Elevated trailer drawbar for an agricultural combine

Abstract

An elevated drawbar for a grain cart that can be attached to the rear end of an agricultural combine above the crop residue discharge opening. The elevated position of the grain cart drawbar allows the crop residue to be discharged under the drawbar. The crop residue can therefore travel unobstructed from the combine's discharge opening to the ground.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A trailer for towing behind an agricultural combine, comprising: 
 a) a drawbar having an elevated portion that can be operably attached at a front end to a rear end of an agricultural combine at a position above a crop residue discharge opening;    
     
     
         2 . The trailer according to  claim 1 , wherein said trailer is a grain cart.  
     
     
         3 . The trailer according to  claim 2 , wherein said drawbar has a rear portion connected to said elevated portion on one end and said trailer at the other end, said rear portion including a shield that directs crop residue onto the crop field.  
     
     
         4 . The trailer according to  claim 3 , wherein said shield is flat along a bottom side of said rear portion.  
     
     
         5 . The trailer according to  claim 3 , wherein said shield is V-shaped along a bottom side of said rear portion with the center of said V-shape facing forward and the edges of said V-shape trailing rearward towards the sides of said drawbar.  
     
     
         6 . The trailer according to  claim 3 , wherein said elevated portion is positioned more than about three feet above the ground.  
     
     
         7 . The trailer according to  claim 1 , wherein said elevated portion is positioned more than about three feet above the ground.  
     
     
         8 . An agricultural combine, comprising: 
 a) a crop residue discharge opening located along a rear end of said combine; and    b) a connection member positioned above said crop residue discharge opening that can be operably attached to a trailer.    
     
     
         9 . An agricultural combine according to  claim 8 , wherein said connection member is positioned more than about three feet above the ground.  
     
     
         10 . A connecting system for towing a trailer behind an agricultural combine, comprising: 
 a) a combine body;    b) a crop residue discharge opening located along a rear end of said combine;    c) a combine connection member located along a rear end of said combine and positioned above said crop residue discharge opening;    d) a trailer body;    e) a drawbar located along a front end of said trailer; and    f) a trailer connection member located along a front end of said drawbar that can be operably attached to said combine connection member.    
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein said trailer is a grain cart.  
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said drawbar includes a rear portion that is connected to said trailer at one end, said rear portion including a shield that directs crop residue onto the crop field.  
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 a) said drawbar includes an elevated portion that is positioned more than about three feet above the ground; and    b) said combine connection member is positioned more than about three feet above the ground.    
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 a) said drawbar includes an elevated portion that is positioned more than about three feet above the ground; and    b) said combine connection member is positioned more than about three feet above the ground.    
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein said drawbar includes a rear portion that is connected to said elevated portion on one end and said trailer at the other end, said rear portion including a shield that directs crop residue onto the crop field.  
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein said trailer is a grain cart.  
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein said drawbar includes a rear portion that is connected to said trailer at one end, said rear portion including a shield that directs crop residue onto the crop field.  
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein said trailer is a grain cart.  
     
     
         19 . A method for towing a trailer behind an agricultural combine, comprising: 
 a) attaching said trailer to a rear end of said combine; and    b) discharging crop residue from said rear end of said combine below a drawbar of said trailer.    
     
     
         20 . The trailer system according to  claim 19 , wherein said trailer is a grain cart.