A sensor system for counting elements of a flow of harvested material is disclosed. The sensor system comprises an oscillating circuit and a measuring device, wherein the oscillating circuit comprises at least one capacitive component with a capacitance and an inductive component with an inductance. The oscillating circuit has a resonance frequency which depends on the capacitance and the inductance. Further, the capacitive component is positioned in the region of the flow of harvested material, so that the capacitance is influenced by individual elements of the flow of harvested material. The measuring device is configured to determine the resonance frequency of the oscillating circuit. In this way, the sensor system is configured to deduce at least one property of the particular element of the flow of harvested material from the resonance frequency of the oscillating circuit.

A sensor system for counting elements of a flow of harvested material is disclosed. The sensor system comprises an oscillating circuit and a measuring device, wherein the oscillating circuit comprises at least one capacitive component with a capacitance and an inductive component with an inductance. The oscillating circuit has a resonance frequency which depends on the capacitance and the inductance. Further, the capacitive component is positioned in the region of the flow of harvested material, so that the capacitance is influenced by individual elements of the flow of harvested material. The measuring device is configured to determine the resonance frequency of the oscillating circuit. In this way, the sensor system is configured to deduce at least one property of the particular element of the flow of harvested material from the resonance frequency of the oscillating circuit.

A combine harvester includes a grain pan that is arranged to catch a crop stream. The grain pan is driven in a fore and aft oscillating manner to convey the crop stream rearwardly across a conveyance surface to a rear edge. The grain pan is provided with an upright panel extending in a fore and aft direction on the conveyance surface. A grain cleaning system is arranged to receive the crop stream from the grain pan. A crop stream analysis system is provided for analysing a vertical section of a crop material layer disposed on the grain pan. The analysis system includes a vertical array of photoelectric sensing devices mounted to the panel. Each photoelectric sensing device is configured to sense a reflectance of crop material disposed against the panel. A processor is configured to receive reflectance signals from the photoelectric sensing devices and determine a material stratification status from the reflectance signals.

A combine harvester, and method of control involves conveying a crop material stream through a grain cleaning system which has screening apparatus. A cleaning airstream (X) is generated by a fan which is driven by a hydraulic fan drive system. The cleaning airstream (X) is directed through the screening apparatus. A fan drive pressure of a hydraulic supply line within the fan drive system is measured with a sensor. A material quantity value is calculated from the fan drive pressure. A working unit of the combine harvester is controlled using the material quantity value.

A combine harvester includes a housing having a rear hood and defining an interior, a blower for generating an air stream in a substantially rearward direction, and a cleaning system separating residue from a crop material such that the residue is transported via the air stream rearwardly to be discharged from the housing. A chopper rotor assembly is disposed within the interior below the rear hood and includes a chopper rotor having a plurality of blades for chopping the residue as it is received via the air stream. A chopper housing is disposed within the interior and defines an inlet of the chopper rotor for receiving the residue and an outlet spaced rearward from the chopper rotor for discharge of the chopped residue from the interior of the housing. An air gap through which the air stream may exit the interior is defined between the rear hood and chopper rotor.

A combine harvester includes a housing having a rear hood and defining an interior, a blower for generating an air stream in a substantially rearward direction, and a cleaning system separating residue from a crop material such that the residue is transported via the air stream rearwardly to be discharged from the housing. A chopper rotor assembly is disposed within the interior below the rear hood and includes a chopper rotor having a plurality of blades for chopping the residue as it is received via the air stream. A chopper housing is disposed within the interior and defines an inlet of the chopper rotor for receiving the residue and an outlet spaced rearward from the chopper rotor for discharge of the chopped residue from the interior of the housing. An air gap through which the air stream may exit the interior is defined between the rear hood and chopper rotor.

A multi-layer segmentation/stalk cutter device for a first season of double-crop rice and a control method, and a combine harvester for a first season of double-crop rice, the multi-layer segmentation/stalk cutter device comprising: a cutting platform, a segmenting cutter and a stalk cutter, at least one segmenting cutter being disposed at a lower rear portion of the cutting platform, the segmenting cutter being hinged on a moving chassis, and a second execution mechanism controlling the cutting height of the segmenting cutter; the stalk cutter being disposed at a lower rear portion of the segmenting cutter, the stalk cutter being hinged on the moving chassis, and a third execution mechanism controlling the cutting height of the stalk cutter.

A method for operating a control device of a utility vehicle for carrying out a work process, in particular an agricultural utility vehicle. The utility vehicle includes a large number of sub-systems, each for executing a sub-process of the work process, a control program for controlling the utility vehicle and the work process is divided into a large number of sub-programs; each sub-program is provided for controlling a relevant sub-system of the utility vehicle and for controlling a sub-process of the work process that is to be executed by this relevant sub-system; a large number of virtual machines is executed, the individual virtual machines each executing one of the sub-programs.

A combine harvester having a cleaning shoe includes a housing, a chaffer having a frame assembly and a plurality of first louvers rotatably mounted to the frame assembly, and a blower comprising a plurality of second louvers. The first louvers are configured to rotate about lateral axes thereof, the lateral axes perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the combine harvester. The second louvers are configured to change a lateral direction of air flow from the blower to the chaffer. Another combine harvester has a plurality of second louvers below first louvers of a chaffer. Each of the second louvers are configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the lateral axes of the first louvers of the chaffer. A method of operating a combine includes rotating at least one second louver to change a direction of the air flow in the cleaning shoe before the air flow reaches the chaffer.

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.