Header suspension

Claim 2

In combination with a tractor and a header having crop cutting means, a suspension connecting said header to said tractor and comprising two suspension assemblies spaced-apart laterally of the direction of cutting movement, each suspension assembly having upper and lower support links, said upper and lower support links being pivotally connected at respective ends to said header and said tractor and being in vertically spaced and generally parallel relation, said upper links each being formed by two portions moveable lengthwise in relation to one another and having resilient means forcing said respective portions to distended position, said portions of one upper link operating independent of said other upper link for upward movement of one side of said header and rotation of said header in relation to said tractor on application of greater force to one side of header than to the other side of said header.

Claim 3

In the combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portions of said respective uPper links are in telescopic relation.

Claim 4

In the combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portions of said upper links are sleeve portions and end rod portions fitting in said respective sleeve portions for relative movement of said sleeve portions and said end rod portions and said resilient means engage said end rod portions and said sleeve portions for urging said upper links to extended positions.

Claim 5

In the combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein, for each upper link, said end rod portion as a flange and said sleeve portion has a stepped portion and said resilient means is positioned therebetween.

Claim 6

In the combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said resilient means is a helical spring.

Claim 7

In combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said upper links have two portions in telescopic overlapping relation and resilient means within the overlapping relation and engaging said portions for resilient motion of said upper links.

Claim 8

In combination with a tractor and a header having a cutting bar with forwardly projecting guards, a suspension connecting said header to said tractor comprising an upper linkage assembly and a lower linkage assembly, said lower linkage assembly being pivotally connected to said header and tractor at lower portions thereof, said upper linkage assembly comprising two links extending in direction of movement of said tractor and header and spaced transversely on opposite sides of the main longitudinal plane of said header and tractor, said links being in generally parallel operative relation with said lower linkage assembly and variable in length with resilient means urging said links to the extended length and shortening under resilient pressure for permitting one side of said header to lift and rotate in relation to the other side of said header and to said tractor on engagement of an obstacle by said guards on said cutting bar.

Claim 9

In combination with a tractor and a header having a cutting bar with forwardly projecting guards, a suspension connecting said header to said tractor comprising an upper linkage assembly and a lower linkage assembly, said lower linkage assembly being pivotally connected to said header and tractor at lower portions thereof, said upper linkage assembly comprising two links extending in direction of movement of said tractor and header and spaced transversely on opposite sides of the main longitudinal plane of said header and tractor, said links being in generally parallel operative relation with said lower linkage assembly and variable in length with resilient means urging said links to the extended length and shortening under resilient pressure for permitting one side of said header to lift and rotate in relation to the other side of said header and to said tractor on engagement of an obstacle by said guards on said cutting bar.

Claim 10

In the combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said two links of said upper linkage assembly each have a sleeve portion and an end rod portion slidably fitting in said sleeve portion for relative movement of said sleeve portion and said respective end rod portion and each have a helical spring engaging said end rod portion and said sleeve portion for urging said respective upper link to an extended position.