Lateral transport system for harvester

1. A lateral transport system for a harvester, comprising:

a chassis;

first and second ground wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis; and

a lateral transport assembly operably coupled to the chassis and operable between a transport operation mode and a stowed operation mode, the lateral transport assembly comprising:

a tongue pivotally coupled to the chassis;

a first suspension element rotatable about a first axis and a second axis;

a second suspension element rotatable about the second axis; and

a hydraulic actuation system operably coupled to the tongue, the first suspension element, and the second suspension element; and

wherein in the transport operation mode, hydraulic fluid is allowed to flow into the hydraulic actuation system to rotate the first suspension element about the first axis, and subsequently rotate the first and second suspension elements about the second axis, wherein the hydraulic actuation system comprises a first tongue hydraulic cylinder and a second tongue hydraulic cylinder.

2. The lateral transport system of claim 1 , wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

3. The draper header of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic actuation system comprises a tongue hydraulic cylinder coupled between the tongue and the chassis.

4. The draper header of claim 3 , wherein in a transport operation mode, the tongue hydraulic cylinder is actuated to rotate the tongue from a first position to a second position substantially lateral relative to the chassis.

5. The draper header of claim 1 , wherein the first tongue hydraulic cylinder is pivotally coupled between a first flange of the tongue and a first flange of the chassis.

6. The draper header of claim 5 , wherein the second tongue hydraulic cylinder is pivotally coupled between the first flange of the tongue and a second flange of the tongue.

7. The draper header of claim 1 , wherein in the transport operation mode, the first tongue hydraulic cylinder is actuated to extend to partially rotate the tongue relative to the chassis prior to rotation of the first suspension element about the first axis.

8. The draper header of claim 7 , wherein after rotation of the first suspension element about the first axis, the second tongue hydraulic cylinder is actuated to extend to rotate the tongue relative to the chassis to a laterally extending position.

9. The draper header of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic actuation system comprises a functional lockout of the lateral transport system after rotation of the first and second suspension elements about the second axis.

10. The draper header of claim 1 , wherein in the stowed operation mode, the hydraulic fluid is allowed to flow into the hydraulic actuation system to rotate the first and second suspension elements about the second axis, and subsequently rotate the first suspension element about the first axis to position the first suspension element over the second suspension element.

11. A harvester, comprising:

a frame;

first and second lift cylinders operably coupled to the frame and configured to selectively lift and lower a lateral transport system relative to the frame; and

the lateral transport system, comprising:

a chassis;

first and second ground wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis; and

a lateral transport assembly operably coupled to the chassis and operable between a transport operation mode and a stowed operation mode, the lateral transport assembly comprising:

a tongue pivotally coupled to the chassis;

a first suspension element rotatable about a first axis and a second axis;

a second suspension element rotatable about the second axis; and

a hydraulic actuation system operably coupled to the tongue, the first suspension element, and the second suspension element, wherein the hydraulic actuation system comprises a first tongue hydraulic cylinder and a second tongue hydraulic cylinder, the first tongue hydraulic cylinder pivotally coupled between a first flange of the tongue and a first flange of the chassis, and the second tongue hydraulic cylinder pivotally coupled between the first flange of the tongue and a second flange of the tongue; and,

wherein in the transport operation mode, hydraulic fluid is allowed to flow into the hydraulic actuation system to rotate the first suspension element about the first axis, and subsequently rotate the first and second suspension elements about the second axis.

12. The harvester of claim 11 , wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

13. The harvester of claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic actuation system comprises a tongue hydraulic cylinder coupled between the tongue and the chassis.

14. The harvester of claim 13 , wherein in a transport operation mode, the tongue hydraulic cylinder is actuated to rotate the tongue from a first position to a second position substantially lateral relative to the chassis.

15. The harvester of claim 11 , wherein in the transport operation mode, the first tongue hydraulic cylinder is actuated to extend to partially rotate the tongue relative to the chassis prior to rotation of the first suspension element about the first axis.

16. The harvester of claim 15 , wherein after rotation of the first suspension element about the first axis, the second tongue hydraulic cylinder is actuated to extend to rotate the tongue relative to the chassis to a laterally extending position.

17. The harvester of claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic actuation system comprises a functional lockout of the lateral transport system after rotation of the first and second suspension elements about the second axis.

18. The harvester of claim 11 , wherein in the stowed operation mode, the hydraulic fluid is allowed to flow into the hydraulic actuation system to rotate the first and second suspension elements about the second axis, and subsequently rotate the first suspension element about the first axis to position the first suspension element over the second suspension element.