Abstract: A self-propelled mechanical harvester for harvesting above ground crops includes a shaker assembly that operates in a single plane. The shaker will oscillate from side to side in the plane without pivoting of the plane around a pivot point. The assembly includes crop contacting rods in one embodiment and crop contacting striker bars in another embodiment. The force used to impart the oscillatory motion to the shaker is supplied by a force balance shaker using two weights operating at the same frequency of rotation, in opposite directions. The weights are timed and maintained in time by a geared relationship to produce maximum force laterally outboard and no force in a direction corresponding to the machine's direction of travel.

Abstract: The invention provides a harvesting shaker with a set of primary eccentric weights and secondary eccentric weights. The invention rotates the primary and secondary eccentric weights at the same speed, but may on the fly, using a hydraulic rotary actuator, change the rotational phase between the primary and secondary eccentric weights, causing an on the fly change of amplitude of the inventive shaker. The invention also uses a rotary valve, that does not require high pressure bearings, and that provides damping of the control system.

Abstract: The invention provides a shaker with a set of primary eccentric weights and secondary eccentric weights. The invention rotates the primary and secondary eccentric weights at the same speed, but may on the fly change the rotational phase between the primary and secondary eccentric weights, causing an on the fly change of amplitude of the inventive shaker.

Abstract: The invention provides a shaker with a set of primary eccentric weights and secondary eccentric weights. The invention rotates the primary and secondary eccentric weights at the same speed, but may on the fly change the rotational phase between the primary and secondary eccentric weights, causing an on the fly change of amplitude of the inventive shaker.