Abstract: In an agricultural combine including a rotor of a threshing system, a concave positioned beneath the rotor, a rotor cage positioned above the rotor, a drive controllably operable for rotating the rotor in opposite first and second rotational directions, a control in operative control of the drive, and a sensor for sensing information representative of load conditions opposing rotation of the rotor, a method for deslugging the threshing system of the agricultural combine includes the steps of (i) sensing information representative of load conditions opposing rotation of the rotor above a pre-determined threshold, which indicates a slugging condition; (ii) activating an actuator, which adjusts one or more components to move from an initial position to a deslugging position; (iii) rotating the rotor; and (iv) sensing information representative of load conditions opposing rotation to determine whether the slugging condition still exists.

Abstract: A combine including a frame, power unit and a crop gathering and processing device. A grain tank is mounted on the frame. An elongated closed end tube is vertically oriented within the grain tank and has a plurality of uniformly spaced openings along its length. A pneumatic pump pressurizes the interior of the tube. A pressure sensor senses the interior pressure of the elongated tube, so that grain building up therein selectively covers the plurality of openings to cause a proportionate increase in air pressure.

Abstract: A combine including a frame, power unit and a crop gathering and processing device. A grain tank is mounted on the frame. An elongated closed end tube is vertically oriented within the grain tank and has a plurality of uniformly spaced openings along its length. A pneumatic pump pressurizes the interior of the tube. A pressure sensor senses the interior pressure of the elongated tube, so that grain building up therein selectively covers the plurality of openings to cause a proportionate increase in air pressure.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis and an engine, transmission and operator station which are each carried by the chassis. The engine has a maximum operating speed. The transmission includes a continuously variable output. A power/economy switch which is positioned within the operator station provides a first output signal indicative of a power mode and a second output signal indicative of an economy mode. A controller is coupled with each of the engine, the transmission and the power/economy switch. The controller receives the second output signal from the power/economy switch and controls each of the engine and the transmission to be in an economy mode, whereby an operating speed of the engine is limited to a reduced maximum speed which is below the maximum operating speed, and the continuously variable output of the transmission is increased to offset for the reduction in engine operating speed.

Abstract: The control of an apparatus within a grain holding device for feeding grain to an unloader conveyor operable for conveying the grain from the holding device, includes sensing a predetermined condition or conditions representative of capacity of the unloader conveyor for receiving grain, and adaptively controlling the apparatus for feeding grain to the unloader conveyor in advantageous varying manners responsive to the conditions, including to delay initiation of feeding until the receiving capacity is increased, and to match the grain feed to the capacity. The automatic control can be overridden, to allow user control of unloader speed, and can be configured to allow cleanout of the unloader conveyor.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis and an engine, transmission and operator station which are each carried by the chassis. The engine has a maximum operating speed. The transmission includes a continuously variable output. A power/economy switch which is positioned within the operator station provides a first output signal indicative of a power mode and a second output signal indicative of an economy mode. A controller is coupled with each of the engine, the transmission and the power/economy switch. The controller receives the second output signal from the power/economy switch and controls each of the engine and the transmission to be in an economy mode, whereby an operating speed of the engine is limited to a reduced maximum speed which is below the maximum operating speed, and the continuously variable output of the transmission is increased to offset for the reduction in engine operating speed.

Abstract: A chopper assembly for a combine includes a rotary chopper element, a chopper grate assembly spaced from the rotary chopper element to form a passageway for crop residue and a knife bank adjustably connected to the chopper grate assembly. The knife bank is movable between a first position where the knife bank is fully inserted into the passageway and a second position where the knife bank is full retracted from the passageway. An actuating mechanism is used to move the knife bank between the first position and the second position. A position sensor is used to measure the position of the actuating mechanism and determine the position of the knife bank relative to the passageway.

Abstract: A chopper assembly for a combine includes a rotary chopper element, a chopper grate assembly spaced from the rotary chopper element to form a passageway for crop residue and a knife bank adjustably connected to the chopper grate assembly. The knife bank is movable between a first position where the knife bank is fully inserted into the passageway and a second position where the knife bank is full retracted from the passageway. An actuating mechanism is used to move the knife bank between the first position and the second position. A position sensor is used to measure the position of the actuating mechanism and determine the position of the knife bank relative to the passageway.

Abstract: The control of an apparatus within a grain holding device for feeding grain to an unloader conveyor operable for conveying the grain from the holding device, includes sensing a predetermined condition or conditions representative of capacity of the unloader conveyor for receiving grain, and adaptively controlling the apparatus for feeding grain to the unloader conveyor in advantageous varying manners responsive to the conditions, including to delay initiation of feeding until the receiving capacity is increased, and to match the grain feed to the capacity. The automatic control can be overridden, to allow user control of unloader speed, and can be configured to allow cleanout of the unloader conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method wherein at least two different sensors are used to obtain information related to ground speed of a work vehicle, and a control unit determines the ground speed based upon certain of the information from the sensors while the work vehicle is operating in a first ground speed range and based upon certain other information provided by the sensors while the work vehicle is operating in a second ground speed range. A display unit can advantageously be provided for displaying the ground speed determined by the control unit to the vehicle operator. The ground speed thus determined can also be used to more accurately control vehicle functions that depend on the ground speed. The ground speed can be selected from one or a combination of indications including a ground speed radar, a transmission or wheel speed pickup sensor, or a synthesized ground speed determined using engine speed and the commanded transmission gear ratio.