Abstract: A sickle header has right and left cutter bar assemblies each having a knife assembly configured to move in a reciprocating motion. A first transfer plate connects the knife assembly of the right cutter bar assembly and a second transfer plate connects the knife assembly of the left cutter bar assembly. A center sickle drive assembly includes first and second epicyclic drives connected to the right cutter bar assembly translate rotational movement of a drive motor gear into linear oscillating motion of output cranks that are connected to the first transfer plate. Third and fourth epicyclic drives connected to the left cutter bar assembly translate rotational movement of the drive motor gear into linear oscillating motion of output cranks that are connected to the second transfer plate, such that the cranks of the epicyclic drives simultaneously drive the knife assembly of the respective cutter bar assembly in a reciprocating motion.

Abstract: A frame for a harvesting header has a top beam extending across substantially a full width of the harvesting header and has ends arranged adjacent respective ends of the harvesting header and a midpoint in a center area of the harvesting header. The header frame has a bottom beam substantially parallel to the top beam extending less than the full width of the harvesting header and having a midpoint in the center area of the harvesting header. Vertical main structures connect the top and bottom beams. Diagonal truss members connect the ends of the top beam and interfaces of the bottom beam and vertical main structures. The vertical main structures form a feederhouse interface at the center area of the harvesting header. The top beam and bottom beam are continuous through the center area of the harvesting header. Header drive assemblies are mounted at the ends of the bottom beam.

Abstract: A harvesting header for a row crop machine has a tool bar with a plurality of row units attached thereto. Each row unit has a base and a pair of elongated row unit arms extending from the tool bar. The row unit arms form a stalk-receiving slot between facing inner sides of the pair of row unit arms. The row unit arms have outer sides facing away from the stock-receiving slot. The header has inner row braces, with each brace positioned forward of the tool bar and between an adjacent pair of row units. A first side of the inner row brace is attached to one of the outer sides of one of the row unit arms, and an opposing side of the inner row brace is attached to one of the outer sides of one of the row unit arms of an adjacent row unit.

Abstract: A frame for a harvesting header has a top beam extending across substantially a full width of the harvesting header and has ends arranged adjacent respective ends of the harvesting header and a midpoint in a center area of the harvesting header. The header frame has a bottom beam substantially parallel to the top beam extending less than the full width of the harvesting header and having a midpoint in the center area of the harvesting header. Vertical main structures connect the top and bottom beams. Diagonal truss members connect the ends of the top beam and interfaces of the bottom beam and vertical main structures. The vertical main structures form a feederhouse interface at the center area of the harvesting header. The top beam and bottom beam are continuous through the center area of the harvesting header. Header drive assemblies are mounted at the ends of the bottom beam.

Abstract: The vertically swingable header of a farm machine utilizes a flotation mechanism having a torsion bar as the source of lifting force. The torsion bar is mounted on the header rather than the base machine and is operably coupled with the base machine through loading apparatus that includes a cam and cam follower system. An alternative embodiment utilizes a cam track fixedly mounted on the base machine.

Abstract: The vertically swingable header of a farm machine utilizes a flotation mechanism having a torsion bar as the source of lifting force. The torsion bar is mounted on the header rather than the base machine and is operably coupled with the base machine through loading apparatus that includes a cam and cam follower system. An alternative embodiment utilizes a cam track fixedly mounted on the base machine.

Abstract: The vertically swingable header of a farm machine utilizes a flotation mechanism having a torsion bar as the source of lifting force. The torsion bar is mounted on the header rather than the base machine and is operably coupled with the base machine through loading apparatus that includes a cam and cam follower system. An alternative embodiment utilizes a cam track fixedly mounted on the base machine.

Abstract: The vertically swingable header of a farm machine utilizes a flotation mechanism having a torsion bar as the source of lifting force. The torsion bar is mounted on the header rather than the base machine and is operably coupled with the base machine through loading apparatus that includes a cam and cam follower system. An alternative embodiment utilizes a cam track fixedly mounted on the base machine.

Abstract: A counterbalancing epicyclic sickle drive has a pair of oppositely rotating weights that offset the inertial forces of the sickle during its abrupt acceleration and deceleration at opposite ends of its path of travel. One of the weights rotates with the main shaft of the drive about its longitudinal axis, while the second weight is fixed to an oppositely rotating crankshaft that orbits about the axis of the main shaft in eccentric relationship thereto. The weight on the main shaft is heavier than the weight on the crankshaft so as to offset changes in inertial forces produced by the crankshaft weight during increased acceleration of its center of gravity at opposite ends of its elliptical path of travel about the axis of the main shaft.

Abstract: A pull-type implement has operating components that are driven by a mechanical drive line on the tongue of the implement. An upper gear box is fixed to the front end of the tongue and a lower gear box swivels relative to the upper gear box about an upright axis passing through the two gear boxes. A hitch that establishes a draft connection between the tongue and the draw bar of a towing tractor has a fore-and-aft receiver that extends beneath the lower gear box and has a lower pivotal connection with the tongue at that location. A mast fixed to and projecting upwardly from the receiver has an upper pivotal connection with the tongue at a location above the upper gear box. The receiver has a forwardly facing socket that loosely receives the draw bar to permit the draw bar to swing up and down to a limited extent about a transverse axis and rotate side-to-side to a limited extent about a fore-and-aft axis when the draw bar is retained within the socket by a locking pin.