Patent ID: 8635842

Claim:
A row crop header for a harvester, comprising: a subframe removably coupleable to a feeder housing of a harvester, the feeder housing having a central longitudinal axis; a pivot assembly supported by said subframe, said pivot assembly having at least one pivot axis disposed substantially parallel with the feeder housing central longitudinal axis when coupled thereto; a first header section having a plurality of fore and aft row extending units and a first cross-auger section, said first header section pivotably movable about said at least one pivot axis between a raised position and a lowered position; a second header section having a plurality of fore and aft extending row units and a second cross-auger section, said second header section pivotably movable about said at least one pivot axis between a raised position and a lowered position; at least one actuator coupled to selectively pivotally move said first and second header sections about said at least one pivot axis between said raised and lowered positions; a cross-auger center suspension assembly rotatably supporting one end of said first cross-auger section and one end of said second cross-auger section as said first and second header sections pivotally move between said raised and lowered positions; wherein said subframe comprises; a top horizontal member, a bottom horizontal member, a left vertical member, and a right vertical member defining an interior frame opening having dimensions substantially corresponding in size to the feeder housing; left and right slide plates fixed to said subframe; left and right slide brackets fixed to said first and second header sections respectively, said slide brackets disposed to overlap with and slideably receive said left and right slide plates respectively, whereby said overlapping slide brackets and said slide plates cooperate to resist said first and second header sections from tending to tip forward causing bending stress on said pivot assembly.