Abstract: A method for analyzing the operating state of a cutting device for mowing crop, the cutting device having at least one mowing knife having cutting edges which interact with counter cutting edges of the cutting device, including: detecting of a signal representing the stroke position of the mowing knife; detecting a signal representing the knife force for driving the mowing knife as a function of the stroke position, and determining crop and/or cutting system properties on the basis of an evaluation of the signal representing the knife force as a function of the stroke position.

Abstract: A sickle cutting system is mounted on a header for forward travel over ground having a standing crop thereon and includes a cutter bar with a plurality of knife guards and two sickle bars driven at a phase angle difference where the drive system has a phase difference control component operable to drive the first and second sickle bars at a first phase angle difference typically at or around 180 degrees difference to minimize vibration when no cutting action is occurring and at a second phase angle difference which can be at or around 90 degrees to minimize variations in loading applied to the drive system when the cutting action is taking place.

Abstract: The mounting joint has a first and second axes extending at right angle from each other. A shaft and bearing assembly extends along the first axis. The shaft has a crank arm on its end for controllably rotating the shaft axially about the first axis. The mounting joint also has a resilient wrist pin assembly mounted along the second axis. The resilient wrist pin assembly has axial resilience about the second axis. The first axis extends horizontally. The second axis always lies in a vertical plane. The shaft and bearing assembly has a first connection for connection to a supporting beam and a second connection connected to the resilient wrist pin assembly. The resilient wrist pin assembly has a third connection connected to the sickle bar, such that the sickle bar is controllably rotatable about the first axis and resiliently rotatable about the second axis.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for split sickle bar sections of a harvester having a long cutter bar such as a combine, swather, mower-conditioner or the like utilizes separate drives for each sickle bar section, and provides for synchronizing the movement of the sickle bar sections so that they reach the respective ends of the reciprocating path simultaneously. In one form series connected first and second hydraulic motors are used, and the first motor in the series connection is reduced in speed from that which would be obtained from the full flow of a pump, by passing a portion of the pump fluid flow to a flow line leading to the second motor, a bleed valve bleeds off a portion of the flow in the flow line to regulate the second motor speed and position to match the speed and position of the first motor in response to signals indicating the position of the sickle bar sections. The sickle bar sections are thus synchronized.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine harvester having a mechanically actuated directional control valve for a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit used for driving the cutter bar in an oscillatory manner. A switching bracket is used to axially move the mechanically actuated directional control valve from a first end position to a second end position and from the second end position to the first end position. A latch is used to periodically latch a piston valve stationary. A first plunger and second plunger are alternatively and axially moved by a first spring and second spring. The first plunger and the second plunger alternatively move the valve piston from the first end position and the second position and from the second position to the first position. The valve piston will be released from the first end position or the second end position one end position from which it was arrested or latched.

Abstract: The cutter head of a windrower may carry a sickle bar or a disc as the cutting element. Each type of cutting element requires a different drive power to obtain a given set point speed. To determine the type of cutter being used, the magnitude of the signal required to bring the cutting element to a given set point speed is measured and compared to limits defining first and second, non-overlapping, ranges of signal magnitudes, one range being typical of sickle bar operation and the other range being typical of disc operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mowing apparatus, which includes a pair of first and second cutting members slidably superposed with each other, each of the members including a plurality of aligned cutting teeth; mechanism for moving the first cutting member relative to the second cutting member reciprocably within a predetermined range in the direction of the aligned cutting teeth at a substantially uniform speed; and a drive source for driving the moving mechanism. The moving mechanism includes a solenoid actuator having first and second coils and a plunger provided reciprocatingly movably between the first and second coils. The plunger is connected to the first cutting member.

Abstract: A pitman mower has a hitch frame, a drag bar, a cutterbar pivotally attached to the drag bar for pivotal movement in the transverse vertical plane and a drive mechanism for the cutterbar mounted on the drag bar. A pair of fore-and-aft extending links interconnect the hitch frame and drag bar in a generally horizontal four bar parallel linkage, the left link being resilient in the transverse direction, preferably comprising a leaf spring, having one end rigidly connected to its adjacent member. The right link comprises a breakaway pull bar assembly rotatable about an axis generally longitudinal thereof and has a float spring and lifting chain connected thereto and disposed to rotate the pull bar against the load imposed thereon by a gag link connected to the pull bar away from the axis of rotation thereof and extending to the cutterbar to control its rotation about the drag bar.