Unlted States Patent [19]
`' Honey
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,031,394
`Jul. 16, 1991
`
`[54] SWATHER ATTACHMENT FOR
`BLDIRECI‘IQNAL TRACTOR
`
`[75] Inventor: Gregory J. Honey, Bracken, Canada
`[73] Assign“: Honey Bee Manufacturing Ltd.’
`Frontier, Canada‘
`[21] Appl' NO‘: 520’095
`[22] ‘ Filed:
`May 7, 1990
`[30]
`Forelgn Apphcatwn Pnomy Data
`Jul. 10. 1989 [CA] Canada ................................. .. 605193
`[51] Int. Cl.5 .............................. .. A01B 73/00
`[52] us. c1. ..................................... .. 56/228; 56/163;
`172/285; 280/412
`[58] Field of Search .................... .. 56/149, 15.5, 16.3,
`56/ 192, 218, 228; 172/324, 318, 248, 285, 677;
`280/412, 413
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U-S‘ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2,532,164 11/1950 Hansen et al. ................ .. 280/413 x
`3,021,658 2/1962 Mitchell ....... ..
`.. 56/228
`3,953,400 5/ 1976 Sorensen et al- ~
`----- ~ 56/ 12-6
`4,141,419 2/1979 Buchele?‘ 211'
`172/285 X
`iiicnlwam ' ' ' ‘ ' ' '
`' ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ' " 5566/1252:
`/228 X
`280/444 X
`. . _ . . , ._ 56/223
`56/228
`56/228
`
`4:453:03‘, 6/1984
`4,460,193 7/1984 Dietz et a1’
`4,555,397 12/1985 Degelman . . . . . .
`4,563,866 1/ 1986 Wistuba et al.
`4’57313O9 3/1986 Batters” ----- --
`22212:‘
`"
`4,768,334 9/1953 Honey e1 a1: I ................. 0:: 56/228
`’
`’
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`523375 4/1956 Canada .
`563451 9/1958 Canada .
`810388 4/1969 Canada .
`
`1151431 8/1983 Canada .
`1183355 3/1985 Canada .
`1210936 9/1986 Canada .
`742595 12/1955 United Kingdom ................ .. 56/228
`2119618 11/1983 United Kingdom ................ .. 56/228
`Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts
`Assistant Examiner-David 1. Ba nell
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Jeffers,gHoffman & Niewyk
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A mounting structure for attaching an elongated
`swather head to a tractor of the bi-directional type, the
`Structure mounting the head in from of the tractor in a
`swathing direction of travel and accommodating swing
`ing movement of the head to a trailing transport'mode
`behind the treeter when travelling in a direction Oppe
`site to the swathing direction. The mounting structure is
`carried by the tractor which, in the operational mode of
`the swather, is disposed to one side of the center-line of
`the swather head. The mounting structure includes
`members for securement to the tractor and an elongated
`Support member Projecting transversely across the
`front of the tractor to the side of the tractor opposite to
`the center-line of the swather head. The head has a rear
`frame member which extends parallel to the head be
`hind an intermediate portion thereof and is carried at
`one end by a hinge connection to the support member at
`the side of the tractor opposite to the center-line of the
`swather head. The hinge connection permits pivoting of
`the frame member of the swather head about a substan
`tially vertical axis for accommodating the swinging
`movement of the swather head to a trailing transport
`mde' A lock is associa‘ed with the frame and “ppm
`members for selectively holding the frame member
`against the swinging movement when used in the
`Swathing 013613111011
`
`11 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
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`//\77~: ’”
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`Page 1 of 9
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`US. Patent
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`July 16, 1991
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`Sheet 1 of 3
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`5,031,394
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`Page 2 of 9
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`US. Patent
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`July 16, 1991
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`Sheet 2 of s
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`5,0315394
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`Page 3 of 9
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`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`July 16, 1991
`July 16, 1991
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`Sheet 3 of 3
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`5,031,394
`5,031,394
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`A
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`Page 4 of 9
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`Page 4 of 9
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`1
`
`SWATHER ATTACHMENT FOR
`BI-DIRECI'IONAL TRACTOR
`
`5
`
`5,031,394
`2
`or three sections, the drives of which are individually
`controlled so as to deliver two windrows simulta
`neously at transversely spaced locations behind the
`head. Whether one or two windrows are laid depends,
`of course, on the thickness of the crop. It is preferably
`to be able to lay a windrow at a location spaced from
`either end of the head so that the outside windrow is not
`laid at the very edge of the field on the ?rst swath, or
`the inside windrow is not laid against the uncut crop so
`as to interfere with the next swath. Also if the windrow
`from a swather head mounted in front of the tractor is
`delivered centrally of the width of the head, the win
`dow can be disturbed or damaged by the tractor which
`is conventionally mounted substantially on the centre
`line of the swather, particularly if the crop is one, such
`as canola which leaves a very bulky windrow.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is an object of the present invention to provide a
`structure for the attachment to a bi-directional type
`tractor of an elongated swather head with the head
`extending transversely in front of the tractor in a swath
`ing direction of travel, and accommodating swinging
`movement of said head to a trailing transport mode
`behind the tractor when travelling in a direction oppo
`site to the swathing direction.
`It is an object of another aspect of the invention to
`provide a structure for mounting an elongated swather
`head on a body of a tractor of the bi-directional type,
`and wherein the structure mounts the head in a direc
`tion extending transversely in front of the tractor in a
`swathing direction of travel and with the tractor being
`disposed in an off-set position to one side of a centre-line
`of the swather.
`In one form of the present invention, there is pro
`vided a structure including an elongated support mem
`ber having means for securement to the tractor and
`extending transversely across in front of the tractor, the
`head having a rear frame member extending parallel to
`the head behind an intermediation portion thereof, with
`hinge means at one end of the frame member and con
`necting the frame member to the support member for
`permitting swinging movement of the frame member
`about a substantially vertical axis. A connection means
`is provided between the support member and the frame
`member at a location spaced transversely from the
`hinge means for holding the frame member against the
`swinging movement. The connection means includes a
`latching means for selective disconnection of the con
`necting means so that the frame member can swing
`about the substantially vertical axis, thereby permitting
`movement of the head to the transport mode.
`According to another aspect of the invention, there is
`provided a structure for mounting a swather at the front _
`of the tractor with the tractor being disposed in an
`off-set position to one side of a centre-line of the
`swather and including a tractor mounted frame portion.
`The tractor mounted frame has means for securement to
`the tractor and includes a transversely extending sup
`port member in front of the tractor. The head includes
`a rear frame member extending parallel to the head
`behind an intermediation portion thereof. Hinge means
`at one end of the frame member connects the frame
`member to the support member, the hinge means per
`mitting pivoting of the frame member about a substan~
`tially vertical axis for accommodating swinging move
`ment of the head to a trailing transport mode behind the
`
`n
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a swather mounting
`structure for attaching an elongated swather head to a
`tractor, and more particularly, to astructure for mount
`ing a swather head on a tractor of the bi-directional type
`for swathing as the tractor travels in one direction and
`for drawing the swather in a trailing transport mode
`when the tractor is driven in the opposite direction.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Swathers and other mower type machines were for a
`number of years normally designed to be drawn behind
`conventional farm tractors. There has also been devel
`oped combines which are, of course, self-propelled and
`have either a mower or pick-up head. Swathing ma
`chines are also available which may include one or
`more swathing heads and are self-propelled, such as of
`the type shown in applicant’s Canadian Patent No.
`1,183,355, granted Mar. 5, 1985. While large swathing
`machines of the type shown in applicant’s Canadian
`Patent are preferable for custom operators or for very
`large agricultural operations,- there is still a signi?cant
`requirement for swathers, which may harvest a consid
`erably narrower swath per pass, but are less expensive
`and can be used with the conventional tractor used for
`other purposes on farms. Accordingly, there have been
`developed swathers which include a structure permit
`ting one or more swather heads to be mounted directly
`on the tractor, such an arrangement having characteris
`tics which allow for more efficient handling than the
`older tractor drawn type. The tractor mounted struc
`tures have also permitted development of swathers
`which include more than one head so has to provide a
`wider swath and include features which allow at least
`one of the heads to be maneuvered to a transport posi
`tion. In such a position, the equipment has less width
`than when in the normal swathing condition so that
`road travel is possible. Tractor mounted structures of
`this type are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,572, issued
`Apr. 21, 1987, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,334, issued Sept.
`6, 1988, both granted to Gregory J. Honey and Glenn
`R. Honey, and assigned to the present assignee, and
`Canadian Patent No. 1,210,936, granted Sept. 9, 1986,
`and also assigned to the present assignee.
`Tractors of the bi-directional type are now preferred
`by many farmers, at least for some operations, the most
`common of such bi-directional tractors being of a centre
`articulation design,-wherein the operators cab is at one
`end and includes a swivel platform to permit the opera
`tor’s seat and all of the surrounding control mechanisms
`to assume two oppositely facing positions. In this type
`of tractor, the power unit is at the other end on the
`opposite side of the centre articulation. Although some
`swather mounting structures have been developed for
`use in attaching swather heads directly on bi-direction
`tractors, because of the different driving characteristics,
`operating features comparable to those experienced on
`conventional tractors have not been readily achieved.
`Moreover, in swathing crops it is preferable to have
`the option of laying the windrow in different locations
`65
`behind the swather head, and accordingly, it is common
`for the transverse conveyor on the swather table behind
`the sickle bar to have drive means which allows it to
`travel in either direction, or to be even made up of two
`
`40
`
`55
`
`Page 5 of 9
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`

`3
`tractor when the tractor is travelling in a direction
`opposite to the swathing direction. The structure in
`cludes lock means for selectively holding the frame
`member against the swinging movement from the trans
`versely extending direction to the transport mode.
`More speci?cally, the transversely extending support
`member of the structure extends across the front of the
`tractor and has an outer hinge end disposed to the side
`of the tractor opposite to the centre-‘line of the swather.
`In the embodiment illustrated herein, the rear frame
`member of the swather head is supported at one end by
`the hinge means and at the other end on the side of the
`centre-line of the swather opposite to the tractor by a
`ground engaging wheel means.
`
`15
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`In the accompanying drawings which show one em
`bodiment of the invention, as an example:
`FIG. 1 is a plan view of the structure of the present
`invention showing the swather mounted on the front of
`20
`a bi-directional tractor in a swathing position and also
`illustrating the swather in a transport mode in dashed
`lines;
`FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of the front end of the
`tractor and showing a portion of the structure of the
`present invention, and again showing the part of the
`swather in a transport mode in dashed lines;
`FIG. 3 is an end view of the structure, including the
`swather head, as viewed from its hinge end as seen in
`the direction of arrow A of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is and end view of the structure, including the
`swather head in its trailing position, as viewed from the
`hinge end as seen in the direction of arrow B of FIG. 2;
`and .
`35
`FIG. 5, which appears on the same sheet as FIG. 2, is
`a perspective view from the end of a rear frame member
`of the swather head opposite to the hinge end and show
`ing a steerable wheel means supporting the outer end of
`the swather head.
`
`25
`
`5,031,394
`4
`shown) within the cab can to swivelled through 180° so
`as to allow the operator to face opposite directions,
`depending on the direction of travel of the tractor. For
`sake of simplicity, reference is made herein to the trac
`tor traveling in a forward direction when the equipment
`is being driven in the swathing direction, indicating by
`arrow X and in the reverse or opposite direction when
`travelling with the swather in a transport direction,
`indicated by the dashed arrow Y, even though, when
`travelling in the direction Y, the operator would be
`facing in his direction of travel with the engine portion
`in front of him.
`The swather 11 is carried by the mounting structure
`10 and a ground engaging wheel means 20 when in both
`the transport mode (FIG. 4) and in a swathing position
`(FIG. 3), although an elongated head 21 of the swather
`may also be provided with ground engaging wheels
`(not shown) at opposite ends thereof for guiding the
`forward edge of the head at a set position above ground
`level 22 when the head is lowered to a swathing posi
`tion. The head 21 is connected by a hinge means 23,
`which provides a horizontal pivot axis, between the
`head 21 and a rear frame member 24 which extends
`parallel to the elongated head 20. The head 21 has a
`frame 25 at the forward end of which is located the
`swather table 26 formed by the upper ?ights of three
`belt conveyors 27, 28 and 29 having individual drives
`(not shown). A conventional reel 31 is disposed above
`the table 26 and may be provided with separate lift
`means (not shown) which can be operated from within
`the operator’s cab to set the height of the reel 31 above
`the table 26.
`A power driven sickle bar 32 extends the full length
`of the head 20 along the front edge of the table 26 so
`that the standing crop is engaged and directed against
`the sickle bar and after being cut by the sickle bar, the
`crop falls unto the table 26. If all three conveyors are set
`to move towards the right as viewed in FIG. 1, the
`windrow would pass through an opening in the back of
`the head immediately adjacent the right hand end or
`inside end of the'head. If the conveyors are set to all
`operate in the opposite direction, i.e., their upper ?ights
`are running towards the left end, then the windrow is
`formed just inside of the left end of outside end of the
`swather head 11. By running conveyor 27 towards the
`left, conveyor 29 towards the right, and conveyor 28 in
`either direction, say towards the left, two windrows can
`be formed behind the head just inside opposite ends _of
`the head, the one at the left being larger because it is fed
`from two conveyors, namely conveyors 27 and 28.
`However, as previously indicated, it is often preferably
`to form only one windrow and avoid having it adjacent
`either end of the head. Thus, by running both convey
`ors 27 and 28 towards the right and conveyor 29
`towards the left a single windrow shown at 33 in FIG.
`1 can be discharged through an opening (not shown) in
`the rear of the head. This is a desireable location for a
`single windrow, and as will be described in more detail
`below, because the tractor is offset to the left of centre
`line 34 of the swather, the tractor will not disturb or
`damage the windrow even if it is bulky and high.
`As described above, the head 21 is connected to the
`rear frame member 24 by hinge means 23 and the head
`can be raised and lowered by a pair of double acting
`hydraulic cylinders 35 which are pivotally connected at
`one end to a pair of struts 36 projecting downwardly
`from rear frame member. The cylinders 35 are con
`nected at their opposite ends to the frame 25 of the
`
`65
`
`45
`
`55
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`In FIG. 1,Ithe reference character 10 generally de
`notes the structure of the present invention which
`mounts a swather 11 on a tractor 12. Although refer
`ence is made herein to a swather, which is usually
`adapted to cut a standing crop and leave it in one or two
`windrows, it is apparent that other harvesting heads,
`which may be designed to carry out other operations,
`such as conditioning by crimping rolls, can be mounted
`by Way of a structure incorporating the present inven
`tion. It is intended, therefore, that the present invention
`not be limited only to a structure for mounting what is
`conventionally known as a swather even though, for the
`sake of convenience, reference is made only to a
`swather throughout this speci?cation.
`The tractor 12 is of the bi-direction type having a cab
`or operator’s portion 13, which is at the front of the
`tractor when travelling in the swathing direction as
`indicated by the dashed arrow X in FIG. 1. An engine
`portion 15 of the tractor, which is at the back of the
`tractor when traveling in the swathing direction, is
`connected to the cab portion 13 by a central articulation
`means 16. Each of the cab and engine portions are
`mounted on its own set of drive wheels 17, 18, respec
`tively, and steer is accomplished by power means (not
`shown) which causes pivoting about a vertical axis of
`the articulation means 16. An operator’s platform (not
`
`Page 6 of 9
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`

`5
`head, the cylinders 35 being controlled from within the
`tractor cab. When the cylinders are contracted, the
`head is lowered to a cutting position as shown in FIG.
`3, and when they are expanded, the head is pushed to a
`more raised position. A more elaborate hydraulic sys
`tem can be utilized to provide an end to end ?oating
`action of the head 21 relative to the rear frame member
`24.
`The mounting structure 10 includes a transversely
`extending support member 40 fixed to a pair of rear
`wardly projecting mounting frame members 41 which
`are spaced a distance to extend beside opposite sides of
`the body of the tractor, and the members 41 are remov
`able secured to the tractor by bolts 42 or similar means.
`The support member 40 together with the frame mem
`bers 41 thus provide a U-shaped section which encom
`passes the front of the body of the portion of the tractor
`under the cab of the tractor, but the support member 40
`extends to the outside of the tractor opposite to the
`centre-line 34 of the swather and terminates at an outer
`hinge end 43. The outer end 43 has a substantially verti
`cal bore 44 therethrough which receives a pin 45, the
`axis of pin 45 being the axis about which rear frame
`member 24 is permitted to swing relative to support
`member 40 when the swather is moved to a transport
`mode. Although the axis of pin 45 is substantially verti
`cal, it is preferably slightly canted, the upper end of the
`pin 45 being slight behind and slightly inside of its lower
`end, as is illustrated, for example, in FIG. 2. The reason
`for the canting of the axis of pivot of rear frame 24
`relative to support member 40 will become more appar
`ent below.
`The hinge means further includes a hinge member 46
`having a pair of vertically spaced lugs 47 spaced to
`receive support member 40 therebetween and having
`openings 50 (FIG. 2) to receive the opposite ends of pin
`45 so that the hinge member 46 can pivot relative to the
`support member 40. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the hinge
`member 46 normally extends forward from the hinge
`end 43 of the support member 40, and it is provided
`with a transverse opening 51 (FIG. 3) which receives
`the outer end of rear frame member 24. A pin 52, which
`is horizontal and extends across the opening 51 in the
`direction of travel of the swather, passes through a
`horizontal bore 53 in rear frame member 24 and pivot
`ally mounts the outer end of rear frame 24 so that the
`rear frame 24 is carried at its outer end by the support
`member 24 but can pivot in a substantially vertical plane
`about a second or horizontal axis provided by pin 52.
`The rear frame member 24 is disposed behind an
`intermediate portion of the frame of the head 21 and the
`inner end of the rear frame member 24, which is dis
`posed on the side of the centre-line 34 opposite to the
`end carried by the support member 40 is carried on the
`ground engaging wheel means 20. Because of the ability
`of the rear frame member to pivot about the horizontal
`pivot axis provided by pin 52, the head can follow the
`ground contour. The wheel means 20 includes a shaft
`member 54 (FIG. 5) mounted for rotation about a verti
`60
`cal axis in rear frame member 24, the shaft member
`having a wheel spindle 55 affixed thereto and projecting
`horizontally therefrom and providing an axle for a
`wheel 56, The wheel means 20 includes power steering
`in the form of a double acting hydraulic cylinder 57,
`which is pivotally connected at one end to a crank arm
`58 affixed to the shaft member 54 and at the other end to
`a lug 60 welded to the side of the rear frame member 24.
`The axle of the wheel is parallel to the rear frame mem
`
`5,031,394
`6
`ber 24 when the machine is in a swathing condition, and
`the contraction and expansion of the cylinder 57 which
`turns the shaft 54 to an angle relative to the rear frame
`member is controlled from the operator’s position
`within the cab of the tractor. Because of the somewhat
`sideways motion experienced by the swather when the
`tractor is steered by its centre articulated steer, the
`control valve for the cylinder 57 may be, for conve
`nience purposes, in the form of an extra foot pedal.
`Thus, the wheel 56 can be slightly steered when the
`tractor is turned. However, as will be described in more
`detail below, when a swathing operation is completed,
`and the swather is to be taken to a different area, the
`tractor is driven in the direction opposite to that when
`swathing, and the swather is allowed to assume the
`trailing position indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 1 by
`allowing the rear frame member 24 to pivot about the
`axis of pin 45. While driving in the transport direction,
`the angle the swather assumes behind the tractor is
`governed by the amount the wheel is steered from the
`normal position in which the wheel axle is parallel to
`the rear frame member. A length of chain (not shown)
`can be connected between the support member 40 and
`the rear frame near the hinge means 23 to prevent the
`swather from pivoting sufficiently away from the
`swathing position to cause the outer end of the swather
`to collide with the side of the tractor‘ as the swather
`swings to its trailing position.
`In order to maintain the rear frame member substan
`tially parallel with the support member during the
`swathing operation, a connecting or lock means 62
`connects the two members together in a manner to
`permit the pivoting about the axis of the pin 52 so that
`the wheel means can follow the ground contour but to
`look any pivoting movement about the axis of pin 45. -
`The lock means includes link 63 mounted on the side of
`the rearwardly projecting mounting member 41 at the
`inside of tractor, i.e., the side opposite to the hinge end
`of the support member 40. The link 63 is connected to
`the outside of the mounting member 41 by a connection
`65 which includes a transversely projecting stud 64 so
`as to allow pivoting of the link about a horizontal, trans
`verse axis. The connection 65 may be of the ball and
`socket type to allow limited universal movement of the
`rear end of the link 63 relative to the stud 45. On the
`rear side of the rear frame member 24 in front of the link
`63 are rearwardly projecting spaced side lugs 66' There
`may also be provided a pair of upper and lower lugs
`(not shown) which together with lugs 6 provide a
`pocket for receiving the front end of the link 63. As
`illustrated in FIG. 2, the rear edges of the lugs flare
`outwardly so as to provide a guide for entry of the
`forward end of link 36, when the swather is swinging to
`a swathing position relative to the tractor and the sup
`port member 40. The forward end of the link has a
`transverse opening (not shown) and lugs 66 have
`aligned openings (not shown) positioned to align with
`the opening of the link when it enters the pocket formed
`by the lugs. A double acting hydraulic 67, which is
`controlled from within the operator’s cab, is attached to
`the rear surface of the rear frame member 24 and is
`positioned so that the pin or piston rod 68 thereof is
`aligned with the openings in the lugs 66. When the
`forward end of the link 63 is received in the pocket
`formed by the lugs and the piston rod 68 is extended, it
`projects through the aligned openings in the lugs 66 and
`of the link so that the forward end of the link is attached
`
`40
`
`55
`
`65
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`7
`to the rear frame by latch means in the form of a pivot
`connection provided by rod 68.
`When it is desired to convert the swather to a trans
`port mode, the cylinder 67 is activated from within the
`cab to retract the rod 68 so as to release the connection
`between the link and the rear frame 24. The pivot con
`nection provided by pin 45 is thus unlocked to allow the
`swather to pivot to a trailing position when the tractor
`is driven in the direction opposite to the swathing direc
`tion.
`'
`As previously indicated, when the swather is pre
`pared for transport, the tractor is driven in the opposite
`direction as when swathing, and the cylinders 35 are
`expanded to the maximum to raise the head by pivoting
`the head upwardly about the horizontal axis of the
`hinge means 23. The lock means 62 is opened by con
`tracting cylinder 67 so the head is free to lag as the
`tractor is driven in the direction reverse to the swathing
`direction and the angle assumed as it trails behind the
`tractor is controlled by the angular setting of the steer
`able wheel means 20. As is most apparent from FIG. 4,
`due to the slightly inwardly and rearwardly cant of the
`pivot pin 45, the rear frame member 24 turns slightly
`about its longitudinal axis in a clockwise direction as it
`pivots to the trailing position, thus causing the head to
`raise even higher when in the transport mode, which is,
`of course, advantageous in maintaining the head clear of
`an unevenness or obstacles on the ground during travel.
`From the above, the simplicity of the mounting struc
`ture of the present invention is apparent as well as its
`advantageous operating characteristics. Although only
`one embodiment has been shown, other modi?cations
`will be obvious to those skilled in the art without de
`parting from the spirit of the invention as de?ned in
`accompanying claims.
`What I claim is:
`1. A structure for mounting an elongated swather
`head on a body of a bi-directional tractor, said structure
`mounting said head in a direction extending trans
`versely in front of the tractor in a swathing direction of
`travel and with said tractor disposed in an off-set posi
`tion to one side of a centre-line of said swather, said
`structure comprising;
`a tractor mounted frame portion including means for
`securement to the tractor and including a trans
`versely extending support member extending
`across the front of the tractor and having an outer
`hinge end disposed to the one side of the tractor
`opposite to the centre-line of said swather,
`said head including a rear frame member extending
`parallel to the head behind an intermediate portion
`thereof,
`I
`a hinge means at one end of the frame member and
`connecting the frame member to said outer hinge
`end of said support member,
`said hinge means permitting pivoting of said frame
`member about a substantially vertical axis for ac
`commodating swinging movement of said head to a
`trailing transport mode behind said tractor when
`said tractor is travelling in a direction opposite to
`the swathing direction,
`said rear frame member of said swather head being
`supported at one end by said hinge means and at
`the other end on the side of said centre-line of said
`swather opposite to said tractor by a ground engag
`ing wheel means,
`said wheel means being mounted to pivot relative to
`said rear frame member about a substantially verti
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`5,031,394
`8
`cal axis and including a wheel mounted on an axle
`for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis,
`power steer means for turning said wheel means
`about said axis of pivot of said wheel means from a
`position for swathing wherein the axis of rotation
`of the wheel is substantially parallel to said rear
`frame member to a position for transport wherein
`the axis of rotation of said wheel is at an angle
`relative to said rear frame member, and
`lock means for selectively holding said frame member
`against said swinging movement from said trans
`versely extending direction to said transport mode.
`2. A structure as de?ned in claim 1, wherein said
`means for securement of said tractor mounted frame
`portion includes a pair of rearwardly projecting mem
`bers forming a U-shaped portion with said transverse
`extending support member, said rearwardly extending
`members being spaced to be disposed on opposite sides
`of the body of said tractor and including means for
`attachment to said tractor.
`3. A structure as de?ned in claim 1, wherein said
`wheel means has a vertical shaft mounted on said rear
`frame member for turning about said vertical axis, a
`crank arm being af?xed to said shaft, and wherein said
`power steer means includes an expandible and contract
`ible hydraulic cylinder connected between said rear
`frame member and said crank arm.
`4. A structure for mounting an elongated swather
`head on a body of a bi-directional tractor, said structure
`mounting said head in a direction extending trans
`versely in front of the tractor in a swathing direction of
`travel and with said tractor disposed in an off-set posi
`tion to one side of a centre-line of said swather, said
`structure comprising:
`a tractor mounted frame portion including means for
`securement to the tractor and including a trans
`versely extending member extending across the
`front of said tractor and having an outer hinge end
`disposed to the side of the tractor opposite to said
`centre-line of said swather,
`said head including a rear frame member extending
`parallel to the head behind an intermediate portion
`thereof, a hinge means at one end of the frame
`member and connecting the frame member to the
`support member,
`said hinge means permitting pivoting of said frame
`member about a substantially vertical axis for ac
`commodating swinging movement of said head to a
`trailing transport mode behind said tractor when
`said tractor is travelling in a direction opposite to
`the swathing direction,
`said rear frame member of said swather head being
`supported at one end by said hinge means and at
`the other end on the side of said centre‘line oppo
`site to said tractor by a ground engaging wheel
`means, and
`said hinge means providing a second pivot axis sub
`stantially perpendicular to the substantially vertical
`axis for permitting pivoting of said rear frame
`member in a vertical plane relative to said trans‘
`verse support member whereby said other end of
`said rear frame member supported on said wheel
`can follow ground contour,
`lock means for selectively holding said frame member
`against said swinging movement from said trans
`versely extending direction to said transport mode.
`5. A structure as de?ned in claim 4, wherein said
`hinge means includes a hinge member connected by a
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`pin connection at an inner end thereof to the outer hinge
`end of said transversely extending frame member for
`pivoting about said substantially vertical axis, said hinge
`member having a second pin connection at an outer end
`thereof providing a horizontal pivot axis for permitting
`said pivoting of said rear frame member in the vertical
`plane.
`6. A structure as de?ned in claim 5, wherein the sub
`stantially vertical axis is formed by said pin connection
`at the outer hinge end of said transversely extending
`frame member and being slanted upwardly in a direc
`tion_toward said centre-line whereby on the swinging
`movement of said head to the trailing transport mode
`said rear frame member turns about its long