CA2180626A1 - Sickle knife guard with adjustable hold down - Google Patents
Sickle knife guard with adjustable hold downInfo
- Publication number
- CA2180626A1 CA2180626A1 CA 2180626 CA2180626A CA2180626A1 CA 2180626 A1 CA2180626 A1 CA 2180626A1 CA 2180626 CA2180626 CA 2180626 CA 2180626 A CA2180626 A CA 2180626A CA 2180626 A1 CA2180626 A1 CA 2180626A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- knife
- hold down
- sections
- finger
- guard
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
- A01D34/00—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters
- A01D34/01—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus
- A01D34/02—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having reciprocating cutters
- A01D34/13—Cutting apparatus
- A01D34/17—Holding-down devices for the knife
Abstract
A sickle knife apparatus comprises a plurality of knife guards carried on a fixed bar with each having a pair of fingers extending forwardly and defining upwardly facing ledger surfaces. A reciprocating knife bar slides across the knife guards and carries a plurality of triangular knife sections which slide over the ledger surfaces in a cutting action. Each finger has a rearwardly extending hold down arm portion connected to a nose of the finger and extending over each knife section to prevent upward movement of the knife section. The hold down arms include a plate having a bottom surface which engages a top surface of the knife sections with that plate being adjustable by a screw passing through the hold down arm into engagement with the top surface of the plate. The plate has a width sufficient to bridge the valley between the triangular knife sections so that the knife sections receive continual downward pressure from the plates as they reciprocate to maintain the proper cutting action with the ledger surfaces.
Description
. ~ 2180~26 SICKLE KNiFE GUARD WITH ADJUSTABLE HOLD DOWN
BACKGRQUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a sickle knife apparatus of the type comprising a ,~I,i,.rucd~i"g sickle knife bar carrying a plurality of knife 5 sections, a fixed support bar and a plurality of knife guards extending forwardly from the fixed support bar and defining guard fingers which support the knife sections in the ~ UCdlion thereof and define side edges of ledger surfaces thereof which cooperate with the side edges of the knife sections in a cutting action.
Sickle knife apparatus of this type are well known and exampies are shown in U.S. Patent 5,487,259 (Powers et al) assigned to Carl Sulberg Gm8H, in U.S. Patent 4,909,026 (Molzhan et al) assigned to the present Assi~nee and in a brochure by Sulberg which discloses a similar arrangement to that set forth in the patent.
In the Powers patent is disclosed an arrangement in which a generally conventional sickle knife ~uard is provided which includes a pair of forwardly extendin~ fingers with each finger having a hold down portion extending from a forward end rearwardly back over the knife sections so as to provide an upper surface which prevents upward movement of the knife 20 sections and defines a slot between the hold down portion and the underside of the finger through which the knife section moves. This generally conventional knife guard is modified by an additional hold down arm which is provided on top of the conventional knife guard and extends outwardly between the two fingers. The hold down arm carries a pair of 25 screws which can be adjusted so that the lower most surface tllereof contacts the upper surface of the knife sections as they reciprocate back and forth. Thus each knife section is held down by its contact with the 218062~
~ .
adjustable screw as it provides a cutting action between the side edge of the knife section and the adjacent ledger surface of the yard finger However this arrangement is disadvantageous in that it is mDre complex and thus more difficult for assembly and repair. It is also disadvantageous in that the hold down arm between the two fingers can interfere with the movement of crop into the cutting area.
in the brochure of Sulberg is shown an alternative arrangement in which the adjustment screw is positioned in the hold down portion of the finger. However this arrangement is u~l~dLi~rd~,lury since the pressure is applied to the knife section only when it is underneath the finger and during this time no cutting action is occurring. Thus, as the knife section approaches the finger, the surface of the screw is located in the valley between the two knife sections and thus does not provide the necessary hold down pressure. In an alternative arrangement in the brochure the screw is located in a bridging portion between the two fingers. While this provides the required downward pressure on the knife section at the right point in its movement, it interferes with the removal of the knife sections and the guard for repair and can interfere with crop flow.
An example of a different type of sickle knife is shown in the Molzahn patent which includes an additional top mounted hold down system located over the top of the fingers. However this arrangement is relatively complex and involves additional elements inc,~;"g ",ecl al,;a,al complexity and cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVFNTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved sickle knife apparatus of the type general~y described above in which each guard finger includes a hold down portion exten~ ng rearwarr~ly , ~ ~18062~
over the top of the knife sections in which the pressure on the l~nife sections is Illaillld;lled during the cutting action.
According to the invention there is provided a sickle l~nife apparatus comprising: a l~,;plU~,dlillg sickle knife bar carrying a plurality of5 knife sections for It~ ,a~iOn therewith, each extending forwardly from the knife bar to a forward apex and defining a bottom surface, a top surface and two knife edges each on a respective side of the knife section; the knife sections being arranged side by side so that the knife edges of two next adjacent knife sections define a space between the knife edges which is 10 generally of V-shape in plan converging to a rearward apex at the knife bar;
a fixed support bar carrying a plurality of sickle knife guards arranged side by side along the support; each knife suard having at least one forwardly extending guard fin~er having a ledger surface for supporting the bottom surface of adjacent ones of the knife sections as the knife sections 15 ,~:ci~,~ocd~e across the knife guards, the ledger surface having two side edges for cooperating with the side edges of the knife sections in a cutting action; each guard finger having a hold down arm portion connected to the guard finger at a forward end of the guard finger and extending rearwzrdly ~llel~rlLnll over the ledger surface and over the knife sections for restricting20 upward movement of the knife section away from the ledger surface; each hold down arm portion having a hold down surface carried by the hold down arm portion for engaging the top surfaces of the knife sections; and adjustment means for adjusting the hold down surface relative to the guard finger in a direction to change a distance of the hold down surface from the 25 ledger surface; the hold down surface having a width in a direction longitudinal of the sickle knife bar at a position forward of the rearward apex sufficient to bridge the space between the knife edges so that, at all times during the reciprocation of the two adjacent knife sections, the hold down _,, . _ _ _ , .. . . . . . . . . . .
~ 218~62~
surface remains in contact with at least one of the top surfaces of the two next adjacent knife sections.
In a preferred embodi"lcrll described ilel~;~larLdl~ the hold down surface is the undersurface of a spring plate formed integrally with the hold down portion of the guard finger. However the surface can also be provided by a loose plate portion suitably carried on the hold down portion of the guard finger against which the screw applies pressure. Such a loose plate can be carried by the screw itself or can be pivoted on the finger and held in place on the fin~er by guide surfaces while the screw providing the adjustment applies pressure to an upper surface of the plate. The screw can engage into an upper portion of the guard finser above the loose plate or the upper portion cân be omitted and thc screw enga~ed in the lower portion of the guard finger forwardly of the knife section forward apex.
This a"dnge",e~,l therefore ensures that the pressure to the knife sections is maintained as the V-shape valley between the kl1ife sections moves back and forth underneath the hold down portion of the guard finger. The ,,,ai,,Lcl~ance of the pressure continually during the reciprocation of the knife sections ensures that the cuttin~ edges of the knife sections properly lie in contact with the ledger surface of the guard fingers during the cutting action to maintain an effective scissors effect without danger of the knife sections lifting away from the ledger surface.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the acco""~a"~ing drawings in which:
BplFF DESC~IPTIC)N OF THE r~RAW~NGS
Figure 1 is a top plan view of one portion of the sickle knife apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.
. ~ 2~80~26 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figur~ 2 showing a modified alldn~eillerll~
In the drawings like cl)dla~,lel~ of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different fi~ures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIQN
A sickle knife apparatus generally indicated at 10 includes a fixed support bar 11 carried on a suitable frame member 12 of the agricultural harvesting apparatus on which the sickle knife is attached. The fixed bar 11 carries a plurality of knife guards 13, 14 of which only one 13 is shown in total in Fi3ure 1 and only a part of a second 14 is shown. It will however be appreciated that the knife guards are arranged side by side along the length of the fixed bar 11 to form a fu~l length of the sickle knife apparatus.
Each knife guard 13 includes two fing~rs 15 and 16 ptojecting forwardly from a rear section 17 bolted onto the fixed bar 11 by a pair of bolts 18. The rear section 17 includes a cross bar 19 havin~ a front edge 21 and a rear edge 22. The cross bar thus i"lerGo,1neuls the two fingers 15 and 16. Rearwardly of the cross bar is defined a pair of rounded sections 23 and 24 which receive the bolts 18.
The apparatus further includes a reciprocating knife bar 25 which is actuated in l~ ;plUCdlill~ action by a drive assembly (not shown) at one end of the knife assembly. The knife bar extends the full len~th of tl1e knife and carries a plurality of knife sections 26 in side by side position along the len3th of the bar 25. Each knife section is generally triangular in shape with a rear portion 27 Iyin~ on top of the bar 25 and bolted thereto by bolts 28. From a rear portion, the knife section converges inwardly and forwardly to a front apex 29. Each knife section is formed from a flat plate of metal with a bottom surface 30, a top surface 31 and two side cutting , ' ~ 218062~
edges 32 and 33. Each side edge is beveled as indicated at 34 so as to define a sharp ed~e i~ r~ i"g with the bottom surface 30. The knife sections thus have a side edges thereof divergin~ outwardly and rearwardly from a front apex 29 so as to form a valley or space 36 between two next 5 adjacent knife sections with the valley or space convergin~ inwardly and rearwardly from an open mouth at the forward end to a rear apex 37 where the two side edges of the two adjacent knife sections meet.
Each guard with its two fingers 15 and 16 forms a lerJger surface 40 on which the bottom surface 30 of the knife sections run. The 10 ledger surface 40 is defined on top of a lower portion 41 of the finger to~ether with a rear ledger portion 42 behind the knife bar and supporting a rear most edge of a knife section which projects beyond the rear edge of the knife bar. The ledger surface includes two sides of each finger as indicated at 43 and 44 and the side edges 43 and 44 of the ledger surface thus define 15 cutting ed~es with the ed~es 32 and 33 of each knife section as it passes through the finger.
Each guard further includes a forward nose section 47 extending forwardly of a front edge 48 of the ledger surface so as to define a point to pass through the crop and divide the crop to enter either side of 20 each fin~er into the area between the fingers for cutting. The forward edge of the led~er surface is of course spaced slightly forwardlv of the apex 29 of the knife section so that the apex can pass over the ledger surface without contacting the forward end 48 of the ledger surface 48.
The nose 47 supports a hold down portion 50 of the finger 25 which extends from the nose portion 47 rearwardly over the top of the knife section. The hold down portion or arm 50 extends rearwardly from the nose portion to a rearward end 51 located forwardly of the knife bar 25 and the bolts 28.
~ ~18062~
In the allangell~elll of the present invention, the hold arm ~own 50 is modified in that it includes a slot 53 parallel to the knife sections and extending forwardly from the rearward edge 51 to a forward end 54 of the slot. The slot thus forms a plate portion 55 which has a width equal to the width of the finger since it is formed integrally with the finger. The l~late thus extends from a rearwârd end 57 of the plate aligned with the end 51 of the hold down arm to a forward end of the plate which is aligned with the end 54 of the slot 53. The plate 55 is thus flexibly connected to the guard fin~qer and can flex about its forward end. The plate 55 is adjusted by a set screw 60 enga~qed through a threaded hole in the top of the hold down arm.
The set screw 60 is of a self locking type which âllOws it to be adjusted so that its lower surface 61 abuts against an upper surface of the plate 55 thus pressing the plate 55 against the top surface of the knife sections.
The plate 55 has side edges 65 and 66 at its rearmost edge 57 which are spaced sufficiently such that they bridge the valley 36 at the position of the rearward edge 57 which is spaced forwardly of the apex 37.
Thus the side edges 65 and 66 are sufficient to extend over the mitered section 34 onto the top surface 31 in the extreme position shown in Fi~ure 1 in which the valley is directly aligned with the finger.
It will be appl~ciaLt:d that from observing Figure 1 that in the reciprocation of the knife sections from the position shown in Fi~ure 1, as the knife sections move in a first direction of reciprocation indicated at arrow 70, the knife section 71 is en~aged by the plates 55 of each of the fingers 15 and 16. As the knife section moves away from that position shown in Fi~ure 1, the knife section is released from the fin~er 15 and further engages under the finger 16. The knife section is thus pres~ed downwardly by the plate 55 of the finger 16 as the edge 33 moves in a cutting action toward the side 43 of the finger 16. The section 71 tilus ' ~ 2180~26 moves to a position directly aligned with the finger 16. In this position the section is spaced from the fin~er 15. In a reverse direction of reciprocation the section 71 is held down by the pipe 55 of the finger 16 as it moves toward the finger 15 in a cutting action so as to again to take up the 5 position shown in FiQure 1 in the knife section 71 is held down by Iboth fin~ers as it moves to a position underlyin~ the finger 15.
At all times during the ,~- iprocd~ion action, therefore, the knife sections are held down by the undersurface of the plates 55 so as to maintain the sliding action between the bottom surface 31 of the knife 10 sections and the ledger surface of the fingers.
In Figure 3 is shown a modified alldn~ e'~ which includes a guard fin~er 1 6A having a forward end 47A which defines a ledger surface 30 on which the knife sections 26 reciprocate carried by the knife bar 25 as previously described.
In this alld~ ellL the rearwardly extending portion 50 of the guard finger is removed so that an upper portion 70 of the ouard finger ter", lal~:s at a rear edge 71 and defines a notch 72 underneath the rear edge. The area above the knife sections 26 and the led~er surface 30 is therefore not covered by the rearwardly extending portion of the finoer.
20 However an additional plate 75 is provided with a forward nose 76 which turns downwardly and forwarding for enga~ing into the notch 72. The width of the plate 75 is equal to the width of the ledger surface and the plate extends rearwardly from the notch upwardly and then rearwardly across the top surface of the knife sections 26. An adjustment screw 78 25 engages through a hole in the plate 75 and into the lower portion of the guard finger so as to adjustably press an upper surface 79 of the plate 75 downwardly thus causing a lower surface 80 of the plate to engage the tDp surface 31 of the knife sections 30.
. ~ 218062~
The arran~ement as shown operates in the same manner as that shown in Figures 1 and 2 in that the plate has a width sufficient to hold the knife sections down against the led~er surface during the cutting action.
Since various Illo~iri~a~ions can be made in my invention as 5 herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be i~ nt~ed as illustrative only and no~ in a limiting sense.
BACKGRQUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a sickle knife apparatus of the type comprising a ,~I,i,.rucd~i"g sickle knife bar carrying a plurality of knife 5 sections, a fixed support bar and a plurality of knife guards extending forwardly from the fixed support bar and defining guard fingers which support the knife sections in the ~ UCdlion thereof and define side edges of ledger surfaces thereof which cooperate with the side edges of the knife sections in a cutting action.
Sickle knife apparatus of this type are well known and exampies are shown in U.S. Patent 5,487,259 (Powers et al) assigned to Carl Sulberg Gm8H, in U.S. Patent 4,909,026 (Molzhan et al) assigned to the present Assi~nee and in a brochure by Sulberg which discloses a similar arrangement to that set forth in the patent.
In the Powers patent is disclosed an arrangement in which a generally conventional sickle knife ~uard is provided which includes a pair of forwardly extendin~ fingers with each finger having a hold down portion extending from a forward end rearwardly back over the knife sections so as to provide an upper surface which prevents upward movement of the knife 20 sections and defines a slot between the hold down portion and the underside of the finger through which the knife section moves. This generally conventional knife guard is modified by an additional hold down arm which is provided on top of the conventional knife guard and extends outwardly between the two fingers. The hold down arm carries a pair of 25 screws which can be adjusted so that the lower most surface tllereof contacts the upper surface of the knife sections as they reciprocate back and forth. Thus each knife section is held down by its contact with the 218062~
~ .
adjustable screw as it provides a cutting action between the side edge of the knife section and the adjacent ledger surface of the yard finger However this arrangement is disadvantageous in that it is mDre complex and thus more difficult for assembly and repair. It is also disadvantageous in that the hold down arm between the two fingers can interfere with the movement of crop into the cutting area.
in the brochure of Sulberg is shown an alternative arrangement in which the adjustment screw is positioned in the hold down portion of the finger. However this arrangement is u~l~dLi~rd~,lury since the pressure is applied to the knife section only when it is underneath the finger and during this time no cutting action is occurring. Thus, as the knife section approaches the finger, the surface of the screw is located in the valley between the two knife sections and thus does not provide the necessary hold down pressure. In an alternative arrangement in the brochure the screw is located in a bridging portion between the two fingers. While this provides the required downward pressure on the knife section at the right point in its movement, it interferes with the removal of the knife sections and the guard for repair and can interfere with crop flow.
An example of a different type of sickle knife is shown in the Molzahn patent which includes an additional top mounted hold down system located over the top of the fingers. However this arrangement is relatively complex and involves additional elements inc,~;"g ",ecl al,;a,al complexity and cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVFNTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved sickle knife apparatus of the type general~y described above in which each guard finger includes a hold down portion exten~ ng rearwarr~ly , ~ ~18062~
over the top of the knife sections in which the pressure on the l~nife sections is Illaillld;lled during the cutting action.
According to the invention there is provided a sickle l~nife apparatus comprising: a l~,;plU~,dlillg sickle knife bar carrying a plurality of5 knife sections for It~ ,a~iOn therewith, each extending forwardly from the knife bar to a forward apex and defining a bottom surface, a top surface and two knife edges each on a respective side of the knife section; the knife sections being arranged side by side so that the knife edges of two next adjacent knife sections define a space between the knife edges which is 10 generally of V-shape in plan converging to a rearward apex at the knife bar;
a fixed support bar carrying a plurality of sickle knife guards arranged side by side along the support; each knife suard having at least one forwardly extending guard fin~er having a ledger surface for supporting the bottom surface of adjacent ones of the knife sections as the knife sections 15 ,~:ci~,~ocd~e across the knife guards, the ledger surface having two side edges for cooperating with the side edges of the knife sections in a cutting action; each guard finger having a hold down arm portion connected to the guard finger at a forward end of the guard finger and extending rearwzrdly ~llel~rlLnll over the ledger surface and over the knife sections for restricting20 upward movement of the knife section away from the ledger surface; each hold down arm portion having a hold down surface carried by the hold down arm portion for engaging the top surfaces of the knife sections; and adjustment means for adjusting the hold down surface relative to the guard finger in a direction to change a distance of the hold down surface from the 25 ledger surface; the hold down surface having a width in a direction longitudinal of the sickle knife bar at a position forward of the rearward apex sufficient to bridge the space between the knife edges so that, at all times during the reciprocation of the two adjacent knife sections, the hold down _,, . _ _ _ , .. . . . . . . . . . .
~ 218~62~
surface remains in contact with at least one of the top surfaces of the two next adjacent knife sections.
In a preferred embodi"lcrll described ilel~;~larLdl~ the hold down surface is the undersurface of a spring plate formed integrally with the hold down portion of the guard finger. However the surface can also be provided by a loose plate portion suitably carried on the hold down portion of the guard finger against which the screw applies pressure. Such a loose plate can be carried by the screw itself or can be pivoted on the finger and held in place on the fin~er by guide surfaces while the screw providing the adjustment applies pressure to an upper surface of the plate. The screw can engage into an upper portion of the guard finser above the loose plate or the upper portion cân be omitted and thc screw enga~ed in the lower portion of the guard finger forwardly of the knife section forward apex.
This a"dnge",e~,l therefore ensures that the pressure to the knife sections is maintained as the V-shape valley between the kl1ife sections moves back and forth underneath the hold down portion of the guard finger. The ,,,ai,,Lcl~ance of the pressure continually during the reciprocation of the knife sections ensures that the cuttin~ edges of the knife sections properly lie in contact with the ledger surface of the guard fingers during the cutting action to maintain an effective scissors effect without danger of the knife sections lifting away from the ledger surface.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the acco""~a"~ing drawings in which:
BplFF DESC~IPTIC)N OF THE r~RAW~NGS
Figure 1 is a top plan view of one portion of the sickle knife apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.
. ~ 2~80~26 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figur~ 2 showing a modified alldn~eillerll~
In the drawings like cl)dla~,lel~ of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different fi~ures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIQN
A sickle knife apparatus generally indicated at 10 includes a fixed support bar 11 carried on a suitable frame member 12 of the agricultural harvesting apparatus on which the sickle knife is attached. The fixed bar 11 carries a plurality of knife guards 13, 14 of which only one 13 is shown in total in Fi3ure 1 and only a part of a second 14 is shown. It will however be appreciated that the knife guards are arranged side by side along the length of the fixed bar 11 to form a fu~l length of the sickle knife apparatus.
Each knife guard 13 includes two fing~rs 15 and 16 ptojecting forwardly from a rear section 17 bolted onto the fixed bar 11 by a pair of bolts 18. The rear section 17 includes a cross bar 19 havin~ a front edge 21 and a rear edge 22. The cross bar thus i"lerGo,1neuls the two fingers 15 and 16. Rearwardly of the cross bar is defined a pair of rounded sections 23 and 24 which receive the bolts 18.
The apparatus further includes a reciprocating knife bar 25 which is actuated in l~ ;plUCdlill~ action by a drive assembly (not shown) at one end of the knife assembly. The knife bar extends the full len~th of tl1e knife and carries a plurality of knife sections 26 in side by side position along the len3th of the bar 25. Each knife section is generally triangular in shape with a rear portion 27 Iyin~ on top of the bar 25 and bolted thereto by bolts 28. From a rear portion, the knife section converges inwardly and forwardly to a front apex 29. Each knife section is formed from a flat plate of metal with a bottom surface 30, a top surface 31 and two side cutting , ' ~ 218062~
edges 32 and 33. Each side edge is beveled as indicated at 34 so as to define a sharp ed~e i~ r~ i"g with the bottom surface 30. The knife sections thus have a side edges thereof divergin~ outwardly and rearwardly from a front apex 29 so as to form a valley or space 36 between two next 5 adjacent knife sections with the valley or space convergin~ inwardly and rearwardly from an open mouth at the forward end to a rear apex 37 where the two side edges of the two adjacent knife sections meet.
Each guard with its two fingers 15 and 16 forms a lerJger surface 40 on which the bottom surface 30 of the knife sections run. The 10 ledger surface 40 is defined on top of a lower portion 41 of the finger to~ether with a rear ledger portion 42 behind the knife bar and supporting a rear most edge of a knife section which projects beyond the rear edge of the knife bar. The ledger surface includes two sides of each finger as indicated at 43 and 44 and the side edges 43 and 44 of the ledger surface thus define 15 cutting ed~es with the ed~es 32 and 33 of each knife section as it passes through the finger.
Each guard further includes a forward nose section 47 extending forwardly of a front edge 48 of the ledger surface so as to define a point to pass through the crop and divide the crop to enter either side of 20 each fin~er into the area between the fingers for cutting. The forward edge of the led~er surface is of course spaced slightly forwardlv of the apex 29 of the knife section so that the apex can pass over the ledger surface without contacting the forward end 48 of the ledger surface 48.
The nose 47 supports a hold down portion 50 of the finger 25 which extends from the nose portion 47 rearwardly over the top of the knife section. The hold down portion or arm 50 extends rearwardly from the nose portion to a rearward end 51 located forwardly of the knife bar 25 and the bolts 28.
~ ~18062~
In the allangell~elll of the present invention, the hold arm ~own 50 is modified in that it includes a slot 53 parallel to the knife sections and extending forwardly from the rearward edge 51 to a forward end 54 of the slot. The slot thus forms a plate portion 55 which has a width equal to the width of the finger since it is formed integrally with the finger. The l~late thus extends from a rearwârd end 57 of the plate aligned with the end 51 of the hold down arm to a forward end of the plate which is aligned with the end 54 of the slot 53. The plate 55 is thus flexibly connected to the guard fin~qer and can flex about its forward end. The plate 55 is adjusted by a set screw 60 enga~qed through a threaded hole in the top of the hold down arm.
The set screw 60 is of a self locking type which âllOws it to be adjusted so that its lower surface 61 abuts against an upper surface of the plate 55 thus pressing the plate 55 against the top surface of the knife sections.
The plate 55 has side edges 65 and 66 at its rearmost edge 57 which are spaced sufficiently such that they bridge the valley 36 at the position of the rearward edge 57 which is spaced forwardly of the apex 37.
Thus the side edges 65 and 66 are sufficient to extend over the mitered section 34 onto the top surface 31 in the extreme position shown in Fi~ure 1 in which the valley is directly aligned with the finger.
It will be appl~ciaLt:d that from observing Figure 1 that in the reciprocation of the knife sections from the position shown in Fi~ure 1, as the knife sections move in a first direction of reciprocation indicated at arrow 70, the knife section 71 is en~aged by the plates 55 of each of the fingers 15 and 16. As the knife section moves away from that position shown in Fi~ure 1, the knife section is released from the fin~er 15 and further engages under the finger 16. The knife section is thus pres~ed downwardly by the plate 55 of the finger 16 as the edge 33 moves in a cutting action toward the side 43 of the finger 16. The section 71 tilus ' ~ 2180~26 moves to a position directly aligned with the finger 16. In this position the section is spaced from the fin~er 15. In a reverse direction of reciprocation the section 71 is held down by the pipe 55 of the finger 16 as it moves toward the finger 15 in a cutting action so as to again to take up the 5 position shown in FiQure 1 in the knife section 71 is held down by Iboth fin~ers as it moves to a position underlyin~ the finger 15.
At all times during the ,~- iprocd~ion action, therefore, the knife sections are held down by the undersurface of the plates 55 so as to maintain the sliding action between the bottom surface 31 of the knife 10 sections and the ledger surface of the fingers.
In Figure 3 is shown a modified alldn~ e'~ which includes a guard fin~er 1 6A having a forward end 47A which defines a ledger surface 30 on which the knife sections 26 reciprocate carried by the knife bar 25 as previously described.
In this alld~ ellL the rearwardly extending portion 50 of the guard finger is removed so that an upper portion 70 of the ouard finger ter", lal~:s at a rear edge 71 and defines a notch 72 underneath the rear edge. The area above the knife sections 26 and the led~er surface 30 is therefore not covered by the rearwardly extending portion of the finoer.
20 However an additional plate 75 is provided with a forward nose 76 which turns downwardly and forwarding for enga~ing into the notch 72. The width of the plate 75 is equal to the width of the ledger surface and the plate extends rearwardly from the notch upwardly and then rearwardly across the top surface of the knife sections 26. An adjustment screw 78 25 engages through a hole in the plate 75 and into the lower portion of the guard finger so as to adjustably press an upper surface 79 of the plate 75 downwardly thus causing a lower surface 80 of the plate to engage the tDp surface 31 of the knife sections 30.
. ~ 218062~
The arran~ement as shown operates in the same manner as that shown in Figures 1 and 2 in that the plate has a width sufficient to hold the knife sections down against the led~er surface during the cutting action.
Since various Illo~iri~a~ions can be made in my invention as 5 herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be i~ nt~ed as illustrative only and no~ in a limiting sense.
Claims (9)
1. A sickle knife apparatus comprising:
a reciprocating sickle knife bar carrying a plurality of knife sections for reciprocation therewith, each extending forwardly from the knife bar to a forward apex and defining a bottom surface, a top surface and two knife edges each on a respective side of the knife section;
the knife sections being arranged side by side so that the knife edges of two next adjacent knife sections define a space between the knife edges which is generally of V-shape in plan converging to a rearward apex at the knife bar;
a fixed support bar carrying a plurality of sickle knife guards arranged side by side along the support;
each knife guard having at least one forwardly extending guard finger having a ledger surface for supporting the bottom surface of adjacent ones of the knife sections as the knife sections reciprocate across the knife guards, the ledger surface having two side edges for cooperating with the side edges of the knife sections in a cutting action;
each guard finger having a hold down arm portion connected to the guard finger at a forward end of the guard finger and extending rearwardly therefrom over the ledger surface and over the knife sections for restricting upward movement of the knife section away from the ledger surface;
each hold down arm portion having a hold down surface carried by the hold down arm portion for engaging the top surfaces of the knife sections;
and adjustment means for adjusting the hold down surface relative to the guard finger in a direction to change a distance of the hold down surface from the ledger surface;
the hold down surface having a width in a direction longitudinal of the sickle knife bar at a position forward of the rearward apex sufficient to bridge the space between the knife edges so that, at all times during the reciprocation of the two adjacent knife sections, the hold down surface remains in contact with at least one of the top surfaces of the two next adjacent knife sections.
a reciprocating sickle knife bar carrying a plurality of knife sections for reciprocation therewith, each extending forwardly from the knife bar to a forward apex and defining a bottom surface, a top surface and two knife edges each on a respective side of the knife section;
the knife sections being arranged side by side so that the knife edges of two next adjacent knife sections define a space between the knife edges which is generally of V-shape in plan converging to a rearward apex at the knife bar;
a fixed support bar carrying a plurality of sickle knife guards arranged side by side along the support;
each knife guard having at least one forwardly extending guard finger having a ledger surface for supporting the bottom surface of adjacent ones of the knife sections as the knife sections reciprocate across the knife guards, the ledger surface having two side edges for cooperating with the side edges of the knife sections in a cutting action;
each guard finger having a hold down arm portion connected to the guard finger at a forward end of the guard finger and extending rearwardly therefrom over the ledger surface and over the knife sections for restricting upward movement of the knife section away from the ledger surface;
each hold down arm portion having a hold down surface carried by the hold down arm portion for engaging the top surfaces of the knife sections;
and adjustment means for adjusting the hold down surface relative to the guard finger in a direction to change a distance of the hold down surface from the ledger surface;
the hold down surface having a width in a direction longitudinal of the sickle knife bar at a position forward of the rearward apex sufficient to bridge the space between the knife edges so that, at all times during the reciprocation of the two adjacent knife sections, the hold down surface remains in contact with at least one of the top surfaces of the two next adjacent knife sections.
2. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the adjustment means comprises a screw.
3. The apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the hold down surface has a width substantially equal to a width of the guard finger.
4. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the hold down surface comprises an undersurface of a plate movable by the adjustment means.
5. The apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein the plate is separate from the adjustment means.
6. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the surface comprises an undersurface of a flexible plate formed integrally with the guard finger and flexibly connected thereto to allow movement thereof on application of force from the adjustment means.
7. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the hold down finger includes a portion fixed relative to the guard finger and extending over the ledger surface with the hold down surface mounted on a member movable by the adjustment means relative to said fixed portion.
8. The apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein the adjustment means is located at a position on the fixed portion rearwardly of the forward apex of the knife elements.
9. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the hold down surface is provided on a pivot member which is pivotal relative to a forward portion of the guard finger and wherein the adjustment means comprises a screw engaging from the pivot member into a lower portion of the guard finger forwardly of the forward apex of the knife sections.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2180626 CA2180626A1 (en) | 1996-07-05 | 1996-07-05 | Sickle knife guard with adjustable hold down |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2180626 CA2180626A1 (en) | 1996-07-05 | 1996-07-05 | Sickle knife guard with adjustable hold down |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2180626A1 true CA2180626A1 (en) | 1998-01-06 |
Family
ID=4158552
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2180626 Abandoned CA2180626A1 (en) | 1996-07-05 | 1996-07-05 | Sickle knife guard with adjustable hold down |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2180626A1 (en) |
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-
1996
- 1996-07-05 CA CA 2180626 patent/CA2180626A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |