CA1183355B - Swather - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A self-propelled swather having a tractor unit with a central cutting head and at least one,but preferably two side cutting heads, one each being disposed on either side of the tractor unit and having the inner ends thereof behind and aligned with the outer ends of the central head. The central head is carried solely by the tractor while the side heads are carried at their inner ends by the tractor unit and at their outer ends by caster wheels. A pivot connection is provided between the inner ends of the side heads and the tractor unit so that the heads can swing from the work position to a transport position wherein the front cutting edges of the side heads are substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the tractor. Thus, the swather is readily maneuverable in the transport position and in width is only a fraction of the swather in its work position.
The cutting height of the individual heads may be separately adjustable, and a separate drive is provided to the knives, reels and conveyors of each head.

Description

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This invention relates to an agricultural machine of a type having a tractor unit and a number of heads, including one or two side heads o~ which swing rear-wardly to a transport position.
In harvesting equipment, such as swathers, it has been known to utillze a number of heads so as to cut a wide swath on each pass. A number of these types of swathers have three heads which are transversely aligned and wherein the two outer heads swing upwardly about their inner ends during transport. :[t has normally been proposed when the heads are transversely aligned to drive the knives and reels from a common drive. Generally~ the known types of multi-head swathers have experienced difficulties in the drlve systems which are of a complex design. When the heads are in a transport position the machine is awkward to handle and is restricted as to relatively wide roadways and high overhead obstruct:ions.
According to the present invention, there is pro-vided a swather for use with a tractor unit navin~ a prime mover, a central head and at least one side head. In a mounted condition, the central head is mounted in front of the tractor unit and has a front edge cutting means e~tending between opposite end edges. The side head is disposed at a side of the tractor unit and has a front edge cutting means extending between an inner end adjacent the tractor unit and an outer end, the inner end of the side head being behind and substantially aligned with one end edge of the central head when the ~, 33S~
side head is .in a work positi.on. Pivot mecln5 colmects the side head to the tractor ~.mlt a-t the inner end thereof and pel~nits sw.inging rearwardly of the side head to a transport position. In the transport position, the front edge of the side head is substantially parallel to the normal directio.n of travel oE the tractor unit.
In a specific embcdiment of this inven~ion, a pa.ir of s.ide heads are ~tilized, one each being disposed on opposite sides of the tractor and in the work posit.ion each having an inner end behind and substantially aligned with the opposite end edges of the central head. Both side heads have the front edges thereof substantially parallel to the direction of travel when pivoted back to a transport position.
More specifically, the central head may be supported solely by the tractor unit, and each side head is supported at its inner end by the tractor unit and at its outer end by ground engaging means, such as a caster wheel.
Also in a specific embcdiment of the invention each head has individual cutting height adjusting means, and the cutting means of each head is driven by separate power transmitting means from ~he tractor unit.
In the accompanying drawings, which show one embodiment as an example;
Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the swather in a working mcde;
Figure 2 is a plan view the same as Figure 1, but with the heads in a transport position;
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a pivot means between a side head and the tractor as seen from the line 3--3 of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a view as seen from line 4--4 of Figure 1 illustrating a height adjustment means;
Figure 5 is a view of a ground engaging means of the head as seen from line 5--5 of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a side view of the ground engaging 3~
means shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a par-tlal plan view showing an alternative connection between the tractor and side head; and Figure 8 is a rear view of an embodiment of a transEer conveyor mounted below the tractor unit.
The reference number 10 generally denotes the ~wather of the present invention, the swather 10 including a tractor unit 11, a central cutting head 12, and in ~e disclosed embodiment there is shcwn a pair of side cutting heads 13 and 14. The tractor unit 11 includes a body having a chassis with main frame members 36,36 carried by front drive wheels 37,37 and rear steering wheels 38,38. The drive wheels 37 r 37 are larger than the rear wheels 38,38 and the rear wheels may include a standard automotive type steer controlled from a operators position 42 in a cab near the front of the tractor unit. The tractor unit has a transversely disposed prime mover, such as a Diesel engine 40, with drive means 41 extending to the front wheels and controlled by a transmission system from the operators position 42. The tractor unit is also provided with power-take-off means in the form of 2Q a transversely extending shaft 43, the shaft 43 being driven from the engine 40 and the rotation of which is controllable from the operators position. The ends 44,44 of the shaft extend from opposite sides of the tractor unit. The tractor unit includes other structural features, many of which will be further described below.
me central head 12 has a main frame member 15 extending across th-e ful~ width-of the head at the back thereof, and the frame m~ber 15 is carried at the front of the tractor unit by brackets 16,16. The central head 12 has a front edge cutting means 17 extending full width of the head between opposite end edges 18,18 of the central 35~
head. The front edge cutting ~eans includes the conventional reciprocating knife 20 and a rotating reel 21 disposed above the knife. The knife 20 and reel 21 are both driven by a main drive shaft 22 which extends the width of the head; a belt drive 23 being shown at the left hand end of the head for driving the reel, and pitman crank mechanism (not shown) being provided for reciprocating the knife.
Rearwardly of -the front edge cutting means 17 is a transversely extending conveying means 24 which is also driven by main drive shaft 22, the conveying means 2~
for the central head including two endless belts, the upper flights of which are shown at 25 and 26. The drive mechanism (not shown) for the belts is adapted to drive the bel-ts so that the upper flights 25 and 26 bo-th travel in the same direction as indicated by arrows A and B.
Alternatively, the belt having upper flight 25 can be driven so that the upper flight thereof travels in the opposite direction, i.e. the direction indicated by the arrow C. The central head 12 has a pair of outlets 27,28, one each being located inside of each of ends 18,18. When the conveyor belts are driven so that the upper flights 25 and 26 travel in opposite directions, as indicated by arrows C and B, the vegetation cut by the front edge cutting means 17 is divided and exits through both outlets 27 and 28. If the belts are driven so that the upper flights 25 and 26 travel in the same directions, as indicated by arrows A and B, all the vegetation cut by the front edge cutting 17 of the central head is discharged via outlet 28 in a single ~ 33~i5 windrow as indicated at 3~.
Each of the side heads 13 and 14 has a main frame n~mber 55 and 65, respectively; a front edge cutting means 57 and 67, respectively; a reciprocating knife 60 and 70, respectively; a rotating reel 61 and 71, respectively; a main drive shaft 62 and 72, respectively; and a belt drive 63 and 73, respectively; whi~h correspond suhstantially to the Erame n~nber 15, front edge cutting means 17, reciprocating knife 20/ rotating reel 21, main ~rive shaft 22 and belt drive 23 of the central head 12. Unlike the central head 12, the side heads 13 and 14 are carried only at inner ends 56 and 66, respectively, by the tractor unit 11, this beinq done through piv~t means 58 and 68, which will be described in more detail below. m e outer ends of the side heads 13 and 14 are carried on ground engaging means 69 and 79 respectively. Each of said heads 13 and 14 have conve~or means 75 and 76 immediately behind the front edge cutting means 57 and 67 thereof and driven by means (not shown) frGm the main drive shaft 62 and 72 of the respective side head. Unlike the central head, side head 13 has a single outlet opening 64 at its inner end 56, and the conveyor means 75 and may include a single endless belt which has a top flight 77 adapted to travel in an inwardly direction towards outlet opening 64, as indicated by arrow D.
The conveyor means 75 and 76 of the side heads may include two endless belts the same as that described in connection with the central head, but adapted to drive in the same direction, i.e., tcwards ~he tractor unit. With the use of exceptional long heads the use of the two endless belts may be more satisfactory than one very long belt. The conveyor means 76 of the ri~ht hand head includes a top flight 78 which is driven towards ou-tlet opening 74 at the inner end of the right head, as indicated by arrow E
When the side heads 13 and 14 are in their work position, as shown in Figure 1, the inner ends 56 and 66 are i3~55 behind the cen-tral head 12 and sub.stantlally aligned with the opposite end edges 18,18 o~ the central head so that the width of the swa-th taken by the swather 10 is substantially equal to the total lengths of the three heads. For example, if each head is 25 feet in length, the total width of the swather is approximately 75 feet.
If the conveyor means of the central head is operated so that the travel of the upper flights 25 and 26 are opposite, the dlscharqed vecetatiorlis layed in ~wo windrows which are jointed by the discharge of the two side heads. Two parallel win~rows of substantially the same size are laid at a spacing slightly less than the total width of the central head.
The tractor has brackets 80,80 extending from opposite sides thereof and forming a bifurcated portion defining a pair of arms 89,89 terminating in vertically spaced ends 81,81 which provide journal openings 82,82 (Figure 3) in the pivot méans 58. The journals receive the outer bearing ends 83,83 of a cross shaped member 84.
The member 84 has outer bearing ends 85,85 which project perpendiculax to the outer end 83,83, and ends 85~85 are received in journal openings 86,86 of a bifurcated portion provided by arms having horizontally spaced ends 87,87, the bifurcated portion being a part of a bracket 90 which is provided at the inner end of main frame 55. The pivot means 58 thus forms a universal type joint between brackets 80 on the tractor unit and bracket 90 on the inner end of the main frame 55 of the left hand head 13. The pivot means 58 permits the tractor unit 11 to carry the inner end of 3~iS
the head 13, while permitting the outer end of ~he head to pivot upwardly and downwardly as -the ground engaging means 69 travels over terrain which is at a different level than -the tractor, this pivoting motion takiny place about horizontal axis H--H provided by bearing ends 85,85 of the member 84 (Figure 3). The head is also permitted to swing to the transport position shown in Figure 2 because of the vertical axis of pivot ~--V
provided by bearing ends ~3,83 of the member 84. The pivot means 68 connecting head 14 to the tractor unit is of the same construction as pivot means 58 and requires no further description.
Attached to frames 36,36 of tractor unit 11 are brackets 95,95 which project transversely from the side of the tractor unit and are forward of brackets ~0,80. Projecting forwardly from main frame members 55 and 65 of the side heads 13 and 14 are brackets 96,96.
A piston and cylinder type motor 97 is pivotally connected at opposite ends between bracket 95 and 96 at each side of the tractor. When the motors 97,97 are contracted from the extended position shown in Figure 2 to the contracted position shown in Figure 1, the side heads are swung from a travel position to a work position. The engine 40 is preferably equipped with a hydraulic pump (not shown) which may be used for various power assist units, such as the steering of the tractor unit 11, as is customary; and a control valve (not shown) may be provided a-t the operators position 42, whereby the flow of pressurized fluid of the ~otors 97,97 by way of conduits (not shown) is controlled so as to swing ~ ~ ~335~i the side heads 13 and 14 between the transport and work positions from within the tractor cab.
A pair of rigid members or struts 98,98 having pin connecting means a-t opposite ends thereof may be removably connected between the main frames 55 and 65 of the side heads and the tractor unit 11 rearwardly of brackets 80 so that the motors 97,97 are not re~uired to hold the side heads 13 and 14 in the work position (Figure 1).
The side heads are prevented from swinging rearwardly during operation by stru-ts 98,98, which may be readily removed whenit is desired to allow the side heads to swing to the trailing or transport positions (Figure 23.
Connected between the inner ends of the main drive shafts 62 and 72 of the side heads 13 and 14 and the outer ends 44,44 of the transverse power shaft 43 there are provided, a telescopic dri~7e sections 101 (Figure 2) mcluding a spaced pair of universal joints 102,102, this drive mechanism being of the type normally used between a P.T.O. shaft and an implement equipped with a power driven shaft. The drive shafts 62 and 72 are thus driveable by the transverse power shaft 43 of the tractor unit so that the knives, reels and conveyors are thus driven when the side heads are in the work position and the power shaft 43 is placed in gear. The drive section 101 and universal joints 102,102 permit the side heads to swing to the transport position without disconnection of the drive.
On the left hand side of the tractor unit 11, the power shaft 43 is provided with a belt sheave 103 (Fiqure 1). A

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bel-t sheave 104 is also secured on main drlve shaft 22 of central l~ead 12, and a dr:lve bel-t 105 encircles the sheaves 103 and 104 for transmitting rotary drive to main drive shaft 22 simultaneously with drive -transmission to main drive shafts 62 and 72 of the si.de heads 13 and 14.
As was explained above, the upper flights 77 and 78 of the conveyor neans in the side heads 13 and 14 are driven in direction of arrows D and ~, and the pair of upper flights 25 and 26 of the conveyor means 24 in the central head may operate in opposite directions, as indicateQ by arrows B and C,whereby two parallel windrows of substantially the same size are formed. If the upper flights 25 and 26 of conveyor means 24 are operated in the same direct, the cut vegetation of the central head ll and side head 14 are dumped in a single windrow 30, an acldition conveyor means 106 may be provided to transfer the cut vegetation being discharged by head 13 from outlet opening 64 to the same windrow 30. The conveyor means 106 may include a frame 107, which is secured below frame members 36,36, and extends transversely relative to the direction of travel of the tractor unit ll. The conveyor means 106 further includes a continuous belt, which may be driven by a drive means (not shown) from power shaft ~3, the continuous belt having an upper flight 108 travelling in the direction of arrow F. The cut vegetation is thus Carried under the chassis of the tractor unit l from the left hand to the right hand side thereof. The type of crop being _ g _ ,.a~3~
harvested and its heavlness may cletermine whether a single windrow or double windrows are formed.
Figure 8 illustrates a conveyor means 106' which includes two conveyor se~tions 205,206 having upper flights 207,208 both driven in the direction of arrows M by means (not shown). ConveYor section 207 is mounted at opposite ends beneath frame n~mber 36,36 by mounting members 209,210 with a fixed ground clearance. Conveyor section 208 is pivotally connected to mounting m~mber 210 adjacent the end of conveyor section 207 and has an outer end which rests on an extension 212 of a member r2,11 carried by head 13 below conveyor means 75. Thus as head 13 is adjusted upwardly and dcwnwardly, a smooth transfer of the cut vegetation is assured between conveyor means 75 and conveyor means 1061. Moreover, when the swather is prepared for transportation and the head 13 is swung to the transporting position, the conveyor section 208 can be swung upwardly about its pivot axis and held up by an adjustable chain means 214 or similar arrangement.
Referring to Figure 4, the body portion 110 of the head 13 which carries the front edge C~Ttting means 57, i.e. knife 60 and reel 61, and the conveyor means 75, is connected at its rear side to the main frame 55 bY way of a pivot connection 111. A height adjusting cylinder means 112 is provided adjacent the outer end of the head 13, and a like cylinder means 112 (not shown) is provided adjacent the outer end. The cylinder means 112 is pivotally connected at op~osite ends to the frame 55 and the body portion 110 so that as the cylinder means 112 is expanded the front edge cutting means 57 is raised because the body portion is caused to pivot upwardly about connection 111.
Pressurized hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder means via fluid conduits (not shown) from the hydraulic system of the tractor unit through a control valve located adjacent the operators posi-tion 42. Control of pressurized fluid to cylinder means 112 to cause its contraction brings about lowering of the Eront edge cutting means. Each oE heads 12 and 14 may be 3~

similarly equippecl with cylinder means (no-t sho~) and may be con-trolled by separate control vaLves in the tractor cab so that -the cuttiny height of each of the three heads may be individually controlled. The central head 12, behind which the windrow(s) are formed, n~y be set lcwer, for example, than the two side heads 13 and 14.
The two ground engaging means 69 and 79 of the two side heads 13 and 14 m y be of slightly different contruction for reasons which will become apparent. The ground engaging means 69 and 79 each may include dual wheels 115,115 mounted for rotation a~out a c~m~n axis on aligned axles 116,116 projectin~ horizontally from a central n~mher 117. An upwardly extending ~ertical spindle 118 is fixed to central me~ber 117 and is freely journalled in a bracket 119 which is fixed to a rear side of the main frame member of the head. The central member 117 and spindle may form a caster angle relative to the vertical so that the dual wheels will automatically swing to the direction of travel, i.e. through 90 as illustrated in the t~o positions shown in Figures 1 and 2.
m e ground engaging means 79 is shown as including a crank arm 122 fixed to the upper end of spindle 118. A piston and cylinder type motor 123 is pivotally connected at one end to the frame 65. A piston rod 124 of the mctor 123 is pivotally connected by connecting means 129 to the crank arm 122.
The motor 123 is double acting and receives pressurized fluid via conduits 125,125 so as to cause the m~tor to contract or expand and thus turn the spindle 118 and thereby steer the dual wheels 115,115 of the ground engaging means 79. The connecting means is of a type to permit ready attachment to the crank arm when the head 14 is in the transport position; otherwise, the piston rod 124 is not connected to the crank arm 122, and the motor 123 is simply carried behind ~ain frame 65 when the head 14 is in i~s w~k position. m e flow of pressurized fluid to the motor 123 throu~h conduits 125,125 is supplied by the hydraulic system of the tractor unit 11, preferably by a control valve ~Ihich is activated by a foot pedal at the operators position 42.
-- 11 ~

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When in the transpor-t position, -the piston and cylinder type motors 97,97 are allowed to float so that the side heads 13 and 1~ can freely trail. When negotiating a tight corner steer of head 14 is effected by activating the foot pedal controlling flow of fluid to the motor 123 so that the caster wheels 115,115 are turned. A tie bar 130 having a pin type connector at opposite ends may be provided to transfer the steer force from head 14 to head 13 (Figure 2)~
From the above description of the swather 10, it can be appreciated that very few manipulations are required to alter the swather from a working condition to a transport condition and vice versa. For example, when entering a field after travel, the tie bar 130 is removed and the motor 123 is disconnected from the crank arm 122. The motors 97,97 are then activated to swing the side heads to the work positions, and the struts 98,98 are placed in the positions shown in Figure 1. The drive systems for all of the heads require no set-up at this time, and therefore, the height of the front edge cutting means 17, 57 and 67 can be adjusted by activating the cylinder means 112 of each head as the cutting is co~menced.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 7, the motors 97,97 and struts 98,98 are replaced by an arrangement which permits the side heads to be swung from the transport position to the work position from within the tractor cab without having to manually remove the struts. The arrangement includes struts 98', each of which is pivotally connected at opposite ends to the side head and the tractor unit bu-t is formed by two rigid sections 200, 201 33~5 connected by an intermedia~e hinge join-t 203 so tha-t each strut can be folded. ~ piston and cylinder type motor 204, which is provided in place of motor ~7 for each head, is pivotally connected at one end to the main frame of the head and at the other end to the section of the strut connected to the main frame. Thus, when the side head is to be swuny to the work position (shown in chain dotted lines) the motor 204 is activated to move the folded strut to a straight line condition wherein the strut is capable of holding the side head in its work position. The movement of the strut from its folded to straight line condition provides the force for swinging the side head from its trailing to its transversely projecting position. The control valve (not shown), through which the fluid is supplied to the motor 204, is located in the cab and this valve has a floa~ position which is utilized when the heads are in the transport position.
As previously indicated, the swather 10 according to the present invention may be constructed utilizing the same principles set out with reference to the drawings, but with only one side head instead of the pair of side heads. This alternative still achieves advantages over known swathers b~ being capable of cutting a wide swath while still being easily adjusted to a much narrower travel mode. However, by utilizing a pair of side heads as described in the embodiment which has been set forth as an example of the invention~ a much wider swath is obtained, and the width of the machine in the travel mode i9 substantially the same 3~35~
as when only one side heacl is provided.
~ he mountings of the heads on the trac-tor unit 11 are relatively simple so that ready removal is possible whereby the tractor unit could be equipped with other means, such as spraying booms to thexeby permit use of the tractor other than during the swathing season.
The specific embodiments of the invention are described above to give examples of the invention, it being readily apparent that various modifications within the spirit of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims could be made by one skilled in the art.

Claims (41)

1. A self-propelled swather comprising a tractor unit including a prime mover;
a central head mounted in front of said tractor unit and having front edge cutting means extending between oppo-site end edges;
a pair of side heads, one each being disposed on either side of said tractor unit and each having front edge cutting means extending between an inner end adjacent said tractor unit and an outer end, said inner ends of said side head being behind and substantially aligned one each with said opposite end edges of said central head in a work posi-tion; and pivot means connecting said side heads to said tractor unit at the inner ends of said side heads and per-mitting swinging of each head to a trailing transport posi-tion, the front edges of said side heads in the transport position being substantially parallel to the normal direction of travel of said tractor unit.

2. In a swather of the type including a tractor unit having a prime mover:
a central head mounted in front of said tractor unit and having front edge cutting means extending between opposite end edges;
at least one side head disposed at a side of said tractor unit and having a front cutting edge extending between an inner end adjacent said tractor unit and an outer end, said inner end of said side head being behind and substantially aligned with one end edge of said central head in a work position; and pivot means connecting said side head to said tractor unit at the inner end of said side head and permitting swinging of the side head to a trailing transport position, the front edge of said side head in the transport position being substantially parallel to the normal direction of travel of said tractor unit.

3. A self-propelled swather as defined in claim 1, wherein said central head is supported solely by said tractor unit, and said side heads are supported at the outer end there-of by ground engaging means.

4. A swather as defined in claim 2, and including a pair of the side heads, one each disposed on opposite sides of said tractor and in the work position having the inner ends thereof behind and substantially aligned with the opposite end edges of the central head, the front edges of both of the side heads being substantially parallel to the normal direction of travel in the transport position.

5. A swather as defined in claim 4, wherein each side head is supported at the inner end thereof solely by said tractor unit.

6. A self-propelled swather as defined in claim 3, wherein said ground engaging means includes a caster wheel.

7. A swather as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each head has individual cutting height adjustment means.

8. A swather as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the cutting means of each head is driven by individual power transmitting means from said tractor unit.

9. A swather as defined in claim 4 , wherein said pivot means connecting each side head to said tractor unit comprises means defining a vertical axis of pivot for permitting said side head to pivot between said work and transport positions and a horizon-tal axis of pivot perpendicular to said vertical axis to permit movement in a vertical plane and thereby ac-commodate said ground engaging means running over uneven ground.

10. A swather as defined in claim 8, wherein each side head includes a main frame member connected at an inner end to said pivot means and carried adjacent an outer end thereof by said ground engaging means.

11. A swather as defined in claim 9, wherein each side head includes a body portion carried by said frame member and projecting forwardly therefrom to said front edge cutting means.

12. A swather as defined in claim 10, and including height adjusting means connected between said frame member and said body portion for raising and lowering said front cutting edge thereof.

13. A swather as defined in claim 12 wherein said height adjusting means includes hydraulic piston and cylinder means, and further including hydraulic lines connected between said piston and cylinder means of each side head and a separate manual control valve means carried by said tractor unit for each side head.

14. A swather as defined in claim 9, including conveyor means carried by said body portion rearwardly of said front cutting edge and extending from said outer end to said inner end of each side head.

15 . A swather as defined in claim 12, wherein said conveyor means includes a continuous belt having an upper flight for carrying cut vegetation for delivery at said inner end of said side head.

16 . A swather as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein the side head includes conveyor means rearward of said front edge cutting means and extending from the outer end of the side head to the inner end thereof for delivery of cut vegetation from the side head to a location adjacent opposite sides of said tractor unit.

17 . A swather as defined in claim 15, and wherein said central head has conveyor means rearwardly of said front cutting edge and extending between said end edges for delivery of cut vegetation to a location adjacent at least one end edge.

18. A swather as defined in claim 4, wherein tile side head includes conveyor means rearward of said front cutting edge and extending from the outer end of the side head to the inner end thereof for delivery of cut vegetation from the side head to a location adjacent opposite sides of said tractor unit.

19. A swather as defined in claim 18, and wherein said central head has conveyor means rearwardly of said front cutting edge and extending between said end edges for delivery of cut vegetation to a location adjacent at least one end edge.

20. A swather as defined in claim 19, and further including conveyor means extending from adjacent the delivery of one side head to the delivery of the other side head whereby the total delivery of both side heads is at the side of the tractor unit ad-jacent said other side head.

21. A swather as defined in claim 20, wherein the conveyor means of said central head de-livers all of the front cutting edge to a location adjacent the end edge thereof in front of the inner end of said other side head whereby a single windrow is formed.

22. A swather as defined in claim 18, wherein said conveyor means of said central head includes a pair of conveyors extending from a midpoint of said central head to the opposite end edges thereof, said central head having delivery outlets adjacent the opposite end edges.

23. A swather as defined in claim 22, wherein said central head has conveyor drive means for selectively driving said pair of conveyors for de-livery totally in one direction towards one of said de-livery outlets or alternatively for separating the delivery in opposite directions whereby the cut vegetation is divided for delivery simultaneously to both delivery outlets.

24. A swather as defined in claim 23, wherein said pair of conveyors includes a pair of continous belts, each belt having an upper flight ex-tending from a midpoint of the central head to one of the opposite end edges, said top flights in one mode of operation travelling in the same direction and in other mode travel-ling in opposite directions from said midpoint toward op-posite end edges.

25. A swather as defined in claim 20, wherein said conveyor for delivering vegetation from said one side head to adjacent said other head includes a continuous belt carried in a frame extending transversely below said tractor unit and a continuous belt carried by said frame and having an upper flight driven in a direction from adjacent the inner end of said one side head to a location adjacent the inner end of said other side head.

26. A swather as defined in claim 10, wherein said central head includes a main frame member carried on the front end of said tractor unit and a body portion carried by said frame member thereof and projecting forwardly to said front cutting means.

27. A swather as defined in claim 26 and including height adjusting means connected between said frame and said body portion for raising and lowering said front cutting edge means thereof.

28. A swather as defined in claim 26, wherein the body portion of each head supports a transversely extending, rotating drive shaft, said drive shaft including drive means connecting said drive shaft to operating components of each respective head.

29. A swather as defined in claim 28, wherein said tractor unit has transversely extending, rotating power shaft, and further comprising drive means drivingly connecting said power shaft to said prime mover, a pair of drive shafts provided with universal connections each conecting one end of said power shaft to said drive shaft of each side head.

30. A swather as defined in claim 29, and further including a belt sheave adjacent one end of said power shaft and an aligned belt sheave on the drive shaft of the central head, and belt means encircling said sheaves for transferring drive from said power shaft to said drive shaft of said central head.

31. A swather as defined in claim 10, and including a separate hydraulic piston and cylinder means connected between said tractor unit and the main frame of each side head for swinging said side heads be-tween said travel and work positions.

32. A swather as defined in claim 31 and including hydraulic lines connecting said piston and cylinder means with manual control valve means within said tractor unit.

33 A swather as defined in claim 31 or 32, and further including rigid strut means connectable between each side head and said tractor unit in said work position.

34. A swather as defined in claim 31 or 32, and including a rigid connector detatachably connected between said side heads in said transport position.

35. A swather as defined in claim 9, wherein said ground engaging means includes a horizontal axle portion mounting at least one ground engaging wheel, a substantially vertical shaft fixed to said axle portion and providing a turning axis for said wheel, a crank arm fixed to said shaft, and power means connectable to said crank arm for steering said wheel.

36. A swather as defined in claim 35, wherein said power means includes a hydraulic motor connected between said main frame of at least one of said side heads, hydraulic leads extending from said tractor unit to said hydraulic motor, and manual control means on said tractor unit for controlling the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic motor.

37. A swather as defined in claim 36, wherein said manual control means includes a foot pedal.

38. A swather as defined in claim 36 wherein said hydraulic motor includes a piston and cylinder motor, one end of said motor being readily detatachable from said crank arm when said side heads are in said work position.

39. A swather as defined in claim 31, 37 or 38, wherein said motor means is connected between the main frame and the crank arm of one side head, and further including a tie rod having a pin connection at opposite ends thereof, means carried on main frame of each side head for receiving the pin connections, whereby said tie rod jams said heads in the transport position and transfer a steering force developed in said one head to the other head.

40. A swather as defined in claim 10, and further including a pair of strut means, on each being pivotally connected at a forward end to the main frame of one of the side heads and at a rear end thereof to said tractor unit, each strut means including two rigid sections joined intermediate the ends of said strut means by a hinge joint, and means for holding said strut in a substantially straight line configuration whereby the side head associated therewith is maintained in said work position.

41. A swather as defined in claim 40 wherein said strut means folds at said hinge joint as said side head swings to said transport position, and including a piston and cylinder type motor pivotally connected at one end to the main frame of said side head and at the other end to the rigid section of said strut means connected to said main frame, whereby upon contraction and expansion of said motor said strut means is moved between the transport and work positions.