Split inlet seal for grain separators and method

A grain separator having an easily replaceable seal, comprising a housing, a rotatable grain separation drum carried by the housing, the drum having an end face with an external annular bearing surface, a drive shaft extending axially into the drum through the end face, a grain inlet carried exteriorly of the housing and including a bearing rotationally supporting an end of the drive shaft, the inlet including an inlet spout extending through the end face for conveying grain to the drum, a split seal carried about the inlet spout and engagable with the annular bearing surface to seal the drum from the exterior of the inlet spout, and pressure means for applying axial pressure to the split seal to urge the seal against the annular bearing surface, wherein said pressure means comprises an inlet plate carried by the grain inlet, and spring means operatively positioned between the inlet plate and the split seal to urge the seal against the annular bearing surface.

Method of replacing an annular seal between the inlet spout and the drum of a grain separator, comprising withdrawing axially movable seal-supporting structure axially away from the drum from a first position along the spout to provide manual access to the seal;

• disassembling the seal into two or more segments and removing the segments;
• installing a replacement seal about the spout by joining replacement seal segments together with a support ring;
• and axially restoring the seal supporting structure to its first position.