Transport system for a header of an agricultural harvester
View Patent ↗A folding wheel transport assembly is attachable to a header frame of an agricultural harvester and includes a wheel, a wheel axle support member carrying the wheel, a linkage connected to the wheel axle support member, and an actuator for moving the linkage and the wheel from a transportation position to a harvesting position. The wheel axle support member is pivotably connected to the linkage whereby the wheel pivots inwardly toward the header frame as the wheel moves between the transportation and harvesting positions.
1. A transport assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester comprising:
a header frame;
an axle support member supporting a wheel axle, the wheel axle rotatably carrying a transport wheel, wherein the axle support member has a first end and a second end distal to the first end; and
a first swing arm having a first end pivotably connected to the header frame and a second end opposite the first end pivotably connected to the axle support member,
comprising a second swing arm having a first end pivotably connected to the header frame and a second end opposite the first end pivotably connected to the axle support member, wherein the second swing arm has an overall longitudinal length greater than an overall longitudinal length of the first swing arm, wherein the first end of the second swing arm is pivotably connected to the header frame above the first end of the first swing arm, and wherein the second end of the first swing arm is connected to the axle support member proximate the axle support member first end and the second end of the second swing arm is connected to the axle support member at a point spaced from the second end of the first swing arm
wherein the axle support member pivots relative to the first and second swing arms between a harvesting position and a transportation position, and wherein the transport wheel swings under the header frame through a vertical plane as it moves between harvesting and transportation positions.
2. The transport assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator operatively connected to the first swing arm to move the first swing arm between an extended position and a retracted position.
3. The transport assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bracket connected to one of the first swing arm and the axle support member to limit pivotable movement of the axle support member relative to the first swing arm.
4. The transport assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wheel moves in a chord-like fashion partially through a circle as the wheel is moved from the transportation position to the harvesting position.
5. The transport assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wheel moves through an arc of varying radius between the transportation and harvesting positions.
6. The transport assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bracket connected to the two point pivot linkage assembly and the wheel axle support member to limit pivotable movement of the wheel axle support member relative to the two point pivot linkage assembly.
7. The transport assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket is an L-bracket having a leg rigidly connected to the wheel axle support member.