Patent ID: 8117814

Claim:
A crop-catching apparatus for use in a crop harvesting machine, the crop-catching apparatus comprising: at least one plate member having a surface adapted for catching falling crops, the at least one plate member having a front end and a back end, the at least one back end configured to pivotally mount on the crop harvesting machine, the at least one front end configured to rest at a higher elevation with respect to the pivotally mounted at least one back end, the at least one plate member having a leading edge; at least one fluid conduit defined within at least one of the at least one plate member for carrying at least one fluid, the at least one fluid conduit comprising: at least one fluid inlet defined on the at least one plate member for receiving the at least one fluid; and at least one fluid outlet defined on the plate member running at least partially along the leading edge of the at least one plate member, the at least one fluid outlet configured such that the at least one fluid exits therefrom to divert a direction of fall of the crops.