Patent ID: 6604347
Filing Date: 2003-08-12
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A disc cutterbar having a support member with a cutterhead affixed thereto, said cutterhead including:a disc member carrying a knife to sever standing crop material, said disc member drivingly connected to a mounting hub provided with a central mounting hole; a drive system including a drive shaft coaxially affixed in said mounting hole for rotation of said disc member about a generally upright axis; a shear device operable between said drive shaft and said disc member such that torque is transferred from said drive shaft through said mounting hub and shear device to said disc member; a brake including an upper locking block on the bottom of said mounting hub and a lower locking block non-rotatably connected to said support member, said upper and lower locking blocks being coaxial with said drive shaft and spaced apart from each other along the axis of said drive shaft; said drive shaft extending through said mounting hub and said upper and lower locking blocks, said upper locking block movable along said drive shaft upon failure of said shear device; and said upper and lower locking blocks including generally mating teeth, said teeth on said upper locking block having a shock absorbing section positioned to contact said teeth on said lower locking block upon failure of said shear device, whereby failure of said shear device allows said mounting hub to move on said drive shaft toward said lower locking block and said teeth on said upper and lower locking block engage, stopping rotation of said mounting hub.