Resilient feed auger attachment
OwnerRobert D. Fieldinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Resilient attachments are mounted on a feed auger of the type having a central drum mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, spiral flights mounted on longitudinal ends of the drum, and a central drum portion having a plurality of radially extending feed fingers. Each resilient attachment is mounted on and extends radially from the central drum portion about one of the fingers. During operation of the auger, the attachment prevents the accumulation of vegetation on the auger, improves feeding of the vegetation to the combine throat and protects the auger from damage.
Claims22
A feed auger for a combine header and the like, comprising:
- a generally cylindrical drum with means for mounting said drum for rotation about a longitudinal axis;
- first and second spiral flights mounted on said drum adjacent longitudinal ends thereof;
- a central drum portion between said flights;
- a plurality of feed fingers coupled to said drum and extending radially from said central drum portion;
- reciprocating means, coupled to said feed fingers and located within said drum, for moving said fingers between radially extended and radially retracted positions as said drum rotates;
- and
- a plurality of discrete, resilient attachment means mounted on and extending radially from said central drum portion, each of said resilient attachment means having an opening receiving one of said feed fingers, said resilient attachment means being sized and shaped for compressing against vegetation in a relatively narrow space formed between said drum and said header, for expanding and pushing against vegetation in a wider space formed between said drum and a combine throat, for providing increased frictional surface areas, for varying said central drum portion to accommodate different sized loads, for protecting and repairing said central drum portion and for removing vegetation from said feed fingers.
A resilient attachment for a feed auger in a combine header of the type having a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, spiral flights mounted on opposite longitudinal ends of the drum, and a central drum portion having a plurality of reciprocating feed fingers extending radially therefrom, the attachment comprising:
- a body member of resilient material, said body member being sized and shaped for compressing against vegetation in a relatively narrow space formed between said drum and said header, for expanding and pushing against vegetation in a wider space formed between said drum and a combine throat, for providing increased frictional surface areas, for varying the central drum portion to accommodate different sized loads, for protecting and repairing the central drum portion and for removing vegetation from the feed fingers;
- an opening extending through said body member for receiving one of the feed fingers;
- and coupling means for attaching said body member about the central drum portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.