Patent ID: 7749054

Claim:
A rotor for a threshing system of an agricultural combine, comprising: a body supported for rotation in a direction of rotation about a rotational axis therethrough, the body having an outer circumferential surface including a plurality of mounting lugs arranged in a spaced apart generally helical pattern and defining a generally helical direction for movement of a mat of crop material therealong; a plurality of rasp bars mounted individually on the lugs, each rasp bar having an axial extent and a radially outer surface including grooves extending in directions generally aligned with the direction of rotation for performing a threshing function on and encouraging movement of the crop material in the helical direction; and a plurality of modular separator bars individually mounted on selected ones of the mounting lugs, the plurality of modular separating bars selectively interchangeable with the rasp bars, so as to be interspersed with the rasp bars whereby the helical pattern of the mounting lugs is maintained; each of the separator bars having an axial extent about equal to the axial extent of the rasp bar and including at least one radially outer edge extending generally transverse to the direction of rotation for engaging and uncoupling smaller components from the mat of crop material and maintaining movement of the mat of crop material in the generally helical direction, wherein the at least one radially outer edge includes a sloped leading edge haying a first end extending radially outward towards a second end and an agitation element adjacent the second end, the separator bar oriented on the rotor for engaging the mat of crop material at the first end and guiding the mat of crop material along the leading edge towards the agitation element.