Patent ID: 8827782

Claim:
An unload auger assembly for a combine harvester, comprising: a first auger segment; a second auger segment; a drive coupler configured between said first auger segment and said second auger segment, said drive coupler further comprising: a driver component coupled to said first auger segment, said driver component having a driver cog; a driven component coupled to said second auger segment, said driven component having a driven cog that is rotationally engaged by said driver cog to transmit rotational drive from said first auger segment to said second auger segment; a friction clutch configured in-line between said driver component and said driven component, and within a perimeter defined by rotation of the driver cog and the driven cog, said friction clutch rotationally coupling said driver component to said driven component prior to engagement of said driver cog with said driven cog up to a release torque value, wherein said friction clutch disengages said driver component from said driven component and the friction clutch further comprises a first slip plate disposed between and end face of the driver component and an end face of the driven component; a compression disc disposed adjacent said first slip plate, said compression disc formed from a compressible material; and a second slip plate disposed between the driver component and the driven component such that the compression disc is sandwiched between the first slip plate and the second slip plate.