A combine harvester comprises a concave, a cover plate or MOG limiter, and an over-center latch assembly that secures the cover plate or MOG limiter to an outer surface of the concave. The over-center latch assembly comprises a base plate including a pair of ears protruding therefrom, a handle in rotational communication with the pair of ears, a lever operatively connected to the base plate via a center pin in rotational communication with the handle that allows the lever to rotate with respect to the handle, and a loop at a distal end of the lever. A wire lock clevis pin is positioned between a center rail of the concave and a rail of the cover plate or MOG limiter. Each of the cover plate or MOG limiter includes hinge points positioned at an end opposite the over-center latch assembly for insertion into a cross bar of the concave.

A universal threshing concave for an agricultural combine for harvesting different types of crops is disclosed. The threshing concave comprises a frame with a pair of opposite side members and opposite end members. The invention further comprises an array of threshing bars angled and notched along their longitudinal extent, and hexagonal in cross-section. Each bar is seated in openings in the end members of said frame.

A universal threshing concave for an agricultural combine for harvesting different types of crops is disclosed. The threshing concave comprises a frame with a pair of opposite side members and opposite end members. The invention further comprises an array of threshing bars angled and notched along their longitudinal extent, and hexagonal in cross-section. Each bar is seated in openings in the end members of said frame.

A spine for providing structural support for a dual rotor harvesting machine, the spine having a first surface that is solid and directed towards a first rotor configured to rotate about a first axis and a second surface that is solid and directed towards a second rotor configured to rotate about a second axis. The spine also having at least one threshing insert positioned directly on the first surface and extending longitudinally along the first axis of the spine and at least one threshing insert positioned directly on the second surface and extending longitudinally along the second axis of the spine.

Combine harvesters may include crop processing systems having a grate subassemblies with flaps that, in some instances, are divided into groups that are independently movable and moveable in opposite directions between a fully open position and a fully closed position. Further, each of the grate assemblies may include an actuator that is operable to actuate simultaneously a portion of the flaps on each of the grate assemblies.

Combine harvesters may include crop processing systems having a grate subassemblies with flaps that, in some instances, are divided into groups that are independently movable and moveable in opposite directions between a fully open position and a fully closed position. Further, each of the grate assemblies may include an actuator that is operable to actuate simultaneously a portion of the flaps on each of the grate assemblies.

In an axial flow combine harvester, axial bars of one or more concave grates include first and second series of axial bars, of which the first series is nearer to a front intake end of the assembly where crop material is introduced. In each series, spacing between adjacent axial bars grows progressively wider from relatively narrow spacing near a first end of the series to relatively wider spacing near a second end of the series. The bar spacing in the second series is also of progressively widening character relative to the bar spacing in the first series. Operational characteristics of the combine harvester are improved by installation of the grates with the relatively narrow spacing at a side of the rotor where sieve overloading is known to occur with conventional grates, and with the wider spacing at an opposing side of the rotor from where said conventional sieve overloading occurs.

In an axial flow combine harvester, axial bars of one or more concave grates include first and second series of axial bars, of which the first series is nearer to a front intake end of the assembly where crop material is introduced. In each series, spacing between adjacent axial bars grows progressively wider from relatively narrow spacing near a first end of the series to relatively wider spacing near a second end of the series. The bar spacing in the second series is also of progressively widening character relative to the bar spacing in the first series. Operational characteristics of the combine harvester are improved by installation of the grates with the relatively narrow spacing at a side of the rotor where sieve overloading is known to occur with conventional grates, and with the wider spacing at an opposing side of the rotor from where said conventional sieve overloading occurs.

A dynamically operated concave threshing bar system, method, and apparatus wherein one or more threshing bars within a concave can dynamically move to various positions in real-time based on one or more conditions such as the type crop being harvested and on a determination by a combine harvester's computerized system, artificial intelligence (AI) system, or upon the operators' input, among others. The concave can include a concave frame having a pair of arcuate side members, a threshing bar, and an actuator coupled to the threshing bar, wherein the actuator can be configured to move the threshing bar along the arcuate side members of the concave frame.

A dynamically operated concave threshing bar system, method, and apparatus wherein one or more threshing bars within a concave can dynamically move to various positions in real-time based on one or more conditions such as the type crop being harvested and on a determination by a combine harvester's computerized system, artificial intelligence (AI) system, or upon the operators' input, among others. The concave can include a concave frame having a pair of arcuate side members, a threshing bar, and an actuator coupled to the threshing bar, wherein the actuator can be configured to move the threshing bar along the arcuate side members of the concave frame.