Self-raising bin loading auger for combines

Abstract

A loading apparatus for the grain tank or bin of an agricultural combine. The grain tank or bin is located in the upper part of the combine, and, in the illustrated embodiment, the grain bin comprises a main grain bin and a grain bin extension mounted above the main grain bin. Clean grain which has been separated from the straw, chaff, or the like, is conveyed by an elevating conveyor which discharges the grain into a relatively short horizontal fixed auger conveyor which is in grain feeding relation to an elongated pivotally mounted 'floating' auger conveyor. The pivotally mounted floating auger conveyor extends from contiguous the laterally inner end of the horizontal auger conveyor and in overlying relation to the hollow interior of the bin and dischages into the bin at a substantially central location. The rotatable shaft of the horizontal auger conveyor is connected in driving relation to the rotatable shaft of the pivoted or floating auger conveyor by a universal drive joint. As the grain level in the grain bin approaches a full condition, the floating auger conveyor moves angularly upwardly from a horizontal position due to the reaction of the discharging grain with the upper surface of the already loaded grain, at least the discharge end of the floating auger conveyor riding on the upper surface of the already loaded grain.