Patent ID: 8020363
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A crop harvesting header comprising: a cutter bar mounted on a header frame across a width of the header for movement across the ground in a forward harvesting direction for harvesting the standing crop; the cutter bar including a longitudinally extending hollow gear case; a plurality of generally horizontal cutter disks mounted on the cutter bar at positions spaced along the cutter bar with the disks being mounted on the cutter bar for driven rotation about respective generally upright axes spaced along the cutter bar; each disk having mounted thereon at a position spaced outwardly from the respective axis thereof at least one cutter blade such that rotation of the disk about its axis causes a standing crop to be cut by the blade as it rotates around the axis on the disk; the gear case including a gear train arranged to drive the cutter disks; the cutter bar including a support beam extending along the gear case rearwardly of the gear case; and a plurality of guard plate members arranged side by side along the cutter bar and each extending from the beam forwardly underneath the gear case to a forward position in front of the gear case; wherein each of the guard plate members includes a first rear fastening arrangement which is connected to the member and is connected to the beam thereby connecting the member to the beam and a second forward fastening arrangement which is connected to the member and is connected to the beam thereby connecting the member to the beam with the second fastening arrangement being forward of the first fastening arrangement.