Patent US3820311A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3820311A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Harvesting machine drive means
Assignee: Deere and Co
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Filing: 1972-06-26
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Granted: 1974-06-28
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Expires: 1992-06-26
Abstract
Abstract Drive means for a crop harvesting machine of the mowerconditioner type having a transverse mowing apparatus including a drive mechanism therefor with a drive input sheave on one side of the machine, and a pair of cooperating conditioning rolls having drive input shafts on the same side of the machine, one of the rolls being mounted on the machine for movement toward and away from the other roll, the drive means including a drive transmission housing mounted on the side of the machine for vertical pivotal adjustment, the drive housing having an input shaft adapted for driving connection to a power source, a drive output sheave spaced vertically from the drive input sheave of the mowing apparatus drive mechanism, and a pair of drive output shafts generally aligned with the drive input shafts of the conditioning rolls. An endless belt drivingly connects the input sheave of the mowing apparatus drive mechanism and the output sheave of the drive housing, the tension in the belt being variable in response to vertical pivotal adjustment of the drive housing, and a pair of telescoping, universally connected drive shafts drivingly connect the drive housing output shafts with the conditioner roll input shafts, the latter connections accommodating misalignment of the shafts which results from vertical adjustment of the drive housing to tension the mowing apparatus drive belt and movement of the upper roll relative to the lower roll.
Inventors
- 👤 B Sawyer
- 👤 R Francis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:20
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D43/00; A01D43/10; A01D43/105; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S56/00; Y10S56/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
386 words
In a crop harvesting machine having transversely extending frame means adapted to advance forwardly through a field, transversely extending cutting means mounted forwardly on said frame means and adapted to cut a swath of crop material as said frame means is advanced forwardly; drive mechanism for said cutting means mounted on the left side of said frame means and haVing a drive input sheave disposed in a generally longitudinal vertical plane, an upper and lower pair of transversely extending crop conditioning rolls mounted on said frame means above and rearwardly of said cutting means, one of said rolls being mounted for limited movement toward and away from the other of said rolls and having a transverse drive input shaft on the left side of said frame means, the improvement residing in drive means for said cutting means and said one conditioning roll, said drive means comprising: a drive transmission housing mounted on the left side of said frame means for vertical pivotal adjustment about a transverse axis; means connecting said drive housing and said frame means for selectively rigidly fixing said drive housing in a vertical position of adjustment relative to said frame means; a forwardly extending drive input shaft on said drive housing adapted for driving connection to a tractor power take-off shaft; a drive output sheave on said drive housing disposed above and generally in the same longitudinal vertical plane as the drive input sheave on the cutting means drive mechanism; an endless flexible drive belt drivingly connecting said drive output sheave on said drive housing and said drive input sheave on said cutting means drive mechanism, the tension in said drive belt being variable in response to vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing; a first transverse drive output shaft on the right side of said drive housing and generally transversely aligned with the drive input shaft of said one crop conditioning roll; and a first transverse drive connection between said first drive output shaft on said drive housing and said input shaft of said one conditioning roll, said first transverse drive connection including means for accommodating misalignment of said shafts resulting from vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing to vary the tension in said drive belt and movement of said one conditioning roll toward and away from said other conditioning roll.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
386 words
In a crop harvesting machine having transversely extending frame means adapted to advance forwardly through a field, transversely extending cutting means mounted forwardly on said frame means and adapted to cut a swath of crop material as said frame means is advanced forwardly; drive mechanism for said cutting means mounted on the left side of said frame means and haVing a drive input sheave disposed in a generally longitudinal vertical plane, an upper and lower pair of transversely extending crop conditioning rolls mounted on said frame means above and rearwardly of said cutting means, one of said rolls being mounted for limited movement toward and away from the other of said rolls and having a transverse drive input shaft on the left side of said frame means, the improvement residing in drive means for said cutting means and said one conditioning roll, said drive means comprising: a drive transmission housing mounted on the left side of said frame means for vertical pivotal adjustment about a transverse axis; means connecting said drive housing and said frame means for selectively rigidly fixing said drive housing in a vertical position of adjustment relative to said frame means; a forwardly extending drive input shaft on said drive housing adapted for driving connection to a tractor power take-off shaft; a drive output sheave on said drive housing disposed above and generally in the same longitudinal vertical plane as the drive input sheave on the cutting means drive mechanism; an endless flexible drive belt drivingly connecting said drive output sheave on said drive housing and said drive input sheave on said cutting means drive mechanism, the tension in said drive belt being variable in response to vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing; a first transverse drive output shaft on the right side of said drive housing and generally transversely aligned with the drive input shaft of said one crop conditioning roll; and a first transverse drive connection between said first drive output shaft on said drive housing and said input shaft of said one conditioning roll, said first transverse drive connection including means for accommodating misalignment of said shafts resulting from vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing to vary the tension in said drive belt and movement of said one conditioning roll toward and away from said other conditioning roll.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said first transverse drive connection between said first drive output shaft on said drive housing and said drive input shaft of said one conditioning roll comprises a first telescoping shaft extending transversely between said output and input shafts; a first universal drive connection between the left end of said first telescoping shaft and the first output shaft on said drive housing; and a second universal drive connection between the right end of said first telescoping shaft and the input shaft of said one conditioning roll.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said other conditioning roll has a transverse drive input shaft on the left side of said frame means, and wherein said drive means further comprises a second transverse drive output shaft on the right side of said drive housing and generally transversely aligned with the drive input shaft of said other crop conditioning roll; and a second transverse drive connection between said second drive output shaft on said drive housing and said drive input shaft of said other conditioning roll, said second transverse drive connection including means for accommodating misalignment of said shafts resulting from vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing to vary the tension in said drive belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said second transverse drive connection between said second drive output shaft on said drive housing and said drive input shaft of said other conditioning roll comprises a second telescoping shaft extending transversely between said output and input shafts; a first universal drive connection between the left end of said second telescoping shaft and the second output shaft on said drive housing; and a second universal drive connection between the right end of said second telescoping shaft and the input shaft of said other conditioning roll.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal distance between the drive outPut sheave on the drive housing and the axis of pivotal adjustment of the drive housing relative to the frame means is greater than the longitudinal distance between the first transverse drive output shaft on the drive housing and said axis of pivotal adjustment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the drive output sheave on the drive housing is located forwardly of the axis of pivotal adjustment of the drive housing relative to the frame means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the first transverse drive output shaft on the drive housing is located longitudinally between the drive output sheave on the drive housing and the axis of pivotal adjustment of the drive housing relative to the frame means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
The invention defined in claim 1 including a transverse reel mounted on said frame means above said cutting means and forwardly of said conditioning rolls and operative to transfer cut crop material from said cutting means to said conditioning rolls, said reel having a transverse drive input shaft on the right side of said frame means; wherein one of said conditioning rolls has a transverse drive output shaft on the right side of said frame means; and wherein said drive means further includes endless flexible means on the right side of said frame means drivingly connecting said reel drive input shaft and said conditioning roll drive output shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
352 words
In a crop harvesting machine having transversely extending frame means adapted to advance forwardly through a field, transversely extending cutting means mounted forwardly on said frame means and adapted to cut a swath of crop material as said frame means is advanced forwardly; drive mechanism for said cutting means mounted on the left side of said frame means and having a drive input sheave disposed in a generally longitudinal vertical plane, an upper and lower pair of transversely extending crop conditioning rolls mounted on said frame means above and rearwardly of said cutting means, one of said rolls having a transverse drive input shaft on the left side of said frame means, the improvement residing in drive means for said cutting means and said one conditioning roll; said drive means comprising: a drive transmission housing mounted on the left side of said frame means for vertical pivotal adjustment about a transverse axis; means connecting said drive housing and said frame means for selectively rigidly fixing said drive housing in a vertical position of adjustment relative to said frame means; a forwardly extending drive input shaft on said drive housing adapted for driving connection to a tractor power take-off shaft; a drive output sheave on said drive housing disposed above and generally in the same longitudinal vertical plane as the drive input sheave on the cutting means drive mechanism; an endless flexible drive belt drivingly connecting said drive output sheave on said drive housing and said drive input sheave on said cutting means drive mechanism, the tension in said drive belt being variable in response to vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing; a transverse drive output shaft on the right side of said drive housing and generally transversely aligned with the drive input shaft of said one crop conditioning roll; and a transverse drive connection between said drive output shaft on said drive housing and said input shaft of said one conditioning roll, said transverse drive connection including means for accommodating misalignment of said shafts resulting from vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing to vary the tension in said drive belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
352 words
In a crop harvesting machine having transversely extending frame means adapted to advance forwardly through a field, transversely extending cutting means mounted forwardly on said frame means and adapted to cut a swath of crop material as said frame means is advanced forwardly; drive mechanism for said cutting means mounted on the left side of said frame means and having a drive input sheave disposed in a generally longitudinal vertical plane, an upper and lower pair of transversely extending crop conditioning rolls mounted on said frame means above and rearwardly of said cutting means, one of said rolls having a transverse drive input shaft on the left side of said frame means, the improvement residing in drive means for said cutting means and said one conditioning roll; said drive means comprising: a drive transmission housing mounted on the left side of said frame means for vertical pivotal adjustment about a transverse axis; means connecting said drive housing and said frame means for selectively rigidly fixing said drive housing in a vertical position of adjustment relative to said frame means; a forwardly extending drive input shaft on said drive housing adapted for driving connection to a tractor power take-off shaft; a drive output sheave on said drive housing disposed above and generally in the same longitudinal vertical plane as the drive input sheave on the cutting means drive mechanism; an endless flexible drive belt drivingly connecting said drive output sheave on said drive housing and said drive input sheave on said cutting means drive mechanism, the tension in said drive belt being variable in response to vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing; a transverse drive output shaft on the right side of said drive housing and generally transversely aligned with the drive input shaft of said one crop conditioning roll; and a transverse drive connection between said drive output shaft on said drive housing and said input shaft of said one conditioning roll, said transverse drive connection including means for accommodating misalignment of said shafts resulting from vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing to vary the tension in said drive belt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
300 words
In a crop harvesting machine having frame means adapted to advance forwardly through a field, cutting means mounted on said frame means and adapted to cut a swath of crop material as said frame means is advanced forwardly, drive mechanism for said cutting means mounted on said frame means and having a drive input sheave, an upper and lower pair of crop conditioning rolls mounted on said frame means in spaced relation to said cutting meAns, one of said rolls having a transverse drive input shaft, the improvement residing in drive means for said cutting means and said one crop conditioning roll, said drive means comprising: a drive transmission housing mounted on said frame means for pivotal adjustment; means connecting said drive housing and said frame means for selectively rigidly fixing said drive housing in a position of adjustment relative to said frame means; a drive input shaft on said drive housing adapted for driving connection to a power source; a drive output sheave on said drive housing disposed in spaced relation to the drive input sheave on the cutting means drive mechanism; endless flexible means drivingly connecting said drive output sheave on said drive housing and said drive input sheave on said cutting means drive mechanism, the tension in said endless flexible means being variable in response to pivotal adjustment of said drive transmission housing; a drive output shaft on said drive housing and generally aligned with the drive input shaft of said one crop conditioning roll; and a drive connection between said drive output shaft on said drive housing and said drive input shaft of said one conditioning roll, said drive connection including means for accommodating misalignment of said shafts resulting from vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing to vary the tension in said endless flexible means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
300 words
In a crop harvesting machine having frame means adapted to advance forwardly through a field, cutting means mounted on said frame means and adapted to cut a swath of crop material as said frame means is advanced forwardly, drive mechanism for said cutting means mounted on said frame means and having a drive input sheave, an upper and lower pair of crop conditioning rolls mounted on said frame means in spaced relation to said cutting meAns, one of said rolls having a transverse drive input shaft, the improvement residing in drive means for said cutting means and said one crop conditioning roll, said drive means comprising: a drive transmission housing mounted on said frame means for pivotal adjustment; means connecting said drive housing and said frame means for selectively rigidly fixing said drive housing in a position of adjustment relative to said frame means; a drive input shaft on said drive housing adapted for driving connection to a power source; a drive output sheave on said drive housing disposed in spaced relation to the drive input sheave on the cutting means drive mechanism; endless flexible means drivingly connecting said drive output sheave on said drive housing and said drive input sheave on said cutting means drive mechanism, the tension in said endless flexible means being variable in response to pivotal adjustment of said drive transmission housing; a drive output shaft on said drive housing and generally aligned with the drive input shaft of said one crop conditioning roll; and a drive connection between said drive output shaft on said drive housing and said drive input shaft of said one conditioning roll, said drive connection including means for accommodating misalignment of said shafts resulting from vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing to vary the tension in said endless flexible means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
328 words
In a crop harvesting machine having frame means adapted to advance forwardly through a field, cutting means mounted on said frame means and adapted to cut a swath of crop material as said frame means is advanced forwardly, drive mechanism for said cutting means mounted on said frame means and having a drive input sheave, an upper and lower pair of crop conditioning rolls mounted on said frame means in spaced relation to said cutting means, one of said rolls being mounted for limited movement toward and away from the other of said rolls and having a transverse drive input shaft, the improvement residing in drive means for said cutting means and said one crop conditioning roll, said drive means comprising: a drive transmission housing mounted on said frame means for pivotal adjustment; means connecting said drive housing and said frame means for selectively rigidly fixing said drive housing in a position of adjustment relative to said frame means; a drive input shaft on said drive housing adapted for driving connection to a power source; a drive output sheave on said drive housing disposed in spaced relation to the drive input sheave on the cutting means drive mechanism; endless flexible means drivingly connecting said drive output sheave on said drive housing said drive input sheave on said cutting means drive mechanism, the tension in said endless flexible means being variable in response to pivotal adjustment of said drive transmission housing; a drive output shaft on said drive housing and generally aligned with the drive input shaft of said one crop conditioning roll; a drive connection between said drive output shaft on said drive housing and said drive input shaft of said one conditioning roll, said drive connection including means for accommodating misalignment of said shafts resulting from vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing to vary the tension in said endless flexible means, and movement of said one conditioning roll toward and away from said other conditioning roll.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
328 words
In a crop harvesting machine having frame means adapted to advance forwardly through a field, cutting means mounted on said frame means and adapted to cut a swath of crop material as said frame means is advanced forwardly, drive mechanism for said cutting means mounted on said frame means and having a drive input sheave, an upper and lower pair of crop conditioning rolls mounted on said frame means in spaced relation to said cutting means, one of said rolls being mounted for limited movement toward and away from the other of said rolls and having a transverse drive input shaft, the improvement residing in drive means for said cutting means and said one crop conditioning roll, said drive means comprising: a drive transmission housing mounted on said frame means for pivotal adjustment; means connecting said drive housing and said frame means for selectively rigidly fixing said drive housing in a position of adjustment relative to said frame means; a drive input shaft on said drive housing adapted for driving connection to a power source; a drive output sheave on said drive housing disposed in spaced relation to the drive input sheave on the cutting means drive mechanism; endless flexible means drivingly connecting said drive output sheave on said drive housing said drive input sheave on said cutting means drive mechanism, the tension in said endless flexible means being variable in response to pivotal adjustment of said drive transmission housing; a drive output shaft on said drive housing and generally aligned with the drive input shaft of said one crop conditioning roll; a drive connection between said drive output shaft on said drive housing and said drive input shaft of said one conditioning roll, said drive connection including means for accommodating misalignment of said shafts resulting from vertical pivotal adjustment of said drive housing to vary the tension in said endless flexible means, and movement of said one conditioning roll toward and away from said other conditioning roll.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a harvesting machine adapted to be towed by a tractor having a power take-off shaft and including a mobile main frame, a subframe vertically adjustably supported from the main frame and carrying a transversely extending cutting means adapted to cut a swath of crop material as the machine advances, a pair of parallel, oppositely rotatable, transversely extending, crop conditioner rolls mounted on the subframe rearwardly of the cutting means and adapted to receive the cut crop material therefrom and condition the crop as it moves rearwardly between the rolls, one of said rolls being mountEd for limited movement toward and away from the other roll, the combination therewith of improved drive means for driving said cutting means and said conditioner rolls and comprising: a drive transmission means including a housing mounted on the left side of the subframe and having a forwardly extending input shaft, a cutting apparatus output shaft, a pair of transversely extending roll drive output shafts, and power transmitting means including gear means within the housing for drivingly connecting the input shaft to said output shafts; a first drive shaft means drivingly connecting the power take-off shaft to the input shaft; a first connecting means drivingly connecting the cutting apparatus output shaft to the cutting means; a second drive shaft means, including a universal joint, drivingly connecting one of the roll output shafts to said one roll; and a third drive shaft means drivingly connecting the other roll output shaft to the other roll.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a harvesting machine adapted to be towed by a tractor having a power take-off shaft and including a mobile main frame, a subframe vertically adjustably supported from the main frame and carrying a transversely extending cutting means adapted to cut a swath of crop material as the machine advances, a pair of parallel, oppositely rotatable, transversely extending, crop conditioner rolls mounted on the subframe rearwardly of the cutting means and adapted to receive the cut crop material therefrom and condition the crop as it moves rearwardly between the rolls, one of said rolls being mountEd for limited movement toward and away from the other roll, the combination therewith of improved drive means for driving said cutting means and said conditioner rolls and comprising: a drive transmission means including a housing mounted on the left side of the subframe and having a forwardly extending input shaft, a cutting apparatus output shaft, a pair of transversely extending roll drive output shafts, and power transmitting means including gear means within the housing for drivingly connecting the input shaft to said output shafts; a first drive shaft means drivingly connecting the power take-off shaft to the input shaft; a first connecting means drivingly connecting the cutting apparatus output shaft to the cutting means; a second drive shaft means, including a universal joint, drivingly connecting one of the roll output shafts to said one roll; and a third drive shaft means drivingly connecting the other roll output shaft to the other roll.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention defined in claim 12 wherein the cutting apparatus output shaft extends transversely and the first connecting means includes a belt drive, the transmission means being vertically adjustable on the subframe to vary the tension in the belt drive.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
273 words
In a harvesting machine adapted to be towed by a tractor having a power take-off shaft and including a mobile frame means, a transversely extending cutting means mounted on said frame means and adapted to cut a swath of crop material as the machine advances, a pair of parallel, oppositely rotatable, transversely extending, crop conditioner rolls mounted on the frame means rearwardly of the cutting means and adapted to receive the cut crop material therefrom and condition the crop as it moves rearwardly between the rolls, one of said rolls being mounted for limited movement toward and away from the other roll, the combination therewith of improved drive means for driving said cutting means and said conditioner rolls comprising: a drive transmission means including a housing mounted on the left side of the frame means and having a forwardly extending input shaft, a transverse cutting apparatus output shaft, and a pair of transversely extending roll drive output shafts, bevel gear means connecting the input shaft to the cutting apparatus output shaft, and spur gear means drivingly connecting the cutting apparatus output shaft to the roll drive output shafts to drive the roll drive output shafts in opposite directions; a first drive shaft means drivingly connecting the power take-off to the input shaft; a first connecting means, including a belt drive, drivingly connecting the cutting apparatus output shaft to the cutting means; a second drive shaft means including a universal joint drivingly connecting one of the roll output shafts to said one roll; and a third drive shaft means including a universal joint drivingly connecting the other roll output shaft to the other roll.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
273 words
In a harvesting machine adapted to be towed by a tractor having a power take-off shaft and including a mobile frame means, a transversely extending cutting means mounted on said frame means and adapted to cut a swath of crop material as the machine advances, a pair of parallel, oppositely rotatable, transversely extending, crop conditioner rolls mounted on the frame means rearwardly of the cutting means and adapted to receive the cut crop material therefrom and condition the crop as it moves rearwardly between the rolls, one of said rolls being mounted for limited movement toward and away from the other roll, the combination therewith of improved drive means for driving said cutting means and said conditioner rolls comprising: a drive transmission means including a housing mounted on the left side of the frame means and having a forwardly extending input shaft, a transverse cutting apparatus output shaft, and a pair of transversely extending roll drive output shafts, bevel gear means connecting the input shaft to the cutting apparatus output shaft, and spur gear means drivingly connecting the cutting apparatus output shaft to the roll drive output shafts to drive the roll drive output shafts in opposite directions; a first drive shaft means drivingly connecting the power take-off to the input shaft; a first connecting means, including a belt drive, drivingly connecting the cutting apparatus output shaft to the cutting means; a second drive shaft means including a universal joint drivingly connecting one of the roll output shafts to said one roll; and a third drive shaft means including a universal joint drivingly connecting the other roll output shaft to the other roll.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention defined in claim 14 wherein the transmission means is mounted for vertical adjustment on the frame means to vary the tension in the belt drive, the universal joints in the second and third drive shaft means accommodating the vertical adjustment of the transmission means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-27 | 1977-12-27 | 1978-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | 1982-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |