Feeder house for a crop harvester

Abstract

The feeder house of a self-propelled combine harvester carries a front-mounted gatherer which delivers crop material to a forward inlet of the feeder house which is pivotally supported by the combine separator body, and delivers crop material to an inlet of the separator. A pair of side-by-side, contra-rotating auger conveyors deliver crop material directly to the separator rotor in a relatively concentrated high-speed stream. Convergence and concentration of the harvested crop material begun by a grain platform auger is continued by a pair of transverse beaters, each including helical conveying elements, arranged in tandem ahead of and partially above the dual auger conveyors. A forward beater close to the feeder house inlet receives material directly from the platform auger and conveys it rearwardly over a floor somewhat elevated with respect to the auger conveyors and transfers it to a second beater above the forward end of the dual augers which directs it downwards into the auger conveyors. A hold-down rod, generally parallel to the axis of the conveyor augers, is provided above each auger to assist in controlling the transfer of crop material from the rear beater to the augers. Portions of the feeder house also playing an important part in the control and conveying of crop material include the floor beneath the first beater, converging ramp-like surfaces in the feeder house side walls downstream of the rear beater, and the particular spacing from the auger conveyors of the feeder housing wall portions surrounding them.