Patent ID: 7805921

Claim:
An agricultural harvesting machine, comprising: a feeder housing; and a cutting platform attached to said feeder housing, said cutting platform including: at least one platform section, each said platform section having a frame, a cutterbar assembly at a leading edge of each said platform section; at least one reel; and at least one pair of reel support arms, each said pair of reel support arms associated with a corresponding said reel; wherein each said platform section includes a plurality of float arms pivotally coupled with said frame, and an endless belt carried by said plurality of float arms, a plurality of float cylinders, each said float cylinder associated with a respective said float arm and including a passive stop; and a plurality of excessive localized deflection indicators, each said indicator being associated with the cutterbar assembly and with a respective float arm and comprising one of a pressure sensor and a position indicator associated with a respective said float cylinder; wherein each of said pair of reel support arms is configured to be movable by a controller toward and away from said cutter bar assembly dependent upon a state of said plurality of excessive localized deflection indicators.