An agricultural system includes an arm configured to rotate about a pivot joint and to support a portion of a cutter bar assembly, a fluid-filled biasing member slidingly coupled to the arm, an actuator coupled to the fluid-filled biasing member, a fluid pressure sensor configured to measure a fluid pressure in the fluid-filled biasing member, and a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator. The controller is configured to receive an input signal from the fluid pressure sensor indicative of the fluid pressure and to output an output signal to instruct the actuator to adjust a connection point between the fluid-filled biasing member and the arm based on the input signal.

An agricultural system includes an arm configured to rotate about a pivot joint and to support a portion of a cutter bar assembly, a fluid-filled biasing member slidingly coupled to the arm, an actuator coupled to the fluid-filled biasing member, a fluid pressure sensor configured to measure a fluid pressure in the fluid-filled biasing member, and a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator. The controller is configured to receive an input signal from the fluid pressure sensor indicative of the fluid pressure and to output an output signal to instruct the actuator to adjust a connection point between the fluid-filled biasing member and the arm based on the input signal.

An agricultural system includes an arm configured to rotate about a pivot joint and to support a portion of a cutter bar assembly, a fluid-filled biasing member slidingly coupled to the arm, an actuator coupled to the fluid-filled biasing member, a fluid pressure sensor configured to measure a fluid pressure in the fluid-filled biasing member, and a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator. The controller is configured to receive an input signal from the fluid pressure sensor indicative of the fluid pressure and to output an output signal to instruct the actuator to adjust a connection point between the fluid-filled biasing member and the arm based on the input signal.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.