Header crop divider for an axial flow combine having side-by-side axial flow units

Claim 1

An axial flow combine having side-by-side axial flow units, each of the axial flow units having forward feeding means and rearward threshing and separating means, said units being operable to progressively feed conveyed crop material towards the threshing and separating means, to thresh the fed crop material, and to separate the threshed crop from its straw, a crop elevator mounted adjacent the forward feeding means and adapted to convey crop material rearwardly towards the side-byside axial flow units, and a header mounted adjacent the forward end of the crop elevator, the header having a rotatable transverse crop consolidating auger adapted to consolidate harvested crop material and move the material rearwardly towards the crop elevator, said auger including flights disposed about a central auger tube the combination therewith of means mounted on the central auger tube and extending radially outwardly therefrom and operable during rotation of the auger tube to form the harvested crop material into separate generally equally sized mats which can be conveyed rearwardly to the side-by-side axial flow units in separate mats, one mat for each of the units.