Patent ID: 7213389

Claim:
A mechanism for powering a combine header comprising: a primary motor having a rotatable primary output shaft, the primary motor being adapted to rotate the primary output shaft at forward rotational speeds; a rotatable primary input shaft; a clutch extending between the primary output shaft and the primary input shaft, the clutch being adapted to controllably couple the primary output shaft to the primary input shaft; a variable speed secondary motor having a rotatable secondary output shaft, the secondary motor being adapted to controllably rotate the secondary output shaft at variable forward and reverse rotational speeds; a rotatable secondary input shaft coupled to the secondary output shaft; a rotatable header output shaft adapted to transmit power to the combine header; a planetary gear-train comprising a sun gear, a ring gear, and a planet gear assembly, the planet gear assembly having planet gears meshing with the sun gear and with the ring gear, the sun gear being coupled exclusively to one of the primary input shaft, the secondary input shaft, and the header output shaft, the ring gear being coupled exclusively to one of the remaining of the primary input shaft, the secondary input shaft, and the header output shaft, and the planet gear assembly being coupled exclusively to the other of the remaining of the primary input shaft, the secondary input shaft, and the header output shaft; a control circuit adapted for receiving command from an operator, the control circuit being in communication with the clutch and the secondary motor, the control circuit being adapted to command the clutch to couple the primary output shaft to the primary input shaft in response to operator command, and to command the secondary motor maintain variable forward and reverse rotational speeds of the secondary output shaft in response to operator commandp; and further comprising a secondary brake coupled to the secondary input shaft, the secondary brake being adapted to fix the secondary input shaft rotation at zero, and to controllably release the secondary input shaft for rotation, the control circuit being in communication with the secondary brake, and being adapted to command the secondary brake to release the secondary input shaft for rotation in response to operator command.