Drive System for the Reel of a Crop Harvesting Header

摘要

A crop harvesting header includes a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of a header frame structure, a draper or auger transport arrangement for transporting the cut crop for further processing, and a reel with a reel drive mechanism for driving rotation of the reel including a variable speed drive motor and a drive transmission having two different drive ratios for high and low speed reel operation. The transmission is mounted in a housing with a readily removable cover part allowing access to a chain and sprocket drive system where the chain can be loosened to allow it to be transferred from one set of cooperating sprockets to another. The reel shaft is movable to release the chain tension and adjusted by a cam and ratchet arrangement.

主权项

1. A crop harvesting header comprising:
a header frame structure arranged for movement in a direction of working movement across ground carrying a crop to be harvested; a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of the header frame structure for cutting the crop; a cut crop transport arrangement mounted on the header frame structure for receiving and transporting the cut crop for further processing; and a reel for controlling movement of the crop in the area over the cutter bar; the reel being mounted on the header frame structure for movement with the header in the direction of movement; and a reel drive mechanism for driving rotation of the reel about a reel axis generally parallel to the cutter bar, the reel drive mechanism comprising:
a drive motor having a drive output, an output speed of which can be varied to provide a variable speed drive to the reel;and a drive transmission for communicating the drive output to the reel, the drive transmission being arranged to provide at least two different drive ratios.