A combine including an engine for propelling the combine, a feeder housing for receiving cut crop, a separating system for threshing the cut crop to produce grain and residue, a residue chopper for chopping the residue, and a controller. The controller is configured to estimate risk factors that correlate to a risk of fire in the engine due to airborne particles created by at least one of the cut crop, the separating system or the residue chopper, estimate a fire risk based on the risk factors, and implement corrective action based on the estimated fire risk.

A chopping assembly is configured to receive crop plants processed by an agricultural combine harvester. The chopping assembly includes an inlet and a plurality of blades rotatable about an axis. The plurality of blades is positioned downstream of the inlet. The chopping assembly also includes an outlet positioned downstream of the plurality of blades. The outlet is partially defined by a first wall and a second wall. The chopping assembly further includes an actuator coupled to the second wall. The actuator is configured to move the second wall relative to the first wall. A control processor is in communication with the actuator. The control processor is configured to receive a first signal corresponding to a condition representative of a characteristic of the crop plants. The control processor is also configured to generate a second signal operable to control the actuator based on the condition.

A chopping assembly is configured to receive crop plants processed by an agricultural combine harvester. The chopping assembly includes an inlet and a plurality of blades rotatable about an axis. The plurality of blades is positioned downstream of the inlet. The chopping assembly also includes an outlet positioned downstream of the plurality of blades. The outlet is partially defined by a first wall and a second wall. The chopping assembly further includes an actuator coupled to the second wall. The actuator is configured to move the second wall relative to the first wall. A control processor is in communication with the actuator. The control processor is configured to receive a first signal corresponding to a condition representative of a characteristic of the crop plants. The control processor is also configured to generate a second signal operable to control the actuator based on the condition.

A system for an agricultural harvester includes a chopper assembly configured to separate a harvested material into debris and stalk. A primary extractor is configured to remove debris from the harvester. A sensor system is configured to capture data associated with harvested material conditions downstream of the primary extractor. A computing system includes one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media that collectively store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the computing system to perform operations. The operations include obtaining the data associated with the associated harvested material conditions downstream of the primary extractor, determining a current foliage ratio based on the data, determining an error between the current foliage ratio to a desired foliage ratio, and generating a harvest-related parameter of the primary extractor based at least in part on the error.

A system for an agricultural harvester includes a chopper assembly configured to separate a harvested material into debris and stalk. A primary extractor is configured to remove debris from the harvester. A sensor system is configured to capture data associated with harvested material conditions downstream of the primary extractor. A computing system includes one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media that collectively store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the computing system to perform operations. The operations include obtaining the data associated with the associated harvested material conditions downstream of the primary extractor, determining a current foliage ratio based on the data, determining an error between the current foliage ratio to a desired foliage ratio, and generating a harvest-related parameter of the primary extractor based at least in part on the error.

A combine harvester has multiple working mechanisms for carrying out specific treatment subprocesses of an overall treatment process for processing crop, and a driver assistance system for controlling the working mechanisms, which includes a memory for storing data and a computing device for processing the data stored in the memory, wherein the driver assistance system, together with the particular working mechanisms provided for carrying out the treatment subprocesses, forms independently operating automated adjusting mechanisms which are utilized for optimizing the control of the working mechanisms for carrying out the treatment subprocesses, wherein a process supervisor is assigned to the driver assistance system for controlling individual automated adjusting mechanisms and a data exchange of the automated adjusting mechanisms with one another.

A combine harvester has multiple working mechanisms for carrying out specific treatment subprocesses of an overall treatment process for processing crop, and a driver assistance system for controlling the working mechanisms, which includes a memory for storing data and a computing device for processing the data stored in the memory, wherein the driver assistance system, together with the particular working mechanisms provided for carrying out the treatment subprocesses, forms independently operating automated adjusting mechanisms which are utilized for optimizing the control of the working mechanisms for carrying out the treatment subprocesses, wherein a process supervisor is assigned to the driver assistance system for controlling individual automated adjusting mechanisms and a data exchange of the automated adjusting mechanisms with one another.

A monitoring system for a combine harvester. The monitoring system includes a sensor configured to provide a measurement wave to a flow of crop residue on the harvester and to receive a response wave from the flow of crop residue. The monitoring system further includes a processor having an input terminal for receiving a response signal of the sensor representative of the response wave. The processor is configured to determine a crop parameter associated with the density of the flow of crop based on the response signal of the sensor. The processor further has an output terminal for outputting a density signal representing the crop parameter.

A monitoring system for a combine harvester. The monitoring system includes a sensor configured to provide a measurement wave to a flow of crop residue on the harvester and to receive a response wave from the flow of crop residue. The monitoring system further includes a processor having an input terminal for receiving a response signal of the sensor representative of the response wave. The processor is configured to determine a crop parameter associated with the density of the flow of crop based on the response signal of the sensor. The processor further has an output terminal for outputting a density signal representing the crop parameter.

A material processing system having a barrel also referred to hereinafter having a milling or impact surface and a central axis. The impact surface is impervious, in that material cannot pass through the surface, but rather is contained by the surface. An impact mechanism is located within barrel and is rotates about the central axis. The system has inlet openings and formed in the barrel at axially spaced locations along the axis. At least one outlet opening is formed in the barrel at a location intermediate of the inlets. The impact mechanism includes a plurality of hammers mounted on shaft which rotates about the axis.