Patent ID: 7670219

Claim:
An integrated axle and cleaning fan wrapper for an agricultural harvesting machine including a cleaning system, comprising: a hollow fan wrapper structure extending at least partially around and defining an interior cavity configured for receiving a cleaning fan therein, the fan wrapper structure having a first end portion, an opposite second end portion, and plurality of sheet portions extending between the first and second end portions and partially enclosing the interior cavity and defining an air inlet opening in connection with the interior cavity and an air outlet opening in connection therewith and configured for directing a flow of air generated by the cleaning fan to a cleaning system of a harvesting machine; a first outer axle structure having a mounting end portion in connection with and extending outwardly from the first end portion of the fan wrapper structure and an outer end configured for connecting a wheel thereto, wherein the mounting end portion includes a plurality of members collectively forming a first multiple sided shape; a second outer axle structure having a mounting end portion in connection with and extending outwardly from the second end portion of the fan wrapper structure and an outer end configured for connecting a wheel thereto, wherein the mounting end portion includes a plurality of members collectively forming a second multiple sided shape, the first and second outer axle structures being disposed in a predetermined aligned relation one to the other; and wherein the fan wrapper structure includes a plurality of cross members extending between the first and second outer axle structures, the plurality of cross members define a boundary of a third multiple sided shape, wherein the first, second and third multiple sided shapes are substantially the same shape, and the plurality of cross members are configured for supporting and holding the first and second outer axle structures in the predetermined aligned relation such that the first, second and third multiple sided shapes are in substantial alignment forming a continuous sidewardly extending structure.