Patent ID: 7186178

Claim:
Apparatus supporting a front end of an agricultural combine rotor for rotation in a predetermined rotational direction about an axis extending therethrough, comprising: a rotor front inlet section having a radial outer circumferential surface extending therearound and a substantially annular protuberance extending frontwardly therefrom around the axis, the protuberance having a radially outwardly facing outer circumferential surface and a generally frusto-conical radially inwardly facing inner circumferential surface located radially inwardly of the outer circumferential surface and extending around and defining a front center space; a bearing housing supported on the combine and holding a bearing rotatably supporting the rotor front inlet section, the bearing housing being located at least partially within the front center space, and an anti-wind shroud extending at least partially around the bearing housing and having a radial inner circumferential periphery spaced radially outwardly from a radial outer periphery of the bearing housing defining a circumferential space therearound, the protuberance extending frontwardly into the circumferential space in closely spaced relation to the radial outer periphery of the bearing housing, so as to serve as a barrier to entry of plant material therebetween.