Patent ID: 7473170

Claim:
An axial-flow combine comprising: side-by-side generally cylindrical threshing and separating chambers, said chambers having generally longitudinal axes, and comprising lower separating concave grates, and upper curved cover plates with a series of vanes arranged to move harvested crop material along a helical path inside said chamber; at least a pair of the series of vanes each having an off-center stationary pivot point for adjusting the vane's pitch angle, the vanes each having a bolt on corresponding distal ends thereof, each bolt being movable within a corresponding slot in the upper cover plate to establish the pitch angle; a tie bar extending longitudinally along the length of the cover plate on the exterior of the cover plate, the tie bar is secured to the pair of vanes by nuts fastened to each of the bolts that extend through the slots of the cover plate and through the tie bar such that the tie bar slidably moves the vanes within the slots of the cover plate; and a pin disposed on the exterior surface of the cover plate, extendable through one of a plurality of tie bar slots, the pin providing a visual index of the angle of inclination of the vanes coupled to said tie bar, each tie bar slot being positioned on the tie bar to correspond to a particular predetermined pitch angle.