Break-away finger for retracting finger auger

• US 7,937,921 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Original Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Inventors: Lohrentz, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Douglas A
• Application Number:
  US12/041,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20090217639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 562/94, 563/64, 564/00, 56/124, 563/30, 564/002.1, 172/21, 172/22, 198/613, 198/693, 198/722
• US Class Current: 56/294
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 61/004 with cylindrical tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 75/182 Avoiding overload

Abstract

A tubular metal finger for a retracting finger auger assembly has a mounting portion adjacent the normally inner end of the finger, a working portion adjacent the opposite, normally outer end of the finger, and a weakened break-away portion between the mounting and working portions. Weakening of the sidewall of the tube in the break-away portion is accomplished through the provision of a pair of diametrically opposed, circular holes through the tube.

Claims

1. A break-away auger finger comprising:

an elongated metal tube having a circular transverse cross-section defined by a continuous cylindrical sidewall of the tube,

said tube having a mounting portion adjacent one end of the tube, a working portion adjacent the opposite end of the tube, and a break-away portion integrally interconnecting the mounting and working portions; and

a pair of diametrically opposed, circular break-away holes in the sidewall within said break-away portion of the tube for weakening the break-away portion a sufficient extent that the finger will fracture at said break-away portion under a predetermined transverse load applied to the working portion of the tube,

said finger having a pair of diametrically opposed mounting holes in the sidewall within said mounting portion of the tube,

said mounting holes being smaller in diameter than said break-away holes.

2. A break-away auger finger as claimed in claim 1,

said break-away holes having their common axis disposed in parallel relationship with the common axis of the mounting holes.

3. A break-away auger finger as claimed in claim 2,

both of said break-away holes being of the same diameter.

4. A break-away auger finger as claimed in claim 3,

said sidewall in the break-away portion having a transverse cross-section in which the arcuate length of void sections presented by said break-away holes is generally equal to the arcuate length of solid sections between the break-away holes.

5. A break-away auger finger as claimed in claim 1,

both of said break-away holes being of the same diameter.

6. A break-away auger finger as claimed in claim 5,

said sidewall in the break-away portion having a transverse cross-section in which the arcuate length of void sections presented by said break-away holes is generally equal to the arcuate length of solid sections between the break-away holes.

7. A break-away auger finger as claimed in claim 1,

said sidewall in the break-away portion having a transverse cross-section in which the arcuate length of void sections presented by said break-away holes is generally equal to the arcuate length of solid sections between the break-away holes.