Adjustable hold down for a reciprocating cutter assembly

Abstract

A hold down for retention of reciprocable sickles of cutter assemblies is characterized by its inflexibility and provision of adjustability in relation to the cutter bar such as to preclude undue movement of the sickle sections away from their normal scissors-like cutting positions in cooperation with the sickle guards on the cutter bar. A strong, massive hold down body permits minimum running clearance of the sickle beneath wear pads on forwardly extending fingers integral with the body. After adjustment of a extensible bolt and nut assembly between the hold down and the cutter bar and clamping of the hold down to the cutter bar, essentially trouble-free use can be expected without undue clogging or failure to easily cut even the toughest of grasses, weeds, and crops generally.

I claim: 
     
       1. For use with a cutter bar having a plurality of spaced sickle guards secured thereto, extending forwardly therefrom and supporting a reciprocable sickle, a sickle hold down for overlying the sickle and including: a body having means for attaching the same to the cutter bar;   a finger integral with the body and extending forwardly therefrom for overlying the sickle and terminating in a forward end; and   extensible means disposed for insertion between the cutter bar and the body behind the latter for biasing the finger downwardly toward the sickle,   said means for attaching the body to the cutter bar including a pair of wing extensions integral with the finger and projecting laterally outwardly from opposite sides thereof adjacent a rearward end of the finger,   said wing extensions each having a hole therethrough adapted to receive an elongated fastener for use in attaching the body to the cutter bar and for holding the wing extensions fixed against movement,   said finger having a thickness substantially exceeding that of the wing extensions whereby to permit the finger to rock slightly forwardly and downwardly relative to the wing extensions in an adjusting movement when the extensible means is extended without first loosing the fasteners.   
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1, said finger having a wear pad at said forward end, said extensible means being disposed to hold the pad in position for slidable engagement of the sickle therewith. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 1, said wing extensions having forward portions disposed for overlying the sickle rearwardly of and on opposite sides of said forward end of the finger. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 3, said finger and said forward portions of the wing extensions having wear pads. 
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 1, said finger being hump-shaped presenting an upper ridge sloping downwardly and forwardly as said forward end of the finger is approached. 
     
     
       6. The invention of claim 5, said finger being a solid, compact, firm and stable, homogeneous mass of strong, metallic material having a magnitude which progressively decreases in length, breadth, and thickness as said forward end of the finger is approached, rendering said shape essentially unchangeable either permanently or substantially without fracture. 
     
     
       7. In combination with an elongated sickle reciprocably supported on a plurality of guards secured to and extending forwardly from an elongated cutter bar, a hold down having: a central elongated finger provided with a normally forwardmost end and a normally rearmost end,   said finger progressively decreasing in thickness as said forwardmost end is approached;   a pair of wing extensions integral with the finger and projecting laterally outwardly from opposite sides thereof adjacent said rearmost end,   said wing extensions each receiving an elongated fastener attaching the hold down to the cutter bar and (holding the wing extensions fixed against movement,)   said finger having a thickness substantially exceeding that of the wing extensions; and   extensible means above and behind the fasteners engageable with said rearmost end of the finger and with the cutter bar for rocking the finger slightly forwardly and downwardly relative to the wing extensions in an adjusting movement with the extensible means is extended without first loosing the fasteners.   
     
     
       8. The invention of claim 7, wherein said cutter bar is transversely L-shaped, presenting a forwardly extending leg clamped to the wing extensions by said fasteners and an upstanding leg engaged by said extensible means. 
     
     
       9. The invention of claim 7, said hold down having a downturned ear forming said foremost end thereof. 
     
     
       10. The invention of claim 9, said wing extensions being L-shaped, presenting forwardly extending arms, there being wear pads on the arms and on said ear disposed for slidable engagement therewith by the sickle. 
     
     
       11. The invention of claim 10; and a wear pad on the hold down rearwardly of the ear in alignment with the wear pads on the arms. 
     
     
       12. The invention of claim 10, said pads having coplanar lowermost surfaces. 
     
     
       13. The invention of claim 7, said extensible means including a bolt and nut assembly. 
     
     
       14. The invention of claim 13, said extensible means including a plate engaging said rearmost end and having the nut of said assembly integral with the plate. .Iadd. 
     
     
       15.  A hold down for use with a reciprocable sickle and an associated support bar extending generally parallel to the path of reciprocation of the sickle, said hold down having: a central elongated finger having a normally forward end and a normally rearward end,   said forward end being provided with a normally downwardly facing retaining surface disposed to overlie the sickle when the hold down is mounted on the bar;   a pair of wings having integral connections with the finger and projecting laterally outwardly from opposite sides thereof generally adjacent said rearward end of the finger,   said finger, said wings and said connections of the wings to the finger being integrally formed and joined together into a unitary, one-piece component,   each of said wings including mounting portions disposed to overlie the bar when the hold down is mounted thereon;   a hole through the mounting portion of each wing by which the hold down may be bolted to the bar; and   an adjusting screw threadably received by said finger in disposition for operating engagement with the bar when the hold down is mounted thereon for slightly flexing the finger about its integral connections with the wings when the screw is rotated, whereby to adjust the position of said downwardly facing surface of the finger relative to the sickle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       16.  A hold down as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of said wings has a retaining portion projecting forwardly from said mounting portion and terminating in a forward extremity spaced rearwardly from said forward end of the finger, each of said retaining portions having a downwardly facing surface adjacent said forward extremity disposed to overlie a rear edge of the sickle when the hold down is installed on the bar. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       17.  A hold down as claimed in claim 16, wherein said finger is provided with a second downwardly facing retaining surface spaced rearwardly from the retaining surface at said forward end and disposed to overlie said rear edge of the sickle when the hold down is installed on the bar, said finger having a transverse clearance concavity disposed between said retaining surfaces of the finger. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A hold down as claimed in claim 15, wherein said adjusting screw projects rearwardly from 
     
     
        said rearward end of the finger. .Iadd.19.  In combination with an elongated sickle reciprocably supported on a plurality of guards secured to and projecting forwardly from an elongated support bar extending generally parallel to the path of travel of the sickle, a hold down having: a central elongated finger having a normally forward end and a normally rearward end,   said forward end being provided with a downwardly facing retaining surface overlying the sickle;   a pair of wings having integral connections with the finger and projecting laterally outwardly from opposite sides thereof generally adjacent said rearward end of the finger,   said finger, said wings and said communication of the wings to the finger being integrally formed and joined together into a unitary, one-piece component,   each of said wings including mounting portions overlying and secured to said bar; and   an adjusting screw threadably received by said finger in operating engagement with the bar for slightly flexing the finger about its integral connections with the wings when the screw is rotated, whereby to adjust the position of said downwardly facing surface of the finger relative to   
     
     
        the sickle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20.  The combination as claimed in claim 19, wherein each of said wings has a retaining portion projecting forwardly from said mounting portion and terminating in a forward extremity spaced rearwardly from said forward end of the finger, each of said retaining portions having a downwardly facing surface adjacent said forward extremity overlying a rear edge of the sickle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The combination as claimed in claim 20, wherein said finger is provided with a second downwardly facing retaining surface spaced rearwardly from the retaining surface at said forward end and overlying said rear edge of the sickle, said finger having a transverse clearance concavity disposed between said retaining surfaces of the finger. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The combination down as claimed in claim 18, wherein said bar is generally transversely L-shaped, having a horizontal leg underlying the wings of the hold down and an upright leg disposed behind the hold down, said adjusting screw projecting rearwardly from said rearward end of the finger for engagement with said upright leg of the bar. .Iaddend.