US 5,784,866 A · Disc cutterbar for agricultural implements

Abstract

A modular disc cutterbar utilizes self-contained cutter modules clamped between alternating spacer modules by fasteners engaged with the spacer modules. To resist bending moments in the cutterbar, selected fasteners can have a length to span more than one cutter module. The drive mechanism is also of a modular construction including a symmetrical, reversible sealed drive apparatus within each cutter module and a transfer shaft passing through each interstitial spacer module to interconnect each cutter module drive mechanism. The drive apparatus incorporates an oil slinger to keep the remote seals lubricated. The rock guard for each cutter module is mounted on the adjacent spacer modules, while the skid shoe mounting is simplified. A crop mover mounted on each disc member above the cutting knife improves the transfer of severed crop material. An oil slinger mounted on the drive assembly within the cutter module draws oil from the reservoir past the adjacent bearing and disperses the oil onto the corresponding seal member for lubrication and cooling thereof.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In a modular disc cutterbar having a plurality of transversely spaced cutter modules interconnected in a modular configuration with alternating spacer modules, each said cutter module including a rotatable disc member having a knife mounted thereto for severing standing crop material by impact action upon rotation of said disc member, each said cutter module being rotatably driven by a drive mechanism interconnecting the cutter modules, an improved drive mechanism comprising:

a drive assembly mounted in each cutter module and having a shaft member, a drive gear mounted on said shaft member and two opposing hubs affixed, respectively, to opposing ends of said shaft member, each said hub having an exposed opening;
and
a separate transfer shaft corresponding to each spacer module and spanning the distance between the adjacent said hubs on adjacent cutter modules, each said transfer shaft being independently disengageable from any corresponding hub to permit a disassembly of said drive mechanism at any selected transverse location along said disc cutterbar without disengagement of other transfer shafts.

A drive mechanism for a modular disc cutterbar having a series of alternating cutter modules and spacer modules interconnected in a transverse modular configuration such that each said module is individually replaceable comprising:

a sealed drive assembly carried by each said cutter module within an independent oil reservoir, each respective said drive assembly having a drive gear and terminating in two opposing hubs, each of said opposing hubs having a recessed socket exposed externally of said cutter module;
and
a plurality of drive transfer shafts, each one of which corresponds to a respective spacer module and passes through each corresponding said spacer module, each respective end of each drive transfer shaft being received within the adjacent one of the recessed sockets of the adjacent cutter module, said drive mechanism being disengageable at any selected location along the transverse width of said disc cutterbar by disengaging any selected drive transfer shaft from a corresponding drive assembly hub.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Disc cutterbar for agricultural implements

Life of this patent

Disc cutterbar for agricultural implements

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8