Patent ID: 8745964

Claim:
A swather comprising: a crop header for cutting a standing crop comprising: a header frame; a cutter extending across a front cutter bar of the header frame for cutting the crop; and a transport system operable to transport the crop to a central discharge opening of the header so as to form a swath; a tractor for carrying the header comprising: a tractor frame having a first end and a second end; ground wheels for supporting the tractor in movement across the ground including a pair of transversely spaced first wheels at the first end; a mounting assembly at the first end of the tractor frame for supporting the header; a lift arrangement for raising and lowering the mounting assembly; the first ground wheels and the mounting assembly being arranged such that the swath when discharged from the central discharge opening passes between the first ground wheels and components of the mounting assembly so as to be deposited as a swath behind the tractor; and a spring float assembly connecting the header frame to the mounting assembly so as to allow floating movement of the header relative to the mounting assembly of the tractor; the spring float assembly including at least one resilient spring which flexes in response to the floating movement; the spring float assembly including a disconnect coupling arrangement for connection to the mounting assembly arranged when disconnected such that the spring float assembly including said at least one resilient spring remains attached to the header.