Deere & Company

Ryan Patrick Mackin

Robert Lee Day

Mark Edward Payne

Benjamin E Ramp

John Anthony Schraeder

Rebecca Ann Frana-Guthrie

Mark Alan Melton

Jeffrey Wayne Hogue

A pivoting mid-floor section for use in a feeder house in an agricultural combine is located between the transverse drum and the transverse sprocket means. The pivoting mid-floor can move or adjust when a large volume of crop material is fed into the feeder house, while providing support for the conveyor chain along substantially the entire length of travel between the transverse drum and sprocket means, thus reducing the friction on the chain, and preventing the system slow downs that occurred in feeder house systems using a fixed mid-floor. Additionally, replaceable wear-resistant surfaces can be affixed to the runners or guides of the mid-floor to further extend wear life and reduce friction between the chain slats and mid-floor. The friction occurs between the wear pads on the runners or guides and the chain slats, rather than between the chain components and the mid-floor.

Conveyor chain support for feeder house

A new and improved conveyor feeder house chain slat having a unique shape and structure that provides sufficient structural rigidity to improve crop throughput while reducing clogging of crop material. The unique slat also provides additional support to the chain. Because the chain rides on the rear of the elongated section of the slat, the slat contacts the feed house, rather than the chain, reducing chain wear, overheating and lubricant evacuation. Because of the new slat configuration, the slats can be secured to the chain with removable securing means, enabling easier replacement of an individual slat if necessary.

Conveyor feeder house chain slat

Growing community of inventors

Port Byron, IL, United States of America

Mark Edward Payne