Patent ID: 8201388

Claim:
A header height sensor for a harvesting head of an agricultural combine, the header height sensor comprising: an elongate sensor arm ( 112 ) having an upper end ( 150 ) that defines an aperture ( 160 ) configured to receive a shaft ( 154 ) and a lower end; a reversing joint ( 114 ) that comprises a housing ( 152 ) configured to receive the upper end of the elongate sensor arm ( 112 ); the housing ( 152 ) including a mechanical stop ( 174 ) to prevent movement of the elongate sensor arm ( 112 ) with respect to the housing ( 152 ) in a first direction beyond a first limit of travel, the reversing joint ( 114 ) further comprising a pair of springs ( 162 , 164 ) disposed on either side of the upper end ( 150 ), the pair of springs ( 162 , 164 ) being coupled to the housing ( 152 ) and to the upper end ( 150 ) to push the upper end ( 150 ) against the mechanical stop ( 174 ), wherein a shaft ( 154 ) having first and second ends extends through both springs ( 162 , 164 ) and through the aperture ( 160 ) in the elongate sensor arm ( 112 ), and is supported on the housing ( 152 ) at the first and second ends; a bracket ( 106 ) configured to be fixed to a point ( 100 ) and configured to support an upper portion of the reversing joint ( 114 ) for relative rotational movement about a laterally extending longitudinal axis ( 196 ); and a rotary position sensor ( 116 ) coupled to the bracket ( 106 ) and coupled to reversing joint ( 114 ) such that movement of the reversing joint ( 114 ) with respect to the rotary position sensor ( 116 ) causes an electrical signal from rotary position sensor ( 116 ) to change as a function of the relative rotation, and wherein the mechanical stop ( 174 ) abuts the elongate sensor arm ( 112 ) on three sides of the sensor arm.