp <NUM> can include a section <NUM> that fits inside a groove of a neighboring crop ramp. The section <NUM> and the section <NUM> are substantially similar to the section <NUM> and the section <NUM>, respectively, as discussed in connection with <FIG>.

In some implementations, the crop ramp <NUM> includes a vertical wall with wall surfaces 814a and 814b. The wall surface 814a faces the belt while the wall surface 814b faces away from the belt. The vertical wall is provided at the curved section <NUM>. Similar to <FIG>, the vertical wall of <FIG> can be provided at any position on the curved section <NUM> along the bottom arched surface 806b or the bottom flat surface 808b. The vertical wall can be patterned as shown <FIG> and <FIG> to facilitate coupling of the crop ramp <NUM> to a flex arm. For example, compared to the vertical wall shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the vertical wall in <FIG> and <FIG> is cut out to provide the flex arm, or extensions of a casting (as illustrated in <FIG>), access to the flat section <NUM> of the crop ramp <NUM>.

The curved section <NUM> can further include one or more sidewalls <NUM> for providing structural support to the vertical wall. The one or more sidewalls <NUM> extending from the bottom arched surface 806b to meet the vertical wall at the wall surface 814b. The crop ramp <NUM> can further include a texture provided between the curved section <NUM> and the flange <NUM>. In some implementations, the texture includes a plurality of panels <NUM> which are the similar to the plurality of panels <NUM> previously described in connection to <FIG>.

The crop ramp <NUM> is an example of the second right side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM>. The second left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> differs from the second right side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> in that the section <NUM> and the section <NUM> are switched. For example, if the second right side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> has the section <NUM> with the groove <NUM> on its left side, then the second left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> has a section with a groove on its right side.

<FIG> illustrate different views of a third type of crop ramp <NUM> according to some implementations of the present disclosure. <FIG> provides a perspective view the third type of crop ramp <NUM> from one side. <FIG> provides a perspective view of the third type of crop ramp <NUM> from an opposite side. <FIG> provides a right side view of the third type of crop ramp <NUM>. <FIG> provides a bottom perspective view of the third type of crop ramp <NUM>. Similar to the crop ramp <NUM>, the third type of crop ramp <NUM> can be described in sections that include a flat section <NUM>, a curved section <NUM>, and a flange <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the flat section <NUM> includes a top surface 902a (and a bottom surface 902b as illustrated in <FIG>). The flat section <NUM> also includes one or more holes <NUM> for allowing the coupling of the crop ramp <NUM> to a cutterbar. The flat section <NUM> is substantially similar to or the same as the flat section <NUM> previously described in connection with <FIG>. The flange <NUM> is a lip that extends from the curved section <NUM>. The flange <NUM> includes a top surface 910a and a bottom surface 910b. The flange <NUM> is substantially similar to or the same as the flange <NUM> as previously described in connection with <FIG>.

The curved section <NUM> includes a top arched surface 906a and a top flat surface 908a (and a bottom arched surface 906b and a bottom flat surface 908b as illustrated in <FIG>). The curved section <NUM> extends from the flat section <NUM> and facilitates transfer of cut crops to a belt system. The crop ramp <NUM> can further include a texture provided as a plurality of panels. In some implementations, the crop ramp <NUM> includes a section <NUM> for providing a groove <NUM> (as illustrated in <FIG>) and a section <NUM> that fits inside a groove of a neighboring crop ramp. The section <NUM> and the section <NUM> are substantially similar to or the same as the section <NUM> and the section <NUM>, respectively, as previously described in connection with <FIG>.

The crop ramp <NUM> does not include a vertical wall like the crop ramp <NUM> or the crop ramp <NUM>. The crop ramp <NUM> is an example of the first right side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM>. The first left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> differs from the first right side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> in that the section <NUM> and the section <NUM> are switched. For example, if the first right side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> has the section <NUM> with the groove <NUM> on its left side, then the first left side crop ramp <NUM>-<NUM> has a section with a groove on its right side.

Claim 1:
A crop ramp (<NUM>) for use in a combine header, the crop ramp comprising:
a flat section (<NUM>) for coupling the crop ramp (<NUM>) to a cutterbar (<NUM>) of the combine header;
a curved section (<NUM>) extending from the flat section (<NUM>), the curved section (<NUM>) configured to facilitate transfer of crop to a belt system of the combine header, wherein the crop is transferred in a first direction defined from the flat section (<NUM>) to the curved section (<NUM>); the crop ramp (<NUM>) being characterised in that it further comprises
a flange (<NUM>) extending from the curved section (<NUM>), the flange (<NUM>) configured to hover above the belt system of the combine header to prevent dirt from flowing in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.