Importance

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Abstract

A mower-conditioner includes a header suspended from a mobile, main transverse frame by a pair of lower links, a single upper link and a pair of counterbalance springs. The upper link incorporates a threaded spindle to which a crank is coupled for changing the effective length of the upper link which extends between respective bearings carried by the main frame and the header and in this way pivots the header about the horizontal transverse axis defined by the bearings at the forward ends of the lower links so as to change the cutting angle of the cutter bar incorporated in the header. The upper link is mounted for sliding through the bearing carried by the header so as to permit the header to pivot upwardly about the axis in response to the cutter bar coming into contact with an obstacle during cutting operation. A coil compression spring is received on the upper link and biases it to its full effective length, the spring acting to cushion any impact of the cutter bar with an obstacle tending to tilt the header and acting to return the header to its original position once the obstacle is passed. Counterbalance springs are coupled between opposite ends of the main frame and opposite sides of the header, the springs being substantially vertically oriented with their lower ends coupled close to the bearings at the fronts of the lower links which bearings are in turn displaced only a short horizontal distance from the center of gravity of the header so as to minimize the moments about the bearings due to the weight of the header and the force of the counterbalance springs.

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First Claim