A cutting assembly for an agricultural harvesting head is provided. The cutting assembly includes a first cutterbar, a second cutterbar, and a knife drive gearbox configured to drive linear reciprocating motion of the first cutterbar and the second cutterbar. The gearbox includes a cam shaft extending along a rotational axis from a first end to a second end. The cam shaft includes a first cam follower groove located near the first end and a second cam follower groove located near the second end. The gearbox further includes a drive mechanism, a first output shaft coupled to a first cam follower that travels in the first cam follower groove, and a second output shaft coupled to a second cam follower that travels in the second cam follower groove. The first output shaft is coupled to the first cutterbar and the second output shaft is coupled to the second cutterbar.

A cutting assembly for an agricultural harvesting head is provided. The cutting assembly includes a first cutterbar, a second cutterbar, and a knife drive gearbox configured to drive linear reciprocating motion of the first cutterbar and the second cutterbar. The gearbox includes a cam shaft extending along a rotational axis from a first end to a second end. The cam shaft includes a first cam follower groove located near the first end and a second cam follower groove located near the second end. The gearbox further includes a drive mechanism, a first output shaft coupled to a first cam follower that travels in the first cam follower groove, and a second output shaft coupled to a second cam follower that travels in the second cam follower groove. The first output shaft is coupled to the first cutterbar and the second output shaft is coupled to the second cutterbar.

An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis and a header. The header includes a cutter bar and a cutter bar feedback control system. The cutter bar is moveably connected to the header and has a first knife and a second knife. The cutter bar feedback control system is coupled to the cutter bar and is configured for selectively controlling a speed of the second knife. The cutter bar feedback control system includes a continuously variable transmission that is operably coupled to the second knife, a first sensor operably coupled to the first knife, a second sensor operably coupled to the second knife, and a controller in communication with the continuously variable transmission, the first sensor, and the second sensor. The controller is configured for controlling the continuously variable transmission to control the speed of the second knife such that the first knife and second knife synchronously reciprocate in opposing directions.

An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis and a header. The header includes a cutter bar and a cutter bar feedback control system. The cutter bar is moveably connected to the header and has a first knife and a second knife. The cutter bar feedback control system is coupled to the cutter bar and is configured for selectively controlling a speed of the second knife. The cutter bar feedback control system includes a continuously variable transmission that is operably coupled to the second knife, a first sensor operably coupled to the first knife, a second sensor operably coupled to the second knife, and a controller in communication with the continuously variable transmission, the first sensor, and the second sensor. The controller is configured for controlling the continuously variable transmission to control the speed of the second knife such that the first knife and second knife synchronously reciprocate in opposing directions.

A knife head drive assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester including a knife head assembly for attachment to a forward end of the header. A first pivot arm and a second pivot arm are carried by the knife head assembly and are pivotably connected by a linkage. A rotating crank is operatively connected to and extending substantially transverse to the knife head assembly for engagement with a drive. A reciprocating shaft is connected to the rotating crank and either of the pivot arms or the linkage. Operation of the knife head drive assembly results in substantially linear, opposed oscillating motion of cutter bars carried by the knife head assembly.

A knife drive assembly for use with a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The knife drive assembly includes a housing, a rotatable driver having at least one curved channel or sloped lateral side, at least one wobble arm engaging the curved channel and a at least one mounting bar that engages the wobble arm and a cutter bar such that when the rotatable driver is rotated, the cutter bar engages in substantially linear oscillating motion.

A knife drive assembly for use with a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The knife drive assembly includes a housing, a rotatable driver having at least one curved channel or sloped lateral side, at least one wobble arm engaging the curved channel and a at least one mounting bar that engages the wobble arm and a cutter bar such that when the rotatable driver is rotated, the cutter bar engages in substantially linear oscillating motion.

A mowing sickle drive system comprises a knife bar supported by a frame and drive apparatus operable to drive the knife bar in a reciprocating linear motion at a variable drive frequency. A spring is coupled to the knife bar for applying a restoring force to the knife bar toward a neutral position when in motion. The spring has a variable modulus of elasticity that is controlled dependent upon the drive frequency.

Systems and method for linearly displacing an object, such as a cutter or other component, in response to a rotation of a pivotable arm are disclosed. The systems and method encompass one or more actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders, to pivot a pivotable arm pivotable about an axis. A flexible component coupled to an end of the pivotable arm is displaced in response to the rotational motion of the pivotable arm. Movement of the flexible component in response to rotation of the pivotable arm is converted into linear motion via curved surface on which the flexible component rides. The pivotable arm is rotated in response to actuation of one or more actuators, such as one or more hydraulic cylinders, coupled to the pivotable arm.

An angular gear arrangement for mower knife driven in an oscillating manner, including a transmission housing, an input shaft, which engages in the interior of the transmission housing, a rotor, which is mounted in the transmission housing to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation by a first bearing, a crankshaft, which engages in the receiving space of the rotor through the receiving opening and is mounted in the receiving space, to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation by a second bearing, a driving element, which is non-rotationally connected to the rotor and mounted so as to be rotatable about the first axis of rotation by at least one third bearing, and support means, which are arranged in the transmission housing and on which the third bearing is axially supported, the support means being releasably fastened to the transmission housing.