Patent Document

This invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/774,117 for a “Combine Auger Trough Cleanout Door”, filed Feb. 16, 2006. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to combine heads and, more particularly, it relates to systems for cleaning combine heads. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A combine head is the structure mounted on the front of a combine harvester to gather grain and non-grain crop materials, separate them from the ground or stalks, and convey them to a combine processing section that is typically disposed inside the vehicle itself. The processing section in the vehicle separates crop materials from a stalk or cob as is appropriate. 
   One common style of combine head is one used to harvest corn, and therefore is called a corn head. Corn heads typically include a laterally-extending frame (relative to movement of the combine) to cover multiple crop rows, that cradles a laterally-extending auger trough configured to receive ears of corn. The auger trough directs them to a center portion of the head where they are then conveyed backward through a central opening in the corn head to the processing section of the combine vehicle. The frame also supports an auger for rotation slightly above the lower surface of the trough. Flights on the auger engage ears of corn that are dumped into the trough and convey them to the central portion of the corn head where they are removed from the corn head for in field processing by the processing section of the vehicle. 
   Row units are fixed to a leading edge of the troughs in a spaced-apart arrangement extending across the width of the corn head. Each row unit is configured to gather and harvest ears of corn from a single row of corn stalks as the combine travels through the field. Each row unit separates the ears of corn from the cornstalk itself and deposits the ears in the leading edge of the trough directly behind each row unit. 
   Corn-harvesting is a robust process in which there is a great deal of shaking, banging and jostling. All of this activity causes individual corn grains and other plant matter to become separated from the ears of corn and to become bunched in various portions of the corn head, stuck in corners, even to rest in the bottom of the auger troughs in the space between the auger flights and the trough. 
   All this material must be cleaned out of the corn head between harvesting sessions for a variety of reasons. First, the corn residue left in the corn head, like any plant matter, is subject to fungus, mold, parasites, and rot. It is necessary to remove this plant matter from the corn head before it has a chance to grow the relevant species of parasitic contamination. Second, corn kernels from one variety of corn can contaminate other varieties of corn that are subsequently harvested by the corn head. Third, residual plant matter attracts moisture and can build up on the corn head surfaces, decay the paint and cause rust. 
   One of the prime places for plant matter to be left in the corn head is in the bottom of the trough. Furthermore, plant matter from higher surfaces is washed down into the trough whenever farmers clean their equipment with water hoses or a power washer. 
   To permit the combined water and plant matter to leave the combine head during cleaning, some manufacturers have provided corn heads with a small opening in one of the end sheets of the corn head. “End sheets” are the two vertical walls that are bolted, welded or otherwise fixed to both outer ends of the corn head frame and trough to close off the ends of the trough. 
   While these openings have been somewhat useful, they have not provided for the complete removal of plant matter from the auger trough because they must be made small enough to minimize crop loss during harvesting operations. In addition, combines having one of the small openings in one end sheet require all the plant material to be pushed to the end sheet of the corn head having the opening. If the combine is on uneven ground, or for any reason is tilted away from the end sheet having the opening, water naturally runs away from the opening and naturally carries the plant matter with it. As a result, extra effort and time must be taken during cleanout to force the water uphill and out the opening. 
   What is needed, therefore, is an apparatus for cleaning out the auger troughs of combine heads that provides better access and does not retain as much residual plant matter. What is also needed is an apparatus for cleaning out the auger troughs of combine heads that is usable regardless of the orientation of the combine head itself. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one form the invention includes a combine head trough assembly for receiving crop material, the combine head trough assembly having a longitudinally extending trough panel configured to surround at least the lower portion of a cross auger of a combine head. The trough panel defines first and second openings in a lower portion thereof, the first and second openings being disposed adjacent either end of the trough panel. Doors are positioned at the first and second openings and displaceable between a closed position to prevent leakage of crop material therethrough and an open position to permit the exit of cleanout water and waste crop material. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combine head embodying the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view taken from the underside of  FIG. 1  on lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the combine head of  FIG. 1 , taken from the forward side with beam  114  removed; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the combine head of  FIG. 1 , taken from the aft side; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view taken from the bottom side of  FIG. 1  with several of the parts removed to show cleanout doors; and 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded fragmentary view of the doors particularly shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a combine head frame, generally indicated by reference character  100 , includes a laterally-extending upper beam  102 , a laterally extending lower beam  104 , a laterally-extending row unit beam  114 , and a plurality of fore-and-aft extending brackets or gussets  116  extending between, and fixed to, beams  104  and  114 . Frame  100  also includes a rear wall  118  that is fixed to beam  102  and  104 . Frame  100  also includes a concave and longitudinally extending auger trough  120  that extends between and is coupled to left and right end sheets  122 ,  124  of the combine head frame. 
   In use, the combine head frame traverses a field in the direction of arrow A. Thus, the longitudinal axis of auger trough  120  is substantially at right angles to the direction of movement A through a crop field. As indicated previously, crop material is placed into auger trough  120  and moved by flights of an auger (not shown) to move crop material from end plates  122  and  124  towards the center of the combine head frame where they are discharged in the direction of arrow B through central opening  119  in rear wall  118 . As herein illustrated, the laterally extending beams for the fore and aft brackets or gussets and end sheets are affixed to one another, some by welding and others by removable fasteners. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the components may be assembled as a single structure using any combination of appropriate fastening mechanisms. 
   The left end and the right end of auger trough  120  have rectangular openings  126 ,  128 , respectively, that extend through the auger trough from the inside to the outside. Openings  126 ,  128  are disposed in the trough  120 , preferably at or adjacent to the lowest point of the curved auger trough  120  when the combine head frame is placed in a crop waste material clean out position. In the clean out position, and in the normal operating position, each plane of openings  126 ,  128  is disposed generally horizontally. Openings  126 ,  128  are mirror images of each other disposed in substantially identical positions on opposite sides of the combine head trough and have identical dimensions; the only difference being that they are disposed on opposite ends of the combine head frame. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , each opening  126 ,  128  is covered by a door and a latch assembly fixed to the underside of the trough. In  FIGS. 3-6  herein, only the left door  130  (looking in the direction of arrow A of  FIG. 1 ) and latch  136  are shown. The right door and latch are identically configured and arranged but are mounted on the opposite end of the trough to cover the other opening  128 . The right door and latch are mirror images of the illustrated left door  130  and latch  136  as referenced to a line that is perpendicular to, and at the midpoint, of the combine head beams and auger but are disposed over the opening  128  at the other end of the trough  120 . 
   Door  130  is formed from a sheet material and includes an integral hinge  131  in the form of tabs that are wrapped around an appropriate pin or inserted into a slot (not shown) which is affixed to the auger trough  120  at the outer ends thereof so that the door hinges are towards the outside of the unit. As shown particularly in  FIG. 5 , the door  130  has an eye, or handle  142  on its bottom surface  134 . Eye  142  is formed from a strap bent to form the eye  142  and which is integral with a pair of legs  133  extending away from one another to the side of door  130  adjacent hinge elements  131 . The legs  133  are appropriately affixed to door  130  to provide a strengthening function. Legs  133  may be welded, riveted, or affixed in any appropriate manner. Eye  142  has a hole  143  that enables the door to be locked in its closed position. 
   Latch  136  is formed from a U-shaped strap  137 , fixed to the bottom surface of the trough  120 . It includes a pin  140  leading to a handle  144  integral with pin  140  and bent at 90° to form an L-shape structure. Pin  140  extends through aligned holes  139  in strap  137  so that the handle  144  is on one side of the strap and the pin  140  extends through the hole and beyond the strap  137 . Pin  140  has a cone-like end  145  to facilitate entry in hole  143  of eye  142  as described below. Pin  140  has a spring  145  telescoped over it. Spring  145  acts on one wall of strap  137  and on a cross pin  147  fixed to pin  140  of sufficient length to capture one end of spring  145 . In the arrangement shown, pin  140  is urged to its position wherein it extends a maximum distance beyond strap  137 . Pin  140  engages the hole  143  in eye  142  fixed to the bottom surface  134  of door  130 . Pin  140 , when engaged with the hole  143  in eye  142 , holds the door closed and prevents grain and other crop material from escaping through openings  126 ,  128  and falling on the ground. 
   To open the door, the operator goes to the rear of the combine head and grasps handle  144  which is attached to pin  140 . The operator then pulls handle  144  backwards, towards the rear of the combine. This pulling compresses coil spring  145  and withdraws the pin  140  from the eye  142 . With the pin  140  withdrawn from the eye  142 , the door  130  is free to open, pivoting about the hinge  131  under the force of gravity until the door hangs downward leaving opening  126  uncovered. In this position, the operator can take a water hose or power washer and flush all loose material from the upper trough, through the now-uncovered opening  126  and on to the ground. In the absence of a water source the operator can use other means to push the material to and through the doors. The operator can, of course, open the other door in the same manner and flush material out the other opening. 
   If the combine happens to be on angled ground so that one end of the combine head is at a lower elevation than the other, the water mixed with plant matter will run down to the lowest point in the trough, which is at or adjacent to the opening  126  or  128 , depending upon which end of the corn head is lower. The operator can either open both doors, or the operator can open the door that is lowest. Typically, the operator will raise the corn head slightly above the ground to permit the mixed water and plant matter falling through the openings to escape on the ground and not remain in contact with the corn head. Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

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