DRAPER HEADER AND CROP DIVIDER KNIFE

• US 20130263566A1
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Lovett, Benjamin M., Anderson, Shane Marty, Coon, Steve A.
• Application Number:
  US13/439,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20130263566A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/158
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/23 with additional vertical cutter-bar

Abstract

A draper header (102) is provided having the elongate laterally extending frame (104) and two forwardly extending crop dividers (116, 118) at each end. A gear box (120, 122) is mounted on the front of each crop divider (116, 118). The gearbox (120, 122) has two output shafts (148, 152), a first shaft (148) that is coupled to and drives an elongate reciprocating knife (112) extending across the leading edge of the draper header (102) and a second shaft (152) that is coupled to and drives a crop divider knife (128, 129). The crop divider knife (128, 129) includes a quick coupling (144) that engages a quick coupling (154) mounted on the second shaft (152).

Claims

1. A draper header (102) having a direction of travel through a field harvesting crops comprising:

an elongate frame (104) that extends laterally with respect to the direction of travel;

a first crop divider (116, 118) coupled to and extending forwardly from the elongate frame (104);

a first gear box (120, 122) mounted on a forward end of the first crop divider (116, 118), said gear box (120, 122) having a first input shaft (150), a first output shaft (152) and a second output shaft (148);

A first crop divider knife (128, 129) mounted on a forward end of the first crop divider (116, 118) and coupled to the first output shaft (148) of the first gearbox (120, 122) to be driven thereby;

a reciprocating knife (112) supported on the frame (104) of the draper header (102) and extending laterally along the leading edge of the draper header (102) and coupled to the second output shaft (148) to be driven thereby.

2. The draper header (102) of claim 1, further comprising a first quick coupling (144) extending rearward from the first crop divider knife (128, 129) and a second quick coupling (154) extending forward from the first output shaft (152), wherein the first quick coupling (144) and the second quick coupling (154) are interengaged to communicate power from the first gear box (120, 122) to the first crop divider knife (128, 129) and drive the first crop divider knife (128, 129) thereby.

3. The draper header (102) of claim 2, further comprising a spring (145) to bias the first quick coupling (144) and the second quick coupling (145) together.

4. The draper header (102) of claim 3, wherein the first crop divider knife (128, 129) further comprises a knife support (130) having a lower end that is removably fastened with threaded fasteners (133) to a forward end of crop divider (116, 118).

5. The draper header (102) of claim 1, wherein the first input shaft (150) and the first output shaft (152) are coaxial.

6. The draper header of claim five, wherein the second output shaft (148) extends much as downward from a bottom surface of the gear box (120, 122).

7. A crop divider knife (128, 129) for a draper header (102), the draper header (102) having a direction of travel for harvesting crops and a crop divider (116, 118), comprising:

an input shaft (143) having an axis of rotation, wherein the input shaft (143) is configured to receive power from the draper header for driving knife elements of the crop divider knife;

a crankshaft (140) coupled to the input shaft (143);

two connecting rods (134) having proximal ends coupled to the crankshaft (140);

two knife backs (136) disposed generally vertically and coupled to distal ends of the connecting rods (134) to be driven in out-of-phase reciprocating motion; and

a plurality of knife elements (138) fixed to the two knife backs;

wherein the input shaft (143) is configured to engage a first output shaft (152) of a gear box (120, 122) located at a forward end of the crop divider (116, 118).

8. The crop divider knife (128, 129) of claim 7, further comprising a first coupling (144) mounted on the input shaft (143) that is configured to receive power from a second coupling (154) on the gear box (120, 122) when the crop divider knife (128, 129) is mounted on the draper header (102).

9. The crop divider knife (128, 129) of claim 8, wherein the input shaft (143) is configured to be coaxial with the first output shaft (152) when the crop divider knife (128, 129) is mounted on the draper header (102).

10. The crop divider knife (128, 129) of claim 9, further comprising a knife support (130) having a lower end that is removably fastenable with threaded fasteners (133) to a forward end of the crop divider (116, 118).

11. The crop divider knife (128, 129) of claim 8, wherein the input shaft (143) is configured to be driven in rotation by the first output shaft (152).

12. The crop divider knife (128, 129) of claim 11, wherein the first coupling (144) is spring-loaded to maintain the engagement of the first coupling (144) with a second coupling (154) when the crop divider knife (128, 129) is mounted on the draper header (102).

13. The crop divider knife (128, 129) of claim 7, wherein the gear box (120, 122) has a second output shaft (148) configured to drive a laterally extending reciprocating knife (112) that is disposed along the leading edge of the draper header (102).