IMPROVEMENTS TO AN ELEVATOR FOR AN AGRICULTURAL HARVESTING MACHINE

摘要

An agricultural harvesting machine (10) comprises crop processing means (16) and an elevator assembly (23) for conveying harvested crop material to said crop processing means (16). The elevator assembly comprises an elevator housing (50) and endless elevator means mounted for rotation in said housing (50), said elevator means having lower and upper lower runs (66a, 66b). Shielding means, such as an intermediate plate (70, 71), shield said the lower elevator run (66a) from the upper run (66b). The intermediate plate is provided with at least one aperture (78) enabling passage therethrough of crop material, and at least one removable cover (79) for closing said aperture (78). When the harvested crop material contains long stems, which easily wrap around the drive shaft (56) of the elevator assembly (23), the cover (79) is used to prevent the crop material from falling on top of the lower run (66a). When substantially heavy crop parts are ingested, such as corn ears, the covers (79) can be removed such that returning crop parts are trapped in the aperture (78) before they hit a front plate (84) of the elevator assembly (23).