Agitator for an axial flow cylinder

Abstract

A cylinder cage of an axial flow combine has radial openings about its circumference permitting threshed material to leave the cage as the threshing cylinder is rotated. An agitator mechanism is provided to dislodge threshed material tending to accumulate on the top side of the cylinder cage. Once dislodged, the threshed material will fall to a distribution aguer which in turn delivers the threshed material to accelerator rolls disposed beneath the threshing cylinder and cylinder cage. The agitator includes a plurality of curved ribs or fingers spaced axially along and adjacent the outer periphery of the cylinder cage. The agitator fingers are rigidly secured to a backbone member, which in turn is supported on the main frame of the combine by a pair of parallel links. An oscillating device is connected to one of the parallel links causing it to swing horizontally back and forth which in turn effects oscillating movement of the agitator in the axial direction of the cylinder cage.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.