Harvester platform suspension and linkage system

Claim 2

In a crop harvester including a mobile frame and a crop harvesting platform forwardly of said frame elongated transversely to the forward direction of travel of the harvester, said platform having its center of gravity disposed at a point transversely spaced from the fore-and-aft extending centerline of said platform, a system for floatably supporting said platform from said frame comprising: support means at said centerline pivotally mounting said platform on said frame in load-supporting relation, said support means defining a longitudinal pivot axis for pivotal movement of said platform relative to said frame on the same vertical plane as said centerline and a transverse pivot axis for pivotal movement of said platform relative to said frame, said transverse pivot axis intersecting said longitudinal axis at right angles thereto; power lift means connected between said frame and said platform for raising and lowering said platform about said transverse pivot axis; spring means for floatably supporting said platform for pivoting movement relative to said frame abouts said transverse axis and said longitudinal axis; stabilizer means connected between said frame and said platform for resisting movement of said platform about axes other than said transverse and longitudinal axes; and a spring connected between said frame and said platform for creating a force offsetting the effect of the asymmetrical center of gravity.

Claim 3

The subject matter of claim 1, including means for adjusting the length of said spring to selectively vary said force.

Claim 4

The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said stabilizer means is connected to said platform on said transverse pivot axis.

Claim 5

The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said spring is connected to said frame on said transverse pivot axis.

Claim 6

The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said stabilizer means is connected to said platform on said transverse pivot axis and said spring is connected to said frame on said transverse pivot axis.

Claim 7

In a crop harvester including a mobile frame and a crop harvesting platform forwardly of said frame elongated transversely to the forward direction of travel of the harvester, said platform having its center of gravity disposed at a point transversely spaced from the fore-and-aft extending centerline of said platform, a system for floatably supporting said platform from said frame comprising: support means at said centerline pivotally mounting said platform on said frame in load-supporting relation, said support means defining a longitudinal pivot axis for pivotal movement of said platform relative to said frame in the same vertical plane as said centerline and a transverse pivot axis for pivotal movement of said platform relative to said frame, said transverse pivot axis intersecting said longitudinal pivot axis at right angles thereto; power lift means connected between said frame and said platform for raising and lowering said platform about said transverse pivot axis; spring means for floatably supporting said platform for pivoting movement relative to said frame about said transverse axis and said longitudinal axis; stabilizer means connected between said frame and said platform and spaced transversely from said centerline on an opposite side thereof from the center of gravity for resisting pivotal movement of said platform in a horizontal plane while permitting pivotal movement about said transverse and longitudinal axes; and a balancing spring connected to said frame on said transverse pivot axis and extending downwardly into pivotal connection with said platform in transversely spaced relation to said centerline on the same side thereof as the center of gravity for creating a lifting force offsetting the effect of the asymmetrical center of gravity.

Claim 8

In a crop harvester including a mobile frame and a crop harvesting platform forwardly of said frame elongated transversely to the forward direction of travel of the harvester, said platform having its center of gravity disposed at a point transversely spaced from the fore-and-aft extending centerline of said platform, a system for floatably supporting said platform from said frame comprising: support means at said centerline pivotally mounting said platform on said frame in load-supporting relation, said support means defining a longitudinal pivot axis for pivotal movement of said platform relative to said frame in the same vertical plane as said centerline and a transverse pivot axis for pivotal movement of said platform relative to said frame, said transverse pivot axis intersecting said longitudinal pivot axis at right angles thereto; power lift means connected between said frame and said platform for raising and lowering said platform about said transverse pivot axis; spring means for floatably supporting said platform for pivoting movement relative to said frame about said transverse axis and said longitudinal axis; stabilizer means connected between said frame and said platform and spaced transversely from said centerline on an opposite side thereof from the center of gravity for resisting pivotal movement of said platform in a horizontal plane while permitting pivotal movement about said transverse and longitudinal axes; and a balancing spring connected to said frame on said transverse pivot axis and extending downwardly into pivotal connection with said platform in transversely spaced relation to said centerline on the same side thereof as the center of gravity for creating a lifting force offsetting the effect of the asymmetrical center of gravity.

Claim 9

The subject matter of claim 6, wherein said spring means are disposed coaxially with said power lift means.

Claim 10

The subject matter of claim 6, including means for adjusting the length of said balancing spring to selectively vary said lifting force.

Claim 11

In a crop harvester including a mobile frame and a crop harvesting platform forwardly of said frame elongated transversely to the forward direction of travel of the harvester, said platform having its center of gravity disposed at a point transversely spaced from the fore-and-aft extending centerline of said platform, a system for floatably supporting said platform from said frame comprising: a ball joint connection on said frame pivotally coupling said platform thereto in load-supporting relation on said centerline at the upper rear portion of said platform, said ball joint connection defining a longitudinal pivot axis and a transverse pivot axis for pivotal movement of said platform relative to said frame; a pair of hydraulic piston-cylinder units pivotally mounted on said frame and extending forwardly on opposite sides respectively of said centerline into respective pivotal connections with the underside of said platform, said units being operative to raise and lower said platform about said transverse pivot axis in response to extension and retraction respectively of said units; a pair of spring assemblies connected between said frame and said platform on opposite sides respectively of said centerline for yieldably supporting said platform for pivotal movement relative to said frame about said axes; a stabilizer bar pivotably connected at its rearward end to said frame and extending forwardly into pivotal connection with said platform on said transverse pivot axis in transversely spaced relation to said centerline for resisting pivotal movement of said platform about axes other than said transverse and longitudinal axes; and a spring connected to said frame on said transverse axis and extending downwardly into connectiOn with said platform on the same side of the centerline as the center of gravity for creating a lifting force offsetting the effect of the asymmetrical center of gravity.

Claim 12

In a crop harvester including a mobile frame and a crop harvesting platform forwardly of said frame elongated transversely to the forward direction of travel of the harvester, said platform having its center of gravity disposed at a point transversely spaced from the fore-and-aft extending centerline of said platform, a system for floatably supporting said platform from said frame comprising: a ball joint connection on said frame pivotally coupling said platform thereto in load-supporting relation on said centerline at the upper rear portion of said platform, said ball joint connection defining a longitudinal pivot axis and a transverse pivot axis for pivotal movement of said platform relative to said frame; a pair of hydraulic piston-cylinder units pivotally mounted on said frame and extending forwardly on opposite sides respectively of said centerline into respective pivotal connections with the underside of said platform, said units being operative to raise and lower said platform about said transverse pivot axis in response to extension and retraction respectively of said units; a pair of spring assemblies connected between said frame and said platform on opposite sides respectively of said centerline for yieldably supporting said platform for pivotal movement relative to said frame about said axes; a stabilizer bar pivotably connected at its rearward end to said frame and extending forwardly into pivotal connection with said platform on said transverse pivot axis in transversely spaced relation to said centerline for resisting pivotal movement of said platform about axes other than said transverse and longitudinal axes; and a spring connected to said frame on said transverse axis and extending downwardly into connectiOn with said platform on the same side of the centerline as the center of gravity for creating a lifting force offsetting the effect of the asymmetrical center of gravity.