Road travel system for an agricultural vehicle

Abstract

An agricultural vehicle having a chassis, wheels, a power unit, and a header. The header has a center section, at least one wing section extending laterally from the center section, and a wing section support. The center section is movable relative to the chassis, the wing section is movable relative to the center section, and the wing support is movable relative to the wing section. The combine has a control system that is configured to determine that the combine is configured to drive at a road-driving speed, and in response to such determination: operate a center section actuator to move the center section to a raised center section position, operate a wing section actuator to move the wing section to a raised wing section position, and operate a wing support actuator to move the wing support to a raised wing support position.

1 . An agricultural vehicle header and control system comprising:
 a chassis having a forward direction;   a header movably mounted to the chassis, the header comprising:
 a center section extending, in a lateral direction relative to the forward travel direction, from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, the center section being movable relative to the chassis between a lowered center section position and a raised center section position, 
 a center section actuator configured to move the center section from the lowered center section position to the raised center section position, 
 a first wing section movably mounted to the first end of the center section and extending in the lateral direction away from the center section, the first wing section being movable relative to the center section between a lowered first wing section position and a raised first wing section position, 
   a first wing section actuator configured to move the first wing section from the lowered first wing section position to the raised first wing section position; and   a control system configured to receive one or more inputs indicative of an intent to or initiation of entering a road driving mode, and upon receiving the one or more inputs:
 operate the center section actuator to move the center section to the raised center section position, and 
 operate the first wing section actuator to move the first wing section to the raised first wing section position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the header is movably mounted to the chassis by a feeder housing. 
     
     
         3 . The agricultural vehicle of header and control system  claim 1 , wherein the header is mounted to a front end of the chassis with respect to the forward travel direction. 
     
     
         4 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the first wing section is pivotally mounted to the center section. 
     
     
         5 . The agricultural vehicle of header and control system  claim 1 , wherein:
 the header further comprises:
 a first wing support movably mounted to the first wing section, the first wing support being movable between a lowered first wing support position and a raised first wing support position, and 
 a first wing support actuator configured to move the first wing support from the lowered first wing support position to the raised first wing support position; and 
   the control system is configured to operate the first wing support to a raised position upon determined that the combine is configured to drive the one or more of the plurality of wheels at a road driving speed.   
     
     
         6 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 5 , wherein the first wing support is pivotally mounted to the first wing section. 
     
     
         7 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the center section actuator and the first wing section actuator comprises a hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more inputs comprises an input indicating a gear position of a wheel drive transmission. 
     
     
         9 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more inputs comprises an input indicating a velocity of the chassis. 
     
     
         10 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more inputs comprises an input indicating that a physical position of the chassis on a map corresponds to a road. 
     
     
         11 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to, upon receiving the one or more inputs, send a signal to a user interface to instruct an operator to engage a power take-off, and after determining that the power take-off is engaged, operate the center section actuator, and operate the first wing section actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to, upon receiving the one or more inputs, automatically engage a power take-off configured to transfer power from a main power unit of the chassis to one or both of the center section actuator and the first wing section actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 12 , wherein the control system is further configured to, upon receiving the one or more inputs, send a signal to a user interface indicating that the power take-off has been activated. 
     
     
         14 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to, upon receiving the one or more inputs:
 automatically activate a secondary power supply; and   use the secondary power supply to operate one or both of the center section actuator and the first wing section actuator.   
     
     
         15 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 1 , wherein the header further comprises:
 a second wing section movably mounted to the second end of the center section and extending in the lateral direction away from the center section, the second wing section being movable relative to the center section between a lowered second wing section position and a raised second wing section position; and   a second wing section actuator configured to move the second wing section from the lowered second wing section position to the raised second wing section position.   
     
     
         16 . The agricultural vehicle header and control system of  claim 15 , wherein the control system is configured to, upon receiving the one or more inputs, operate the second wing section actuator to move the second wing section to the raised second wing section position. 
     
     
         17 . An agricultural vehicle comprising:
 a chassis having a forward direction;   a plurality of wheels supporting the chassis for movement on a surface;   a main power unit configured to selectively drive one or more of the plurality of wheels to move the chassis;   a header movably mounted to the chassis, the header comprising:
 a center section extending, in a lateral direction relative to the forward travel direction, from a first lateral end to a second lateral end, the center section being movable relative to the chassis between a lowered center section position and a raised center section position, 
 a center section actuator configured to move the center section from the lowered center section position to the raised center section position, 
 a first wing section movably mounted to the first end of the center section and extending in the lateral direction away from the center section, the first wing section being movable relative to the center section between a lowered first wing section position and a raised first wing section position, 
 a first wing section actuator configured to move the first wing section from the lowered first wing section position to the raised first wing section position; and 
   a control system configured to receive one or more inputs indicative of an intent to or initiation of entering a road driving mode, and upon receiving the one or more inputs:
 operate the center section actuator to move the center section to the raised center section position, and 
 operate the first wing section actuator to move the first wing section to the raised first wing section position. 
   
     
     
         18 . The agricultural vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the agricultural vehicle comprises an agricultural combine having a threshing and separating system in operative communication with the header. 
     
     
         19 . The agricultural vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein one or more of the plurality of wheels comprise tracked wheels or pneumatic tires. 
     
     
         20 . The agricultural vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more inputs comprise one or more of:
 an input indicating a gear position of a wheel drive transmission;   an input indicating a velocity of the chassis; and   an input indicating that a physical position of the chassis on a map corresponds to a road.