Crop header stacked divider pivot linkage
A folding crop header having an articulated, elongate crop divider defining upper and lower crop divider edges and having first and second crop divider sections, the crop divider including at or adjacent a said lower crop divider edge a hinge permitting pivoting of the first and second crop divider sections relative to one another about a first axis; and the crop divider including a linkage permitting pivoting of the first and second crop divider sections relative to one another about a second axis at or adjacent the said upper crop divider edge; and additionally permitting displacement of the first and second crop divider sections relative to one another in a displacement direction that is skewed relative to the second axis, the hinge being decouplable.
1. A folding crop header comprising:
an articulated, elongate crop divider defining upper and lower crop divider edges and comprising first and second crop divider sections, the crop divider further comprising at or adjacent the lower crop divider edge a releasable hinge permitting pivoting of the first and second crop divider sections relative to one another about a first axis at or adjacent the lower crop divider edge; and
the crop divider further comprising at or adjacent the upper crop divider edge a linkage, the linkage comprising:
a pin with a pivotal axis permitting pivoting of the first and second crop divider sections relative to one another about a second axis at or adjacent the upper crop divider edge between a first position in which the first and second crop divider sections are arranged end-to-end and a second position in which the second crop divider section is arranged on top of the first crop divider section; and
an elongate slide in which the pin is slidably disposed for displacement of the second pivotal axis and the first and second crop divider sections relative to one another in a direction perpendicular relative to the second pivotal axis,
wherein the hinge is releasable in order to permit separation of the first and second crop divider sections from one another in the vicinity of the lower crop divider edge.
2. The crop header according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second axes extend parallel one to the other.
3. The crop header according to claim 1 , wherein the hinge has a release mechanism.
4. The crop header according to claim 3 , wherein the release mechanism is operable under the influence of impact on at least the second crop divider.
5. The crop header according to claim 3 , wherein the release mechanism is manually operable.
6. The crop header according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate slide is an elongate slot in which the pivot pin is rotatably, slideably captive.
7. The crop header according to claim 3 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a recess on one of the first and second crop divider sections at the hinge and a ball on the other of the first and second crop divider sections yieldably urged toward the recess.
8. The crop header according to claim 7 , further comprising a spring for urging the ball toward the recess.
9. The crop header according to claim 7 , further comprising a connection to the ball for displacing it away from the recess.