Inertia compensation for a reciprocating mowing sickle
AssigneeAGCO International GmbH
InventorJonas Toft Andersen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mowing sickle drive system comprises a knife bar supported by a frame and drive apparatus operable to drive the knife bar in a reciprocating linear motion at a variable drive frequency. A spring is coupled to the knife bar for applying a restoring force to the knife bar toward a neutral position when in motion. The spring has a variable modulus of elasticity that is controlled dependent upon the drive frequency.
Claims17
A mowing sickle drive system comprising:
- a knife bar supported by a frame;
- drive apparatus operable to drive the knife bar in a reciprocating linear motion at a variable drive frequency;
- a spring coupled to the knife bar for applying a restoring force to the knife bar toward a neutral position when in motion, wherein the spring has a variable modulus of elasticity that is dependent upon the drive frequency;
- and
- a control module in communication with the drive apparatus and the inertia compensation device, wherein the control module is configured to command an increase in the modulus of elasticity of the spring in response to an increase in the drive frequency of the knife bar.
A header for attachment to a combine harvester, the header comprising a mowing sickle drive system comprising:
- a knife bar supported by a frame;
- drive apparatus operable to drive the knife bar in a reciprocating linear motion at a variable drive frequency;
- a spring coupled to the knife bar for applying a restoring force to the knife bar toward a neutral position when in motion, wherein the spring has a variable modulus of elasticity that is dependent upon the drive frequency;
- and
- a control module in communication with the drive apparatus and the inertia compensation device, wherein the control module is configured to command an increase in the modulus of elasticity of the spring in response to an increase in the drive frequency of the knife bar.
A combine harvester and header combination comprising a mowing sickle drive system comprising:
- a knife bar supported by a frame;
- drive apparatus operable to drive the knife bar in a reciprocating linear motion at a variable drive frequency;
- a spring coupled to the knife bar for applying a restoring force to the knife bar toward a neutral position when in motion, wherein the spring has a variable modulus of elasticity that is dependent upon the drive frequency;
- and
- a control module in communication with the drive apparatus and the inertia compensation device, wherein the control module is configured to command an increase in the modulus of elasticity of the spring in response to an increase in the drive frequency of the knife bar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.