Back to results
US 11,547,043 B2Granted
Harvesting header knife drive assembly
AssigneeHoney Bee Manufacturing Ltd.
InventorsGregory Honey, Glenn Honey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A knife drive assembly for use in a harvesting header may be mounted near the center line of the cutter bar of the header. Mechanical power from the power unit behind the header (typically the combine power output shaft) may be translated for application to two knife assembly sections in the cutter bar at the front of the cutter table. Movement of the two knife assembly sections with this apparatus can be fully synchronized and 180 degrees out of phase, to maximize cutting effectiveness and minimize vibration of the header. The unitary drive assembly may allow for rapid repair and manufacture, and the size and weight of the knife drive assembly may represent a significant weight and balance advantage over the prior art.
Claims33
A knife drive assembly for a harvesting header configured to move at least one knife in transverse motion, the assembly comprising:
- (a) a rotation interface mechanism configured and operable to couple with a power source to cause rotation of a rotating member;
- (b) a first movement conversion mechanism operable to convert the rotation of said rotating member to reciprocating longitudinal movement of at least one longitudinally extending movement member;
- (c) a second movement conversion mechanism operable to convert the reciprocating longitudinal movement of the at least one longitudinally extending movement member to transverse reciprocating movement of at least one knife;
- and wherein:
- said at least one longitudinally extending movement member is a first longitudinally extending movement member and wherein said knife drive assembly further comprises a second longitudinally extending movement member;
- said first movement conversion mechanism is operable to convert the rotational movement of the rotating member to create longitudinal reciprocating movement of both said first and second longitudinally extending members;
- said at least one knife drive comprises a first knife and a second knife;
- said second movement conversion mechanism is operable to convert the reciprocating movement of the first and second longitudinally extending movement members to drive first knife and said second knife respectively in transverse motion.
5 more elements
An eccentric drive apparatus comprising:
- a central rotary bearing device having a transverse axis of rotation;
- a first rotatable flywheel mounted for rotation to said rotary bearing device about said axis on a first transverse side of the rotary bearing device;
- a second rotatable flywheel mounted for rotation to said rotary bearing device about said axis on a second transverse side of the rotary bearing device transversely opposite to said first transverse side of the rotary bearing device;
- a first eccentric hub releasably fixedly mounted to said first flywheel;
- said first eccentric hub having an eccentric connection location operable for connection to a first longitudinal drive member;
- the angular position of said first eccentric hub relative to said first flywheel being operable to be selectively varied;
- a second eccentric hub releasably fixedly mounted to said second flywheel, said second eccentric hub having an eccentric connection location operable for connection to a second longitudinal drive member;
- the angular position of said second eccentric hub relative to said second flywheel being operable to be selectively varied.
5 more elements
An eccentric drive apparatus comprising:
- a central rotary bearing device having a transverse axis of rotation;
- a flywheel mounted for rotation to said rotary bearing device about said axis;
- an eccentric hub releasably fixedly mounted to said flywheel;
- said eccentric hub having an eccentric connection location operable for connection to a longitudinal drive member;
- the angular position of said eccentric hub relative to said flywheel being operable to be selectively varied.
2 more elements
A header comprising:
- a main frame;
- a cutter bar assembly mounted to said main frame, said cutter bar assembly having at least one knife;
- a draper assembly mounted to said main frame, said draper assembly having a draper table operable for moving a cut crop;
- a knife drive assembly mounted to said frame and extending longitudinally between an inward region of said main frame of said header and said cutter blade assembly;
- wherein said knife drive assembly is configured and operable to move said at least one knife in transverse motion, the knife drive assembly comprising:
- (a) a drive mechanism operable to drive reciprocating longitudinal movement of at least one longitudinally extending movement member;
- (b) a movement conversion mechanism operable to convert the reciprocating longitudinal movement of the at least one longitudinally extending movement member to transverse reciprocating movement of at least one knife;
- (c) a support frame extending generally longitudinally and supporting said at least one longitudinally extending movement member, said support frame having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having a first end region pivotally inter-connected at a pivotal inter-connection to a first end region of a second portion of said support frame;
- said first portion of said support frame having a second end region located inward of said first end region and said first portion at least in part supporting at least part of said drive mechanism;
- said second portion of said support frame having a second end region located outward of said first end region and being interconnected to said cutter bar assembly to provide a support location for said support frame;
- wherein said support frame of said knife drive assembly extends underneath the draper table;
- said at least part of said drive mechanism being located at said second end region of said first portion of said support frame, and said second end region of said second portion of said support frame supporting said movement conversion mechanism, said first portion of said support frame being pivotally movable relative to said second portion of said support frame at said pivotal inter-connection of said first end region of said first portion of said support frame and said first end region of said second portion of said support frame.
9 more elements
A header comprising:
- a header frame;
- a cutter bar assembly having at least one transversely oriented knife;
- and
- a knife drive assembly mounted longitudinally between an inward region of a frame of said header and said cutter blade assembly, wherein said knife drive assembly comprises:
- (a) a means for coupling with a rotational power source and operable to cause rotation of a rotating member;
- (b) a first means operable for converting the rotation of said rotating member to reciprocating longitudinal movement of first and second longitudinally extending movement members;
- (c) a second means operable for converting the reciprocating longitudinal movement of the first and second longitudinally extending movement members to transverse reciprocating movement of at least one knife;
- wherein the movement of said first longitudinally extending movement member is out of phase with the movement of said second longitudinally extending movement member.
5 more elements
A header comprising:
- a main frame;
- a cutter bar assembly mounted to said main frame, said cutter bar assembly having at least one knife, said cutter bar assembly being movable vertically upwards and downward relative to said main frame;
- a draper assembly mounted to said main frame, said draper assembly having a draper table operable for moving a cut crop;
- a knife drive assembly mounted to said frame and extending longitudinally between an inward region of said main frame of said header and said cutter blade assembly, and said knife drive assembly generally extending beneath said draper table;
- wherein said knife drive assembly is configured and operable to move said at least one knife in transverse motion, the knife drive assembly comprising:
- (a) a first movement conversion mechanism operable to convert rotation of a rotational input power source to reciprocating longitudinal movement of at least one longitudinally extending movement member;
- (b) a second movement conversion mechanism operable to convert the reciprocating longitudinal movement of the at least one longitudinally extending movement member to transverse reciprocating movement of at least one knife;
- (c) a support frame extending generally longitudinally and supporting said at least one longitudinally extending movement member, said support frame;
- said support frame having a first end region located at least in part supporting at least part of said first movement conversion mechanism;
- said support frame having a second end region located outward of said first end region and being interconnected to said cutter bar assembly;
- wherein said support frame of said knife drive assembly extends underneath the draper table;
- wherein said support frame is only directly connected to said main frame at a single pivotal support location at a medial location of said support frame and being operable such that said support frame may pivot about a transverse axis relative to said main frame at said pivotal support location as said cutter bar assembly moves vertically upwards and downwards relative to said main frame;
- and
- wherein said support frame supports said second movement conversion mechanism.
11 more elements
A header comprising:
- (i) a main frame;
- (ii) a cutter bar assembly mounted to said main frame, said cutter bar assembly having at least one knife;
- (iii) a knife drive assembly mounted to said main frame and extending longitudinally between an inward region of said main frame and said cutter bar assembly,
- wherein said knife drive assembly is configured to drive said at least one knife in transverse motion;
- and wherein said knife drive assembly comprises:
- (a) a rotation interface mechanism configured and operable to couple with an external power source to cause rotation of a rotating member;
- (b) a first movement conversion mechanism operable to convert the rotation of said rotating member to reciprocating longitudinal movement of at least one longitudinally extending movement member;
- (c) a second movement conversion mechanism operable to convert the reciprocating longitudinal movement of the at least one longitudinally extending movement member to transverse reciprocating movement of said at least one knife;
- (d) a knife drive assembly support frame extending generally longitudinally, having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having a first end region pivotally inter-connected at a pivotal inter-connection to a first end region of a second portion of said support frame;
- said support frame operable to support said at least one longitudinally extending movement member in said reciprocating longitudinal movement;
- wherein:
- said first portion of said support frame has a second end region located inward of said first end region;
- said second portion of said support frame has a second end region located longitudinally opposite of said first end region and which is interconnected to said cutter bar assembly to provide a first support location for said support frame;
- said support frame is supported on said main frame at a second support location proximate the inter-connection of said first portion and said second portion of said support frame;
- wherein said second portion of said support frame comprises an open channel member having vertical rigidity and extending longitudinally and connecting to said cutter blade assembly and said first portion of said support frame is rigid;
- said rotation interface mechanism being located at said second end region of said first portion of said support frame, and said second end region of said second portion of said support frame supporting said second movement conversion mechanism, said first portion of said support frame being pivotally movable relative to said second portion of said support frame at said pivotal inter-connection of said first end region of said first portion of said support frame and said first end region of said second portion of said support frame.
13 more elements
A header comprising:
- (i) a main frame;
- (ii) a cutter bar assembly mounted to said main frame, said cutter bar assembly having at least one knife;
- (iii) a knife drive assembly mounted to said main frame and extending longitudinally between an inward region of said main frame and said cutter bar assembly,
- wherein said knife drive assembly is configured to drive said at least one knife in transverse motion;
- and wherein said knife drive assembly comprises:
- (a) a rotation interface mechanism configured and operable to couple with an external power source to cause rotation of a rotating member;
- (b) a first movement conversion mechanism operable to convert the rotation of said rotating member to reciprocating longitudinal movement of at least one longitudinally extending movement member;
- (c) a second movement conversion mechanism operable to convert the reciprocating longitudinal movement of the at least one longitudinally extending movement member to transverse reciprocating movement of said at least one knife;
- (d) a knife drive assembly support frame extending generally longitudinally, having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having a first end region inter-connected to a first end region of a second portion of said support frame;
- said support frame operable to support said at least one longitudinally extending movement member in said reciprocating longitudinal movement;
- wherein:
- said first portion of said support frame has a second end region located inward of said first end region;
- said second portion of said support frame has a second end region located longitudinally opposite of said first end region and is interconnected to said cutter bar assembly to provide a first support location for said support frame;
- said support frame is supported on said main frame at a second support location proximate the inter-connection of said first portion and said second portion of said support frame;
- wherein said second portion of said support frame comprises an open channel member extending longitudinally and connecting to said cutter blade assembly.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.