Auger finger with resilient elastomeric retainer retractor at breaking point
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An auger finger, comprising:
- a mounting end portion having a first sectional extent;
an elongate free end portion opposite the mounting end portion;
a failure region disposed between and connecting the elongate free end portion with the mounting end portion, the failure region having a second sectional extent smaller and weaker than the first sectional extent so as to break and release the free end portion from the mounting end portion when the finger is subjected to a predetermined side loading condition; and
at least one resilient elastomeric retainer retractor, wherein the retainer retractor is a unitary tubular member, further wherein the tubular member is molded around at least portions of the free and mounting end portions of the finger adjacent to opposite ends of the failure region thereby portion and spanning the failure region, the retainer retractor being configured so as to be operable when the failure region is broken for retaining the free end portion on the mounting end portion, while being resiliently bendable for allowing relative pivotal movement therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A finger for a crop gathering auger of a grain header for an agricultural combine, a forage harvester, or the like, the finger including a resilient elastomeric retainer retractor which spans a failure region of the finger and will retain a free end of the finger in connection with a mounting end thereof when the failure region is broken, and which is configured and operable for automatically retracting the broken off free end into an auger drum and retaining it therein during subsequent rotation of the drum for limiting potential damage from the broken end and preventing entry of the broken end into crop handling equipment of the combine or other machine.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An auger finger, comprising:
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a mounting end portion having a first sectional extent; an elongate free end portion opposite the mounting end portion; a failure region disposed between and connecting the elongate free end portion with the mounting end portion, the failure region having a second sectional extent smaller and weaker than the first sectional extent so as to break and release the free end portion from the mounting end portion when the finger is subjected to a predetermined side loading condition; and at least one resilient elastomeric retainer retractor, wherein the retainer retractor is a unitary tubular member, further wherein the tubular member is molded around at least portions of the free and mounting end portions of the finger adjacent to opposite ends of the failure region thereby portion and spanning the failure region, the retainer retractor being configured so as to be operable when the failure region is broken for retaining the free end portion on the mounting end portion, while being resiliently bendable for allowing relative pivotal movement therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An auger finger, comprising:
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an elongate rigid body including a mounting end portion, a free end portion opposite the mounting end portion, and a failure region at a predetermined location between the mounting end portion and the free end portion and connecting the mounting end portion and the free end portion, the failure region being constructed so as to break and disconnect the free end portion from the mounting end portion when subjected to a predetermined side loading condition which is less than a side loading condition required for breaking at least the mounting end portion; and at least one resilient elastomeric retainer retractor, wherein the retainer retractor is a unitary tubular member, further wherein the tubular member is molded around at least portions of the free and mounting end portions of the finger adjacent to opposite ends of the failure region thereby spanning and the mounting the failure region and hold the free end portion when the failure region is broken, while allowing relative pivotal movement of the free end portion and the mounting end portion about the broken failure region. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An auger of a header for an agricultural combine, comprising:
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a rotatable hollow drum; at least one auger finger including an elongate rigid body including a mounting end portion, a free end portion opposite the mounting end portion, a failure region at a predetermined location between the mounting end portion and the free end portion and connecting the mounting end portion and the free end portion, the failure region being constructed so as to break and disconnect the free end portion from the mounting end portion when subjected to a predetermined side loading condition which is less than a side loading condition required for breaking at least the mounting end portion, and at least one retainer retractor of a resilient rubbery material, wherein the retainer retractor is a unitary tubular member, further wherein the tubular member is molded around at least portions of the free and mounting end portions of the finger adjacent to opposite ends of the failure region thereby spanning portion the failure region and hold the free end portion when the failure region is broken, while allowing relative pivotal movement of the free end portion and the mounting end portion about the broken failure region; and wherein the mounting end of the at least one auger finger is mounted in an internal cavity of the rotatable hollow drum such that the failure region is located within the cavity and the free end portion extends outwardly from the drum, such that if the failure region is broken during rotation of the drum the retainer retractor will retract the free end portion into the cavity and retain the free end portion in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of operation of a gathering auger of a header of an agricultural combine, comprising steps of:
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providing at least one elongate auger finger having a mounting end portion, a free end portion opposite the mounting end portion, a failure region at a predetermined location between the mounting end portion and the free end portion, and providing at least one retainer retractor of a resilient rubbery material, wherein the retainer retractor is a unitary tubular member further wherein the tubular member is molded around at least portions of the free and mounting end portions of the finger adjacent to opposite ends of the failure region thereby spanning the failure region, the retainer retractor being configured for holding the free end portion to the mounting end portion while allowing relative pivotal movement therebetween if the failure region is broken, the mounting end portion of the finger being mounted on an element in an internal cavity of a rotatable hollow drum of the auger such that the failure region and the at least one retainer retractor are located within the cavity and the free end portion extends outwardly from the drum through a hole in an outer surface thereof; and responsive to breakage of the failure region, and during subsequent rotation of the drum, the free end portion of the auger finger will automatically retract free end portion into the cavity because of the centrifugal forces acting upon the auger finger and the centrifugal forces will retain the free end portion in the cavity.
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31. An auger finger, comprising:
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a mounting end portion having a first sectional extent; an elongate free end portion opposite the mounting end portion; a failure region disposed between and connecting the elongate free end portion with the mounting end portion, the failure region having a second sectional extent smaller and weaker than the first sectional extent so as to break and release the free end portion from the mounting end portion when the finger is subjected to a predetermined side loading condition; and at least one resilient elastomeric retainer retractor, wherein the retainer retractor comprises tubular bands extending around the free end portion and the mounting end portion of the finger adjacent to opposite ends of the failure region, respectively, and at least one rubber tether connected to and extending between the bands so as to span the failure region of the finger, wherein the tether is integrally formed with the bands and further wherein the tether is spaced sidewardly outwardly from the failure region, whereby the tether forms a curvilinear shape, the retainer retractor being configured so as to be operable when the failure region is broken for retaining the free end portion on the mounting end portion, while being resiliently bendable for allowing relative pivotal movement therebetween.
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Specification