Variably positionable oscillating chaff pan for an agricultural combine

A chaff pan connected to cleaning apparatus mounted for oscillating movement relative to a frame of an agricultural combine for receiving chaff from the cleaning apparatus and conveying the chaff to a chopper or spreader, the chaff pan comprising:

• a pivot joint connecting the pan to the cleaning apparatus for oscillating movement with the cleaning apparatus, the pivot joint allowing pivotal movement of the pan relative to the cleaning apparatus about a generally horizontal pivotal axis through a predetermined range of pivotal positions;
• a first arm pivotally connected to the pan;
• a second arm pivotally connected to the frame and to the first arm;
• and
• a locking variable length element connected between the second arm and the frame, the variable length element being unlockable to allow varying the length thereof within a predetermined range of lengths for pivotally moving the first and second arms to move the pan through the range of pivotal positions, the variable length element being lockable at any selected length within the range of lengths for holding the first and second arms in position for supporting the pan at a pivotal position corresponding to the selected length.

A variably positionable chaff pan connected to cleaning apparatus mounted for oscillating movement relative to a frame of an agricultural combine for receiving chaff from the cleaning apparatus and conveying the chaff to a chopper or spreader, the chaff pan comprising:

• a pivot joint connecting the pan to the cleaning apparatus for oscillating movement with the cleaning apparatus, the pivot joint allowing pivotal movement of the pan relative to the cleaning apparatus about a generally horizontal pivotal axis through a predetermined range of pivotal positions including generally horizontal operating positions and folded positions which are generally vertical or at a small acute angle to vertical;
• a first arm pivotally connected to the pan;
• a second arm pivotally connected to the frame and to the first arm, the first and second arms being pivotable one relative to the other for pivoting the pan relative to the cleaning apparatus through the range of pivotal positions;
• and
• a locking gas spring pivotally connected between the second arm and the frame and variable in length within a predetermined range of lengths when unlocked to allow relatively pivoting the first and second arms for pivoting the pan through the range of pivotal positions, the gas spring being lockable at any selected one of the lengths for holding the pan in a corresponding pivotal position within the range of pivotal positions.