Biasing mechanism for header tilt on a center-pivot mower
A pull-type mower having a frame and a header movably attached to the frame, the header including; a cutting mechanism; a conditioning mechanism; a lift mechanism comprising one or more hydraulic actuators, the lift mechanism configured to lift the frame relative to a ground surface below the mower; a tilt mechanism comprising one or more hydraulic actuators, the tilt mechanism configured to rotate the header about an axis transverse to a fore-aft axis of the header; and a spring mechanism arranged in parallel to the one or more tilt hydraulic actuators, the spring mechanism configured to apply a biasing force that tilts the header forward when the one or more tilt hydraulic cylinders are depressurized.
1 . A pull-type mower comprising:
a frame;
a header movably attached to the frame, the header comprising a cutting mechanism and a conditioning mechanism;
a lift mechanism comprising one or more lift hydraulic actuators, the lift mechanism configured to lift the frame relative to a ground surface below the pull-type mower;
a tilt mechanism comprising one or more tilt hydraulic actuators, the tilt mechanism configured to rotate the header about an axis transverse to a fore-aft axis of the header; and
a spring mechanism arranged in parallel to the one or more tilt hydraulic actuators, the spring mechanism configured to apply a biasing force that tilts the header forward when the one or more tilt hydraulic actuators are depressurized.
2 . The pull-type mower of claim 1 , wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a disc mower.
3 . The pull-type mower of claim 1 , wherein the conditioning mechanism comprises a roller or a flail.
4 . The pull-type mower of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lift hydraulic actuators and the one or more tilt hydraulic actuators each comprise a single-acting hydraulic cylinder, wherein the one or more lift hydraulic actuators extend when pressurized to apply a lifting force to the frame, and wherein the one or more tilt hydraulic actuators retract when pressurized to apply a force that tilts the header rearward.
5 . The pull-type mower of claim 4 , wherein the one or more lift hydraulic actuators and the one or more tilt hydraulic actuators are connected in parallel to a single hydraulic line.
6 . The pull-type mower of claim 1 , wherein the spring mechanism comprises a compression spring.
7 . The pull-type mower of claim 1 , wherein the spring mechanism comprises a tension spring and a compound linkage.
8 . An agricultural harvesting machine, comprising the pull-type mower of claim 1 .
9 . A pull-type mower comprising:
a frame;
a header movably attached to the frame, the header comprising a cutting mechanism and a conditioning mechanism;
a lift mechanism comprising one or more lift hydraulic actuators, the lift mechanism configured to lift the frame relative to a ground surface below the pull-type mower; and
a tilt mechanism comprising one or more tilt hydraulic actuators, the tilt mechanism configured to rotate the header about an axis transverse to a fore-aft axis of the header;
wherein the one or more lift hydraulic actuators each comprise a single-acting hydraulic cylinder, wherein the one or more lift hydraulic actuators extend when pressurized to apply a lifting force to the frame; and
wherein the one or more tilt hydraulic actuators each comprise a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and are configured to extend when a barrel end of the one or more tilt hydraulic actuators is pressurized to apply a biasing force that tilts the header forward.
10 . The pull-type mower of claim 9 , wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a disc mower.
11 . The pull-type mower of claim 9 , wherein the conditioning mechanism comprises a roller or a flail.
12 . The pull-type mower of claim 9 , wherein a barrel end of the one or more lift hydraulic actuators and a rod end of the one or more tilt hydraulic actuators are operatively connected in parallel to a first hydraulic line, and wherein the barrel end of the one or more tilt hydraulic actuators is operatively connected to a second hydraulic line.
13 . An agricultural harvesting machine, comprising the pull-type mower of claim 9 .