Over-center latch with mount, base plate, lever, and center pin for combine concaves
AssigneeCalmer Holding Company, LLC
InventorsAndrew Dahl, Marion Calmer, Daniel Wallerstedt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An over-center latch for a concave combine comprises a mount directly attached to a concave combine or an accessory for a concave combine, a base plate, a lever with a loop at one end that is configured to attach to a catch, and a center pin that allows the lever to rotate with respect to a handle. Either the handle or the lever can be pulled into a vertical position.
Claims20
An over-center latch for attaching a cover plate or MOG limiter to an outer surface of a concave for a combine comprising:
- a subbase including a pair of ears protruding therefrom;
- a handle in rotational communication with the pair of ears at a base of the handle;
- a center pin positioned between the base of the handle and a distal end of the handle configured to be in rotational communication with the handle;
- a lever attached at a base of the lever to the center pin, wherein the center pin allows the lever to rotate with respect to a handle;
- and
- a loop at a distal end of the lever opposite the base of the lever;
- wherein either the handle or the lever can be pulled into a vertical position orthogonal the subbase.
The over-center latch assembly of claim 16, wherein the over-center latch assembly attaches to either of a MOG limiter or a cover plate via the base plate.
A method for securing a MOG limiter or cover plate to a concave via an over-center latch assembly, comprising:
- positioning a hinge point of the MOG limiter or cover plate within a cross bar of the concave;
- lifting a handle of the over-center latch such that a lever operatively connected to the handle extends outwardly away from the MOG limiter or cover plate;
- placing a loop that is positioned at a distal end of the lever on a catch of the concave;
- rotating the handle a direction opposite the lifting such that lever retracts back towards the MOG limiter or cover plate;
- and
- placing a locking mechanism through a lock hole on the over-center latch assembly after the handle has been rotated past the lock hole.
A combine including a concave, comprising:
- a plurality of cover plates and/or MOG limiters positioned on an outer surface of the concave;
- and
- a plurality of over-center latch assemblies configured to secure the plurality of cover plates and/or MOG limiters to the outer surface of the concave;
- wherein each of the cover plates and/or MOG limiters includes one of the plurality of over-center latch assemblies secured thereto;
- wherein each of the plurality of over-center latch assemblies comprises a base plate with a pair of ears extending therefrom;
- a handle operatively connected to the pair of ears;
- a center pin positioned along a length of the handle and capable of rotating with relation to the handle;
- a lever extending from the center pin;
- and a loop positioned at a distal end of the lever;
- wherein the cover plates and/or MOG limiters are secured to the concave via insertion of hinge points into a cross bar of the concave, wherein the hinge points are positioned on the cover plate and/or MOG limiter at an end opposite the over-center latch assembly, wherein the cover plate and/or MOG limiter is further secured to the concave via attaching the loops of the over-center latch assemblies to catches positioned at each end of the concave.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.