Front mounted harvester

Claim 2

The combination of a farm tractor; an auxiliary frame structure secured to the body of said tractor in underlying relation to the forward part thereof, a T-shaped coupling member; bearing means embracing the stem portion of said coupling member and mounted on said auxiliary frame structure so as to rotatably position said stem portion in lengthwise extending relation to said tractor and place the transverse head portion of said coupling member next to the forward end of said tractor; a bail shaped coupling member having a bight portion journalled on said head portion of said T-shaped coupling member for pivotal movement on axis extending transversely of the axis of said bearing means; a push type wheel supported harvester unit pivotally connected to the free ends said bail shaped coupling member on an axis extending transversely of said harvester unit; and a guide link swingably connected at its opposite ends to said auxiliary frame structure and to said harvester unit, respectively, in vertically spaced relation to said bail shaped coupling member.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein releasable pivot means are operatively interposed between said transverse head portion of said T-shaped coupling member and the bight portion of said bail shaped coupling member for swingably interconnecting said T-shaped and said bail shaped coupling members on an axis extending transversely to said stem portion of said T-shaped coupling member.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide link is located in elevated relation to said bail shaped coupling member in proximity to one of the side arms of the latter.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein pivot means for connecting one end of said guide link to said auxiliary frame structure are located at a predetermined elevation with respect to the longitudinal axis on which said T-shaped coupling member is swingable relative to said auxiliary frame structure, and wherein pivot means for connecting the other end of said guide link to said harvester unit are located at a predetermined elevation with respect to said transverse axis of pivotal coNnection between said bail shaped coupling member and said harvester unit, said first named elevation being substantially shorter than said second named elevation.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said pivot means for connecting one end of said guide link to said auxiliary frame structure is spaced from a vertical longitudinal center plane through said tractor and harvester unit a shorter transverse distance than the spacing between said center plane and the pivot means connecting the other end of said link to said harvester unit.

Claim 7

The combination of a farm tractor, a push type harvester unit positioned forwardly of said tractor in longitudinally aligned, vertically floating and laterally tiltable relation thereto; and articulated coupling means connecting said harvester unit with said tractor for up and down swinging movement relative thereto about a virtual pivot center in rearwardly spaced relation to the front end of said tractor; said coupling means comprising a first couping element having a pivotal connection with said tractor on a fore and aft extending axis, a second coupling element having a pivotal connection with said first coupling element on an axis extending transversely of said fore and aft extending axis, pivot means connecting said second coupling element with said harvester unit on an axis extending transversely of the latter, and guide means operatively interposed between said tractor and harvester unit so as to provide said virtual pivot center for said harvester unit.

Claim 8

The combination of a farm tractor, a push type harvester unit positioned forwardly of said tractor in longitudinally aligned, vertically floating and laterally tiltable relation thereto; and articulated coupling means connecting said harvester unit with said tractor for up and down swinging movement relative thereto about a virtual pivot center in rearwardly spaced relation to the front end of said tractor; said coupling means comprising a first couping element having a pivotal connection with said tractor on a fore and aft extending axis, a second coupling element having a pivotal connection with said first coupling element on an axis extending transversely of said fore and aft extending axis, pivot means connecting said second coupling element with said harvester unit on an axis extending transversely of the latter, and guide means operatively interposed between said tractor and harvester unit so as to provide said virtual pivot center for said harvester unit.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 6, wherein said guide means comprise a link member having rearward and forward pivot centers on said tractor and harvester unit, respectively, at substantial transverse distances from and at the same side of a vertical, longitudinal center plane through said tractor and harvester unit; said rearward pivot center being located at a predetermined elevation with respect to said fore and aft extending pivot axis of said first coupling element, and said forward pivot center being located above the transverse axis on which said second coupling element is connected to said harvester unit so that said forward pivot center will be spaced from said transverse axis a distance which is greater than said elevation of said rearward pivot center.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said rearward pivot center of said link member is spaced from said center plane a shorter distance than said forward pivot center of said link member.

Claim 11

The combination of a farm tractor; a push type harvester unit of the ensilage cutter type positioned forwardly of said tractor in longitudinally aligned, vertically floating and laterally tiltable relation thereto; and articulated coupling means connecting said harvester unit with said tractor for up and down swinging movement relative thereto about a virtual pivot center in rearwardly spaced relation to the front end of said tractor; said coupling means comprising a first coupling element having a pivotal connection with said tractor on a fore and aft extending axis, a second coupling element having a pivotal connection with said first coupling element on an axis extending transversely of said fore and aft extending axis, pivot means connecting said second coupling element with said harvester unit on an axis extending transversely of the latter, and guide means operatively interposed between said tractor and harvester unit so as to provide said virtual pivot center for said harvester unit; and said harvester unit including a deflector structure extending rearwardly over said tractor for conveying cut crop material to a rearward, elevated discharge point.

Claim 12

The combination of a farm tractor; a push type harvester unit of the ensilage cutter type positioned forwardly of said tractor in longitudinally aligned, vertically floating and laterally tiltable relation thereto; and articulated coupling means connecting said harvester unit with said tractor for up and down swinging movement relative thereto about a virtual pivot center in rearwardly spaced relation to the front end of said tractor; said coupling means comprising a first coupling element having a pivotal connection with said tractor on a fore and aft extending axis, a second coupling element having a pivotal connection with said first coupling element on an axis extending transversely of said fore and aft extending axis, pivot means connecting said second coupling element with said harvester unit on an axis extending transversely of the latter, and guide means operatively interposed between said tractor and harvester unit so as to provide said virtual pivot center for said harvester unit; and said harvester unit including a deflector structure extending rearwardly over said tractor for conveying cut crop material to a rearward, elevated discharge point.

Claim 13

The combination set forth in claim 9 and further comprising a cap member having a universal pivot connection with the discharge end of said deflector structure, and actuating means for said cap member operable to selectively swing the latter about said pivot connection to vertically and laterally adjusted positions.