Concave cover plate
AssigneeBrian Robertson
InventorBrian Robertson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention comprises a removable cover plate assembly, which may be quickly attached, detached and adjusted to the exterior of a concave grate of a combine harvester in order to adjust the flow characteristics of the concave or separator grate assemblies. The cover plate assembly improves the threshing capability of the rasp bar threshing cylinder while simultaneously capturing additional threshed grain. Moreover, the cover plate assembly of the present invention enables a single set of concave grate assemblies to better harvest a wider variety of crop types.
Claims27
A cover plate assembly comprising:
- an elongated body dimensioned to fit between two parallel arcuate rails on the exterior of a concave grate of a combine harvester;
- said elongated body having two opposing ends, each end having a clasp element formed therein for grasping onto separate axial bars spanning the parallel arcuate rails and locking said body in a supinated position against the exterior of said concave grate;
- and
- a latching mechanism for maintaining the position of said elongated body relative to said concave grate so that each of said clasp elements maintain its grasp on its respective axial bar, wherein said latching mechanism comprises an anchor bracket attached to an exterior-facing side of said elongated body, an anchor device secured to an end plate of said concave grate, and a mechanism for inducing a tension force between the anchor bracket and the anchor device.
A cover plate assembly comprising:
- an elongated body dimensioned to fit between two parallel arcuate rails on the exterior of a concave grate of a combine harvester;
- a first and second clasp elements, attached to opposing ends of said elongated body, for grasping onto separate axial bars spanning the parallel arcuate rails and locking said body in a supinated position against the exterior of said concave grate;
- and
- a latching mechanism for maintaining the position of said elongated body relative to said concave grate so that each of said clasp elements maintain its grasp on its respective axial bar, wherein said latching mechanism comprises an anchor bracket attached to an exterior-facing side of said elongated body, an anchor device secured to an end plate of said concave grate, and a mechanism for inducing a tension force between the anchor bracket and the anchor device.
A cover plate assembly comprising:
- an elongated body dimensioned to fit between two parallel arcuate rails on the exterior of a concave grate of a combine harvester, said elongated body having two opposing ends, each end having a clasp element formed therein for grasping onto separate axial bars spanning the parallel arcuate rails and locking said body in a supinated position against the exterior of said concave grate;
- and
- a latching mechanism for maintaining the position of said elongated body relative to said concave grate so that each of said clasp elements maintain its grasp on its respective axial bar;
- wherein the width of said elongated body is adjustable, said elongated body comprising a main plate having a section dimensioned to be less than the distance between said two parallel arcuate rail and an accessory plate positioned in a slidable configuration with said main plate so as to adjust the width of said dimensioned section of said main plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.