Patent ID: 7527555

Claim:
A grain unloading conveyer for a combine harvester, comprising: a tube having an interior passage containing a helical auger rotatable for conveying grain therethrough, and an outer end portion including a discharge opening in connection with the interior passage and through which the grain is discharged by the auger when rotated; and a dribble control door including an upper door portion and a lower door portion, the upper door portion having an upper peripheral portion pivotally mounted in or adjacent to an upper peripheral portion of the discharge opening, the door being pivotable between a closed position wherein the lower door portion covers at least a lower portion of the discharge opening for preventing dribbling of grain therefrom, and an open position extending outwardly from the opening, the upper door portion and the lower door portion being angularly related such that when the door is in the closed position the upper door portion will extend downwardly and outwardly to about a vertical middle region of the opening and the lower door portion will extend downwardly from the upper door portion and inwardly to contact a lower peripheral portion of the tube to cover the lower portion of the opening, wherein the lower door portion includes a lowermost sidewardly extending lip configured for holding the door in the open position on a stream of grain discharged from the discharge opening, mostly away train the stream of grain, while directing at least an outermost portion of the stream downwardly, wherein the lip comprises a generally flat surface positioned and oriented to abut the lower peripheral portion of the tube when the door is in the closed position, and configured to ride on a stream of grain discharged from the opening for holding the door in the open position, wherein the flat surface is straight, so as to impart a flat shape on an outermost periphery of a stream of grain discharged from the discharge opening.