Patent ID: 8245489

Claim:
A header assembly for attachment to a combine harvester comprising: a header having a cutter bar for cutting standing crop and a crop transport device for transporting the cut crop inwardly from ends of the header to a collection location for feeding to the combine harvester; an adapter for mounting the header on a feeder house of the combine harvester; the adapter being arranged such that the crop at the collection location is fed through the adapter to the feeder house so as to enter the combine harvester; the adapter being arranged for connection to the feeder house such that the header is carried by the adapter so as to be supported by the feeder house for movement of the header with the combine harvester over the field to be harvested; at least two ground engaging gauge wheels on the header, one on each side of the adapter; each gauge wheel being mounted on the header for up and down adjustment movement of a position of said each gauge wheel relative to the header to control the height of the cutter bar of the header from the ground; link operable by a control switch arranged to be located in a cab of the combine harvester to adjust the position of the gauge wheel relative to the header to a required position so as to adjust a height of cut of the cutter bar; wherein the gauge wheels are mounted on the header such that, when adjusted to the required position, the gauge wheels are fixed relative to the header substantially without any floating movement relative thereto; a suspension system for carrying the header on the adapter; the suspension system including at least one first mechanical spring connected to a first side of the adapter and at least one second mechanical spring connected to a second side of the adapter which first and second springs flex independently to allow movement of the header at least upwardly and downwardly relative to the adapter; wherein said at least one first and said at least one second springs are connected between the adapter and the header; the suspension system being arranged such that a major part of the weight of the header is carried on the feeder house and a smaller part is carried on the gauge wheels; a distance sensor for sensing changes in distance between a point on the header and a point on the adapter as the header moves upwardly and downwardly relative to the adapter and for generating an active distance signal proportional to the sensed changes in said distance; and an automatic header height control system which receives the signal from the distance sensor and acts to raise and lower the feeder house in response to the signal from the distance sensor so as to raise and lower the feeder house relative to the header and attempt to maintain said distance at a required set value.