Patent ID: 7222475

Claim:
In an agricultural combine having a main hydraulic circuit, a dynamic header float system comprising: a floating header having a frame, a support member supporting the frame from the ground, and a suspension variably supporting the frame from the combine, the suspension having a sub-frame removably attaching to a feederhouse at the front of the combine, a plurality of links movably attaching the frame and the sub-frame, and one or more float cylinders moveably supporting the frame from the sub-frame, the floating header further having a float circuit connecting to each float cylinder, and a float valve connecting the float circuit to the main hydraulic circuit, the float valve adapted to controllably add and subtract hydraulic fluid in the float circuit; a pressure sensor connecting to the float circuit, the pressure sensor adapted to sense hydraulic pressure in the float circuit; and a controller, that when engaged in a header float mode, maintains pressure in the float circuit at a target value by continuously reading pressure sensed by the pressure sensor and commanding the float valve to add and subtract hydraulic fluid in the float circuit in response.