Flexible motor support system for a crop gathering device having a harvesting header
View Patent ↗A motor support system including a motor having a shaft rotatably secured to and maintained in a substantially axial alignment with a second shaft configured to change angular orientation along at least one plane of travel perpendicular to the axial alignment. The second shaft has a first pivot point with respect to a frame, the motor being secured to the frame by a cantilevered flexible member to maintain the motor shaft in substantial axial alignment with the second shaft.
1. A crop gathering device for use with a harvesting header comprising:
a frame carrying a structure movable about an endless path by a motor to deliver a crop to the header, the frame having opposed ends and connected to the header;
the frame comprising:
a first support member and a second support member, each support member extending adjacent the opposed ends of the frame;
a driven roller assembly having a roller extending between the opposed ends of the frame, a region of the roller of the driven roller assembly being rotatably secured between the opposed ends of the frame;
an idler roller assembly having a roller extending between the opposed ends of the frame, a region of the roller of the idler roller assembly being rotatably secured between the opposed ends of the frame; and
the opposed ends of the frame configured to permit a vertical movement with respect to each other in response to at least one of the first support member or the second support member encountering a ground undulation, thereby changing an angular orientation between each of the opposed ends of the frame; and
wherein the driven roller assembly and the idler roller assembly are configured and positioned to move the structure for delivering a crop to the header; and
wherein the motor is rotatably secured to and maintained in a substantially axial alignment with the roller of the driven roller assembly, the motor being secured to the frame by a cantilevered flexible member, the flexible member has one end coupled to the motor and another end pivotally fixed to the frame, wherein a change of angular orientation between each of the opposed ends of the frame causes a change of angular orientation of the roller of the driven roller assembly in a first direction, resulting in a change of angular orientation of the motor in the first direction, further wherein the flexible member flexibly urges the angular orientation of the motor in a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the structure is a first belt.
3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a third support member and a fourth support member, each support member extending between the opposed ends of the frame to provide structural support for a driven roller assembly and an idler roller assembly.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a coupler hub is positioned between the motor and the roller of the driven roller assembly.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the coupler hub is configured to receive a second belt for urging the idler roller assembly into rotational movement to movably urge the structure about an endless path.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member includes at least one bend formed therein.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one bend defines a radius between a first portion and a second portion of the flexible member.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is of unitary construction.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the flexible member is a bar.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the bar has a substantially uniform width.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the bar has a substantially uniform thickness.
13. The system of claim 5 , wherein a pivot joint is located between the idler roller assembly and the coupler hub.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the pivot joint is a spherical bearing.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein a pivot point associated with the pivot joint and a pivot point associated with the flexible member are adjacent to each other.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pivotally fixed end of the flexible member allows the flexible member to pivot up and down with the roller of the driven roller assembly.