Piston lock system for agricultural equipment

A piston lock system comprising:

• a first cylinder extending from a first fixed cylinder end to a first free cylinder end;
• a first rod receiver fixed to the first cylinder;
• a first piston extending through the first free cylinder end from a first sliding piston end contained in the first cylinder to a first free piston end located outside the first cylinder;
• a first rod extending, parallel to the first piston, from a first fixed rod end secured to move with the first free piston end to a first sliding rod end located within the first rod receiver, wherein the first piston and first rod are movable relative to the first cylinder and first rod receiver between a first retracted position and a first extended position, with the first free piston end and first fixed rod end being farther from the first free cylinder end in the first extended position than in the first retracted position;
• a first lock pin mounted to the first rod receiver and movable between a first unlocked position in which the first lock pin does not intersect a path of the first rod, and a first locked position in which the first lock pin intersects the path of the first rod and prevents the first rod and first piston from moving from the first extended position to the first retracted position;
• and
• a cam operatively connected to the first lock pin and configured to move the first lock pin between the first locked position and the first unlocked position.

An agricultural combine comprising:

• a chassis configured for movement on a surface;
• a feeder housing pivotally connected to the chassis;
• a first cylinder extending from a first fixed cylinder end to a first free cylinder end;
• a first rod receiver fixed to the first cylinder;
• a first piston extending through the first free cylinder end from a first sliding piston end contained in the first cylinder to a first free piston end located outside the first cylinder;
• a first rod extending, parallel to the first piston, from a first fixed rod end secured to move with the first free piston end to a first sliding rod end located within the first rod receiver, wherein the first piston and first rod are movable relative to the first cylinder and first rod receiver between a first retracted position and a first extended position, with the first free piston end and first fixed rod end being farther from the first free cylinder end in the first extended position than in the first retracted position;
• and
• a first lock pin mounted to the first rod receiver and movable between a first unlocked position in which the first lock pin does not intersect a path of the first rod, and a first locked position in which the first lock pin intersects the path of the first rod and prevents the first rod and first piston from moving from the first extended position to the first retracted position;
• a second cylinder extending from a second fixed cylinder end to a second free cylinder end;
• a second rod receiver fixed to the second cylinder;
• a second piston extending through the second free cylinder end from a second sliding piston end contained in the second cylinder to a second free piston end located outside the second cylinder;
• a second rod extending, parallel to the second piston, from a second fixed rod end secured to move with the second free piston end to a second sliding rod end located within the second rod receiver, wherein the second piston and second rod are movable relative to the second cylinder and second rod receiver between a second retracted position and a second extended position, with the second free piston end and second fixed rod end being farther from the second free cylinder end in the second extended position than in the second retracted position;
• a second lock pin mounted to the second rod receiver and movable between a second unlocked position in which second lock pin does not intersect a path of the second rod, and a second locked position in which the second lock pin intersects the path of the second rod and prevents the second rod and second piston from moving from the second extended position to the second retracted position;
• and
• a hydraulic system configured to simultaneously move the first piston from the first retracted position to the first extended position, and the second piston from the second retracted position to the second extended position;
• wherein:
• the first fixed cylinder end and the second fixed cylinder end are operatively connected to one of the chassis and the feeder housing, and
• the first free piston end and the second free piston end are operatively connected to the other of the chassis and the feeder housing.