Patent ID: 7730709

Claim:
An epicyclic drive, comprising: a fixed frame including a ring gear extending around a passage through the frame and defining a central axis through the passage, the frame having an annular flange coaxial with the ring gear about the central axis; a flywheel bearing mounted about the annular flange concentric therewith and coaxial with the ring gear about the central axis; a flywheel mounted about the flywheel bearing for rotation about the annular flange concentric therewith, the flywheel having a radial outer flange extending around and spaced radially outward of a radial inner hub, defining an annular space therebetween, the flywheel bearing being disposed in the annular space and mounted to the flywheel for supporting the flywheel for rotation about the central axis relative to the frame, the outer flange, the inner hub and the flywheel bearing being substantially coplanar and concentric about the central axis, the inner hub supporting a pinion bearing eccentric to the central axis and defining an eccentric axis extending therethrough and through the passage parallel to the central axis, the flange of the flywheel being configured to be connected in driven relation with a drive element operable for rotating the flywheel; a pinion shaft supported by the pinion bearing for rotation about the eccentric axis relative to the inner hub, the pinion shaft extending through the passage eccentric to the central axis and including a pinion gear enmeshed with the ring gear, the pinion gear being rotatable about the eccentric axis, and about the ring gear and the central axis when the flywheel is rotated; an eccentric element fixedly connected to the pinion shaft so as to rotate about the eccentric axis, and about the ring gear and the central axis with the pinion shaft when the flywheel is rotated; a reciprocating element supported in connection with the eccentric element so as to be moved in a reciprocating manner by the rotation of the eccentric element; and wherein the reciprocating element reciprocatingly drives a first knife assembly of a sickle.