Header suspension and lift means

Claim 1

In a crop harvesting machine having a crop harvesting header, a mobile frame adapted to move across a field in a forward direction, said mobile frame including upper frame structure extending transversely to said forward direction and a lower wheel frame assembly, said assembly including a cylindrical member extending transversely to said forward direction and rotatably mounted to and supporting said upper frame structure, and lift means on said frame and being actuatable for moving said lower wheel frame assembly, and thereby rotating said cylindrical member thereof, relative to said upper frame structure to effectuate raising of said upper transverse frame structure and said cylindrical member relative to the field between a lower field operating position and an upper transport position, an improved means for suspending said header from said mobile frame so as to dispose said header in a harvesting position adjacent the field when said frame is at its lower field operating position and for lifting said header upwardly relative to the field during effectuation of raising of said frame, comprising: upper means pivotally interconnecting said upper frame structure with an upper portion of said header; said cylindrical member having mounting means fixed thereon which project generally forwardly from a front side of said cylindrical member when said frame is at its lower field operating position; and lower elongated means including a pair of spaced apart links respectively pivotally connected at their forward ends to said header and pivotally connected at their rear ends to said mounting means and including on their rear ends portions which project rearwardly of the pivotal connection of said links with said mounting means and underlie said member so as to be engaged by said member to effect lifting of said header upwardly by said lower means upon rotation of said cylindrical member when said lift means is actuated so as to effectuate raising of said upper transverse frame structure and said cylindrical member relative to the field.