Patent ID: 7694500

Claim:
A combine head, comprising: a frame; an end wall coupled to said frame; a plurality of row units coupled to said frame; a first driveshaft drivably coupled to said plurality of row units; and a drive system including a first drive assembly, wherein: said first drive assembly is coupled to said end wall and coupled to said first driveshaft, said first drive assembly including: a first bearing and a first sprocket carrying a torque input, said first bearing rotatably supporting said first driveshaft, said first bearing defining a first rotational axis of said first driveshaft, and having a first plane passing radially through said first bearing perpendicular to said first rotational axis, said first sprocket being drivably coupled to said first driveshaft, said first sprocket having a first plurality of teeth located around a perimeter of said first sprocket, wherein said first plurality of teeth are located so that said first plane passes radially through said first plurality of teeth further comprising a second driveshaft, and wherein: said drive system further includes a second drive assembly and a chain, said second drive assembly being coupled to said end wall and coupled to said second driveshaft, said second drive assembly including: a second bearing and a second sprocket carrying a torque output, said second bearing rotatably supporting said second driveshaft, said second bearing defining a second rotational axis of said second driveshaft, and having a second plane passing radially through said second bearing perpendicular to said second axis, said second sprocket being drivably coupled to said second driveshaft, said second sprocket having a second plurality of teeth located around a perimeter of said second sprocket, said second plurality of teeth being located so that said second plane passes radially through said second plurality of teeth, said chain engaging said first plurality of teeth of said first sprocket and said second plurality of teeth of said second sprocket.