Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including plurality of engines, a plurality of mechanical loads, a plurality of electrical generators, a plurality of electrical loads, at least one load sensor, and a controller. The plurality of engines includes a first engine and a second engine. The plurality of mechanical loads includes a first mechanical load and a second mechanical load. The first mechanical load is coupled to the first engine and a second mechanical load is coupled to the second engine. The plurality of electrical generators includes a first generator and a second generator. The first generator is coupled to the first engine and the second generator is coupled to the second engine. The plurality of electrical loads can be separately coupled to the first generator or the second generator.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester rear axle arrangement for an agricultural harvester (10) having a body (12), the arrangement comprising left and right rear wheels (18, 20); means for supporting the wheels for rotation about a generally vertical steering axis (38, 40, 78, 94) and for supporting the wheels for extension and retraction from the body of the combine (26, 28, 30, 90); actuator means for steering the wheels (38, 40, 70, 72, 94) and for extending and retracting the wheels (34, 36, 70, 72); an electronic controller (50) coupled to the actuator means to steer, extend and retract the wheels.

Abstract: A feeder house of an agricultural harvester has lift cylinders that can be locked to reduce the risk of damage due to feeder house twisting due to impacts with the ground.

Abstract: An agricultural combine having a supporting structure that is driven by ground engaging wheels at a harvesting speed by a propulsion assembly. The combine is also provided with crop processing assemblies for processing a harvested crop. A feederhouse directs the harvested crop material to the crop processing assemblies. A feederhouse force sensor senses the force exerted by the harvested crop material as it passes through the feederhouse. The feederhouse force signal is directly related to crop throughput. An operator control in the operator's cab of the combine provides a loss rate signal that is also directed to the electronic controller. The electronic controller converts the loss rate signal into a desired feederhouse force signal. The electronic controller regulates the forward speed or harvesting speed of the combine so that the desired feederhouse force signal is equal to the actual feederhouse force signal.

Abstract: A harvester with a control system responsive to at least one crop processing variable for automatically controlling forward speed of the harvester includes a crop presence responsive switch connected to an automatic harvester control system. The switch, preferably a proximity switch responsive to movement of the feeder house drum from an empty feeder house limit position, provides a signal in response to crop entering the feeder house for initiating the automatic speed control of the harvester after the header receives the crop and prior to the crop entering the processing structure. The automatic control initiation structure is particularly useful with an automatic combine throughput control and eliminates unstable operation resulting from delayed control initiation. The switch is part of an adjustable down stop mechanism for the feeder house drum.

Abstract: A combine with a throughput dependent speed control includes an angle sensor responsive to uphill, downhill and sidehill slopes. When the combine is angled from a level position, harvest speed is lowered to prevent grain losses from increasing above a target level. The control continuously learns tilt angle, loss and throughput correlation, and the speed reduction is selected based upon the learned correlation. In the preferred embodiment, throughput is estimated utilizing rotor variable drive actuator pressure (RVDAP), and a target RVDAP is modified for short periods of time in accordance with the learned correlation.

Abstract: A harvester with a control system responsive to at least one crop processing variable for automatically controlling forward speed of the harvester includes a crop presence responsive switch connected to an automatic harvester control system. The switch, preferably a proximity switch responsive to movement of the feeder house drum from an empty feeder house limit position, provides a signal in response to crop entering the feeder house for initiating the automatic speed control of the harvester after the header receives the crop and prior to the crop entering the processing structure. The automatic control initiation structure is particularly useful with an automatic combine throughput control and eliminates unstable operation resulting from delayed control initiation. The switch is part of an adjustable down stop mechanism for the feeder house drum.

Abstract: A combine with a throughput dependent speed control includes an angle sensor responsive to uphill, downhill and sidehill slopes. When the combine is angled from a level position, harvest speed is lowered to prevent grain losses from increasing above a target level. The control continuously learns tilt angle, loss and throughput correlation, and the speed reduction is selected based upon the learned correlation. In the preferred embodiment, throughput is estimated utilizing rotor variable drive actuator pressure (RVDAP), and a target RVDAP is modified for short periods of time in accordance with the learned correlation.

Abstract: An agricultural combine having a supporting structure that is driven by ground engaging wheels at a harvesting speed by a propulsion assembly. The combine is also provided with a threshing assembly that is supplied harvested crop material by a feederhouse. The feederhouse is provided with a moisture sensor for sensing the moisture of harvested crop material as it passes through the feederhouse. The moisture sensor produces a moisture signal that is directed to an electronic combine controller. The electronic combine controller regulates the harvesting speed of the combine in response to the moisture signal.

Abstract: An agricultural combine having a supporting structure that is driven by ground engaging wheels at a harvesting speed by a propulsion assembly. The combine is also provided with a threshing assembly that is driven by a variable torque sensing drive. The variable torque sensing drive is manipulated by pressurized hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic sensor in hydraulic communication with the variable torque sensing drive provides an actual hydraulic pressure signal that is directed to an electronic controller. An operator control in the operator's cab of the combine provides a loss rate signal that is also directed to the electronic controller. The electronic controller converts the loss rate signal into a desired hydraulic pressure signal. The electronic controller regulates the forward speed (harvesting speed) of the combine so that the desired hydraulic pressure signal is equal to the actual pressure signal.

Abstract: An agricultural combine having a supporting structure that is driven by ground engaging wheels at a harvesting speed by a propulsion assembly. The combine is also provided with a threshing assembly that is driven by a variable torque sensing drive. The variable torque sensing drive is manipulated by pressurized hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic sensor in hydraulic communication with the variable torque sensing drive provides an actual hydraulic pressure signal that is directed to an electronic controller. An operator control in the operator's cab of the combine provides a loss rate signal that is also directed to the electronic controller. The electronic controller converts the loss rate signal into a desired hydraulic pressure signal. The electronic controller regulates the forward speed (harvesting speed) of the combine so that the desired hydraulic pressure signal is equal to the actual pressure signal.