Combine auger through cleanout door

Abstract

A combine head trough assembly comprises a curved steel panel having two openings passing therethrough, one opening being disposed at each end of the panel, the assembly further comprising two doors configured to respectively cover the two openings. The doors are pivoted between a closed position during normal combine operation and an open position to permit cleanout of crop material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combine head embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken from the underside of FIG. 1 on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the combine head of FIG. 1, taken from the forward side with beam 114 removed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the combine head of FIG. 1, taken from the aft side;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view taken from the bottom side of FIG. 1 with several of the parts removed to show cleanout doors; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded fragmentary view of the doors particularly shown in FIG. 5.

Claims

1. A combine head trough assembly for receiving crop material, said combine head trough assembly comprising: a longitudinally-extending trough panel configured to surround at least the lower portion of a cross auger of a combine head, wherein the trough panel defines first and second openings in a lower portion thereof, said first and second openings being disposed adjacent either end of the trough panel; anda door positioned at the first and second openings and displaceable between a closed position and an open position.

2. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door, in the closed position, prevents leakage of crop material therethrough and, in the open position, permits the exit of waste crop material.

3. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plane of the first and second openings is disposed generally horizontally when the combine head trough is in its normal operating position.

4. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plane of the first and second openings is disposed generally horizontally when the combine head trough is in its normal clean out position.

5. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising end sheets connected at the ends of the trough panel, said end sheets extending generally at right angles to said trough panel.

6. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 5, further comprising cross beams extending between said end sheets to provide structural support therefore.

7. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a rear panel interconnected with said trough panel and said end sheets said rear panel being generally at right angles to said end sheets.

8. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said rear panel has a central crop material opening for passing crop material from said head trough assembly to a combine.

9. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said doors is hinged between said closed and open position.

10. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said doors are hinged adjacent the outer ends of said trough panel.

11. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a latch coupled to each of the first and second doors, and further wherein each latch is configured to hold its associated door closed sufficient to prevent the leakage of grain through each door's associated opening.

12. The combine head trough assembly of claim 11, wherein each latch further comprises a spring-loaded pin.

13. The combine head trough assembly of claim 12, wherein each latch further comprises an eye fixed to the bottom of the door and configured to engage the pin to hold its associated door closed.

14. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said doors comprise plates sized to cover said opening in said closed position and said doors have a frame affixed to the side of the doors away from said opening, said frame being bent to form an eye beyond the free end of said plate.

15. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a latch releasably connected to said eye for maintaining said doors in a closed position and allowing them to pivot to an open position to remove waste crop material.

16. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said latch comprises a pin displaceable in a U-shaped base affixed to said auger trough panel, said pin being displaceable between a position where it maintains said doors in the closed position and another position in which it allows the doors to pivot to an open position.

17. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said eye has an opening in alignment with said pin whereby when said pin is received in said hole it holds the doors in the closed position.

18. A combine head trough assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein said pin is spring loaded to a position wherein the pin is maintained in the opening in said handle.