Patents by Inventor Howard E. Houle

Howard E. Houle has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4392500
    Abstract: A grain combine is disclosed having an improved straw walker for separating grain from chaff and for transporting the straw toward one end of the combine. The improved straw walker comprises a housing within which are mounted a plurality of parallel generally horizontally disposed straw walker boards or channels, each having parallel side walls with upwardly directed teeth along their upper edges. The channels are mounted for orbital motion upon two or more parallel crankshafts by the provision of split bearings connected to each straw walker. Each split bearing includes bearing halves that enclose a bushing through which the crankshaft extends. The crankshafts themselves are each mounted for rotation upon journals supported upon the framework of the combine. Each crankshaft is built up from separate pieces comprising crank arms bored to receive crank throw pins and shaft pins, all rigidly connected together by retaining pins or other suitable fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Inventor: Howard E. Houle