Patent ID: 7814736

Claim:
A crop conveying drum for a shaft-driven cutterbar on a crop harvester comprising: first and second generally identical elongate drum segments for connection to a shaft for rotation therewith, each said segment is formed from a single piece of plate material, each said segment further comprising: a central axis; generally opposing first and second end portions, each end portion having a first curvilinear cross-sectional profile defining a first length measured along the entire said first cross-sectional profile, each said first cross-sectional profile extending in a direction generally parallel to said central axis for a distance; first and second openings through the segment, each opening being disposed adjacent to a respective end portion; and a central mounting section disposed between said first and second openings, said central section having at least one aperture for receiving a connector apparatus to connect said segment to the shaft, and a second curvilinear cross-sectional profile defining a second length measured along the entire said second cross-sectional profile, said first and second lengths being substantially equal, whereby stresses in said segment are minimized.