Patent ID: 8721411

Claim:
A processing system for a combine harvester having a tubular housing that concentrically receives a rotor used for threshing and separating crop materials, the processing system comprising: a plurality of concave assemblies arranged side-by-side axially along the processing system, each said concave assembly comprising laterally spaced apart side rails, a plurality of transverse bars that span the side rails and a series of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced apart, curved rods defining apertures through which grain may pass; and at least one disrupter plate placed between adjacent concave assemblies of said plurality of concave assemblies having an arcuate configuration similar to that of the concave assemblies, wherein an upper edge of the at least one disrupter plate projects above the transverse bars and the curved rods of the concave assemblies toward the rotor to slow the axial flow of the crop material through the rotor housing, wherein the width of the transverse bars are such that the transverse bars are received between the side rails with the exception that the transverse bars have outwardly projecting overhangs at opposite ends that overly the side rails and extend at least partially through openings in an adjacent disrupter plate of the at least one disrupter plate.