Header height/lateral float control for harvester

摘要

A header height/lateral float control mechanism for a crop harvesting header (20) mounted on a combine base unit (10) for movement in a generally vertical direction and for rotational movement in a generally vertical plane to permit the header (20) to follow changes in the ground contour is disclosed wherein a height sensor bar (32) is rotatably supported along substantially the entire transverse width of the header (20) and first and second tilt sensors (42, 44) are mounted adjacent the transversely spaced header sidewalls (21). The control mechanism is operatively associated with the tilt sensors (42, 44) and the height sensor (30) such that the header lift mechanism (26) is operated whenever the height sensor (30) is actuated and the mechanism (28) for rotatably tilting the header (20) can be actuated only when the tilt sensors (42, 44) indicate different relative ground changes. The control mechanism further includes electrically actuated switches (54, 56; 64, 66; 74, 76) that are interconnected to prevent actuation of the header tilt mechanism (28) whenever both tilt sensors (42, 44) register identical ground contour changes.