Driveshaft/bearing gearbox steering arrangement

A pull-type harvester adapted for laterally offset attachment to a towing tractor having a power take-off shaft, comprising:

• a frame;
• a harvesting header supported by the frame, including a cutting apparatus for cutting crops as the harvester is towed by the tractor and a gearbox pivotally mounted for movement about a first pivot axis, wherein the gearbox includes an output drivingly interconnected with the cutting apparatus;
• a pull tongue pivotally coupled to the frame for lateral pivoting movement about a second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis for varying the position of the harvester relative to the tractor;
• a mechanical drive line extending along and rotatably supported by the pull tongue for supplying driving power to the gearbox, wherein the drive line includes a variable length arrangement;
• A gearbox housing structure pivotably mounted to the header for movement about the first pivot axis, wherein the gearbox steering structure is interconnected with the gearbox;
• and
• a steering arrangement associated with the drive line and interconnected with the gearbox housing structure independent of connection to the pull tongue for steering the gearbox by causing pivoting movement of the gearbox housing structure, and thereby the gearbox, about the first axis in response to movement of the drive line through engagement of the steering arrangement with the gearbox through the gearbox housing structure.

A pull-type harvester adapted for laterally offset attachment to a towing tractor having a power take-off shaft, comprising:

• a frame;
• a harvesting header supported by the frame, including a cutting apparatus for cutting crops as the harvester is towed by the tractor and a gearbox pivotally mounted for movement about a first pivot axis, wherein the gearbox includes an output drivingly interconnected with the cutting apparatus;
• a pull tongue pivotally coupled to the frame for lateral pivoting movement about a second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis for varying the position of the harvester relative to the tractor;
• a mechanical drive line extending along and rotatably supported by the pull tongue for supplying driving power to the gearbox, wherein the drive line includes a variable length arrangement;
• a flexible joint interposed between the drive line and the gearbox;
• a gearbox housing interconnected with the gearbox for movement about the first pivot axis;
• and
• a gearbox steering arrangement associated with the drive line separate from the flexible joint and independent of connection to the pull tongue for steering the gearbox by causing pivoting movement of the gearbox housing about the first pivot axis in response to movement of the drive line.