Abstract: A cutting assembly for a header of a plant-cutting machine is disclosed. The cutting assembly generally includes a blade assembly fastened to a head assembly, which is configured to be drivingly connected to a motor. The cutting assembly is suitable for mounting proximate to the center of the header, in an end-to-end relation with another cutting assembly. Removal of the blade assembly from the head assembly can be efficiently effected by releasing or removing a small number of fasteners, thus allowing an operator to readily remove or replace the blade assembly as needed.

Abstract: A modular sickle bar having a knifeback for use in a crop harvesting header having a plurality of cutting sections fastened together and to a knifeback. The sections are locked together with use of a locking system which restrains relative movement of the joined sections along planes parallel to and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the knifeback when the crop harvesting header is in use.

Abstract: A double knife, that can be unitary or consisting of two separate knives, is configured to be mounted on a reciprocating bar of a reciprocating knife. The double knife comprises two cutting sections extending in a forward direction which is perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation. Each of the cutting sections has two lateral faces with serrated cutting edges. The serrations of one cutting section are offset in the forward direction from the serrations of the other cutting section. The two cutting sections can be provided on a single double knife or on separate knives. Preferably, the stroke of the knives is larger than their width, such that a guard finger interacts with two cutting sections and the wear of the guard finger is reduced, since each of the cutting sections interacts with different locations of the guard finger.

Abstract: A mowing blade that performs an oscillating linear motion, has a blade bar, with at least two bar sections that are located one behind the other along a longitudinal axis. The front faces of the sections abut one another and have respective recesses. The thickness of the bar sections is reduced in recessed areas. A connecting fish plate, which can for example be constructed from a high strength material, is placed in the recesses. The blade sections, bar sections and fish plate are connected by cap screws and securing nuts. A blade section covers the butt joint between the two bar sections. The configuration enables absorption of inertial forces caused by the backwards and forwards reciprocating motion and compressive forces that result from the motion in the connection region.

Abstract: A double knife section for a reciprocating sickle bar mower is provided with two knives. Each knife is provided with a base portion extending in the transverse direction and a knife portion extending in the longitudinal direction. The base portion is provided with at least two mounting holes. The knife portion is provided with two cutting edges. The knife is also provided with a series of breakage holes defining transverse breakage zones which allow a knife to break before damaging the knife guard holding the knife. The holes are sized to allow for breakage of the knife before breaking the guard.

Abstract: A sickle apparatus employing an endless cutter mechanism is provided wherein its modular construction allows the size of the apparatus to be readily tailored to variously sized equipment. Traveling blades are attached to the hollow pin drive chain by fasteners extending through the hollow pins to facilitate repair with a minimum of downtime. The use of liner material prevents a pivoting or twisting of the chain to stabilize the traveling blades while minimizing wear and tear. A positive attack of the traveling blade relative the fixed blade provides for a positive cutting action.

Abstract: There is provided a cutting section for a mower or a hedge trimmer. Such cutting section comprises a pair of elongate guide plates arranged at upper and lower positions respectively and secured at their rear ends on a transmission case of the mower, a pair of elongate cutter bars arranged one on top of another and received in a space formed between the pair of elongate guide plates, the rear end of each cutter bar being formed with a connecting portion projecting laterally and outwardly beyond the guide plates, and a pair of driving members arranged at upper and lower positions respectively and connected with the respective elongate cutter bars through the respective connecting portions, for reciprocatingly driving the elongate cutter bars by means of a crank mechanism.

Abstract: A two-piece cutter member for mounting on a sickle bar has a rigid thin support element arranged for relatively permanent attachment to a sickle bar, and a flat planar pyramid-shaped spring metal blade. A portion of the blade provides at least one bridge or loop for encircling the support element and holding the blade on the support element. A section of either said the portion or the support element is displaced with respect to the support face to releasably hold the blade on the support when the blade is fully positioned on said support element.

Abstract: A two-piece cutter member for mounting on a sickle bar has a rigid thin support element arranged for relatively permanent attachment to a sickle bar, and a flat planar pyramid-shaped spring metal blade. A portion of the blade provides at least one bridge or loop for encircling the support element and holding the blade on the support element. A section of either said the portion or the support element is displaced with respect to the support face to releasably hold the blade on the support when the blade is fully positioned on said support element. The spring metal blade is preferably formed of two thin sheet welded together near their edges.

Abstract: A splice assembly joins two short or broken sickle bars with their attached cutter sections. The sickle bars and cutter sections have a series of aligned holes. Top and bottom splice plates sandwich the bars and cutter sections, and have a series of openings that register with the holes in the bars and cutter sections. The outer surface of each plate is countersunk at the openings, and a plurality of bolts with conical heads are received in the countersunk openings in one plate and a plurality of nuts with conical ends are threaded onto the bolts and received in the countersunk openings of the other plate.

Abstract: A modular sickle bar having knifeback sections with splice plates can be joined together to form an elongated knifeback. Each of the splice plates are provided with a pair of holes corresponding to holes of adjoining full knife sections. In this way, conventional two-hole full knife sections are used throughout the sickle bar assembly. The sickle bar assembly is also provided with a half knife section that can be readily mounted in the field because its first mounting hole corresponds to the mounting hole of the adjoining full knife section, and the second mounting hole corresponds to the mounting hole for the next full knife section along the knifeback.

Abstract: A reciprocating cutterbar of the type utilizing a pair of counter-reciprocating sickles driven at the opposing outboard ends and overlapping at the inboard ends thereof is disclosed wherein the knife sections are detachably affixed to the respective support bars of these sickles by special threaded fasteners to permit the overlapped knife sections to maintain a close shearing relationship. These special threaded fasteners include a head portion adapted to be countersunk into the body of the knife section below the surface thereof, a threaded portion adapted to be threadably engaged with a nut to effect a clamping load between the knife section and support bar, and an intermediate portion having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration engageable with a corresponding non-circular opening formed in the support bar to restrict rotation thereof when the fastener is engaged therewith.

Abstract: A sectional sickle bar is provided. The sickle bar includes a plurality of elongated bar segments and means for releasably joining adjacent joining ends of adjacent bar segments. The joining means includes a special section and at least three fasteners. Each fastener includes a bolt, a nut and reciprocal thread means for screwing the nut onto the bolt. Adjacent joining ends of adjacent bar segments are joined together by the fasteners and the special section to form a lap joint. In a preferred embodiment, a special fastener having an oblong shank is provided. Preferably, the fastener has an offset threaded end portion for receiving a reciprocally threaded nut.

Abstract: A modular knifeback for a sickle knife assembly that is made into lengths that are standardized for permitting ease of shipment, storage and handling, and which lengths can be spliced into a desired extended length knife assemble for use in harvesting machinery, or the like, without sacrificing rigidity and strength where the modular sections are joined together. The modular sections are made sufficiently long so that the bolts or rivets used where the modular sections join are capable of withstanding the loads that are incurred on the knife assembly during use. The modular sections of the sickle are easily kept, and stored, and are assembled using standard components without specialized tools.

Abstract: A modular knifeback for a sickle knife assembly that is made into lengths that are standardized for permitting ease of shipment, storage and handle, and which lengths can be spliced into a desired extended length knife assemble for use in harvesting machinery, or the like, without sacrificing rigidity and strength where the modular sections are joined together. The modular sections are made sufficiently long so that the bolts or rivets used where the modular sections join are capable of withstanding the loads that are incurred on the knife assembly during use. The modular sections of the sickle are easily kept, and stored, and are assembled using standard components without specialized tools.