Feeder Assembly Coupling Structure for an Agricultural Harvester

摘要

The present invention concerns a self-aligning coupling structure for releasably connecting a rear end of a feeder assembly to a frame of an agricultural harvester such as a combine and the like. The self-aligning coupling structure includes a pair of releasable couplings laterally spaced from each other on opposite sides of the feeder assembly and combine frame. Each releasable coupling includes first and second apertured coupling elements. One of the apertured coupling elements is provided on and extends from the combine frame while the other apertured coupling element is provided on and extends from a housing of the feeder assembly. The coupling elements each have complementary guide surfaces provided thereon. When the feeder assembly is to be coupled to the combine frame, the guide surfaces on the respective coupling elements of each releasable coupling cooperate with each other to self-align both horizontally and vertically the apertures in the coupling elements relative to each other thereby facilitating the passage of a pivot pin through the aligned apertures so as to releasably connect the feeder assembly to the combine frame for pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot pins.