Grain elevator paddle for combine harvester
A paddle for a grain elevator of a combine harvester includes a plate and a leg. The plate is configured to be coupled to a chain at a first location on the chain. The plate has a top side for carrying grain, a bottom side opposite the top side, and a lip that extends along a perimeter of the top side of the plate for retaining the grain on the top side. The leg extends from a bottom side of the plate for releasably contacting the chain at a second location that is spaced from the first location.
1. A paddle for a grain elevator of a combine harvester, the paddle comprising:
a plate that is configured to be coupled to a chain at a first location on the chain, the plate having a top side for carrying grain and a bottom side opposite the top side; and
a leg extending from the bottom side of the plate for releasably contacting the chain at a second location on the chain that is spaced from the first location,
wherein the leg extends in a direction toward the chain and away from the top side of the plate, and
wherein an acute angle is defined between the leg and the bottom side of the plate.
2. The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the leg includes a stem portion that is bifurcated into two prongs, the stem portion having a contact surface for contacting the chain at the second location, and each prong being connected to the bottom side of the plate.
3. The paddle of claim 1 , further comprising a flange for directly connecting the plate to the chain at the first location.
4. The paddle of claim 3 , wherein the plate includes a cut-out portion for accommodating the flange.
5. The paddle of claim 1 , wherein a contact surface of the leg that releasably contacts the chain has length and width dimensions that are substantially equivalent to length and width dimensions of one link of the chain.
6. The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the first location and the second location on the chain are separated by at least one link of the chain.
7. The paddle of claim 1 , further comprising a lip that extends along a perimeter of the top side of the plate for retaining the grain on the top side, wherein the lip extends above the top side of the plate.
8. The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the plate is fixedly connected to the chain, and the leg is disconnected from the chain.
9. The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the leg and the plate are unitized.
10. The paddle of claim 9 , wherein the leg and the plate are formed from a molded polymer material.
11. The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the leg is either connected to, or extends from, a central portion of the bottom side of the plate.
12. A paddle for a grain elevator of a combine harvester, the paddle comprising:
a plate that is configured to be coupled to a chain at a first location on the chain, the plate having a top side for carrying grain and a bottom side opposite the top side; and
a leg extending from the bottom side of the plate for releasably contacting the chain at a second location on the chain that is spaced from the first location,
wherein a contact surface of the leg that releasably contacts the chain has length and width dimensions that are substantially equivalent to length and width dimensions of one link of the chain.
13. The paddle of claim 12 , wherein the leg extends in a direction toward the chain and away from the top side of the plate.
14. The paddle of claim 13 , wherein an acute angle is defined between the leg and the bottom side of the plate.
15. The paddle of claim 12 , wherein the leg includes a stem portion that is bifurcated into two prongs, the stem portion having a contact surface for contacting the chain at the second location, and each prong being connected to the bottom side of the plate.
16. The paddle of claim 12 , wherein the first location and the second location on the chain are separated by at least one link of the chain.
17. The paddle of claim 12 , further comprising a lip that extends along a perimeter of the top side of the plate for retaining the grain on the top side, wherein the lip extends above the top side of the plate.
18. The paddle of claim 12 , wherein the leg and the plate are unitized.
19. The paddle of claim 18 , wherein the leg and the plate are formed from a molded polymer material.
20. The paddle of claim 12 , wherein the leg is either connected to, or extends from, a central portion of the bottom side of the plate.
21. A paddle for a grain elevator of a combine harvester, the paddle comprising:
a plate that is configured to be coupled to a chain at a first location on the chain, the plate having a top side for carrying grain and a bottom side opposite the top side; and
a leg extending from the bottom side of the plate for releasably contacting the chain at a second location on the chain that is spaced from the first location,
wherein the leg is either connected to, or extends from, a central portion of the bottom side of the plate.
22. The paddle of claim 21 , wherein the leg extends in a direction toward the chain and away from the top side of the plate.
23. The paddle of claim 22 , wherein an acute angle is defined between the leg and the bottom side of the plate.
24. The paddle of claim 21 , wherein a contact surface of the leg that releasably contacts the chain has length and width dimensions that are substantially equivalent to length and width dimensions of one link of the chain.
25. The paddle of claim 21 , wherein the first location and the second location on the chain are separated by at least one link of the chain.
26. The paddle of claim 21 , wherein the leg and the plate are unitary and are formed from a molded polymer material.