Automatic Stone Trap for Cleaner Combines

Automatic Stone Trap for Cleaner Combines COMBINES Accessories 9-2-2 "It's dangerous. You have to climb down out of the cab, lay on your back under the header, and close the stone trap with your feet," says Barry Ireland, manufacturer along with Doug Fortune, of a new stone trap for Gleaner L, M, and F combines that replaces the existing trap that's been in use for the past 30 years. "In rocky ground you spend an unbelievable amount of time climbing down to close the trap. It can be dangerous because the header could fall on the operator while he's under the header or the machine could slip into gear," Ireland told FARM SHOW. When a stone, or other foreign object, enters the combine, the cylinder drives the object against the stone trap door which causes pressure latches to release. The operator is alerted by a warning light in the cab and must then stop the machine, raise the header to the top, and then crawl under the header to shove the door closed with his feet. The new Soil Mate stone trap holds several stones up to 3 in. in dia. When the door opens the alarm goes off and the operator simply stops the combine and lifts the header to the top, at which point a spring mechanism shuts the door. The operator doesn't have to stop the threshing mechanism or dismount the combine. "It can increase work time 10 to 50% in rough ground," says Ireland, who notes that the new stone trap is made of heavier metal than the existing trap to prevent metal warpage when stones are trapped in corners of the trap. The new trap is installed by drilling and tapping one hole and making three welds. The original sensor switch is used to warn the operator that the stone door is open. The company makes traps to fit all Gleaner L, M and F combines and is developing one for Gleaner rotaries and other combines. The traps sell for $875 to $995. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Soil Mate Equipment, Ltd., Rt. 1, Wingham, Ontario Canada (ph 519 335-6195 or 335-3801).

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