Patent ID: 7166026

Claim:
A grate for an agricultural combine comprising: a frame including first and second offset end members and first, second and third semi-circular side members extending between the offset end members, wherein the second semi-circular side member is disposed in between the first and third semi-circular side members; a longitudinally-extending mounting bracket extending between the first and, second and third semi-circular side members at a position between the first and second end members, the longitudinally-extending mounting bracket including at least one mounting aperture; a first grate member including first and second ends and first and second curved sides which extend between first and second ends of the first grate member, the first grate member is disposed between the first and second semi-circular side members, the first grate member is sized and dimensioned to be received in the frame between at least one of the first and second end members and the longitudinally-extending mounting bracket, the end member of the first grate member mounted to the mounting bracket including a mounting aperture for mounting the first grate member to the longitudinally-extending mounting bracket, the mounting aperture being offset from the top of the respective end member of the first graze by a first selected distance; and a second grate member including first and second ends and first and second curved sides which extend between the first and second ends of the second grate member, the second grate member is disposed between the second and third semi-circular side members, the second grate member is sized and dimensioned to be received in the frame between at least one of the first and second end members and the longitudinally-extending mounting bracket, end member of the second grate member mounted to the mounting bracket including a mounting aperture for mounting the second grate member to the longitudinally-extending mounting bracket, the mounting aperture being offset from the top of the respective end member of the second grate by a second selected distance; wherein the first selected distance is smaller than the second selected distance such that when the first and second grate members are positioned in the frame member, the end member of the second grate member mounted to the mounting bracket is stepped upward from the end member of the first grate member mounted to the mounting bracket.