Patent ID: 6208259
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A basket level indicator apparatus for a cotton harvester, the cotton harvester having a basket assembly into which the harvester moves harvested cotton and a compacting assembly coupled to the basket assembly having a motor and a compaction member, the motor driving the compaction member to compress the harvested cotton, the harvested cotton exerting a pressure on the motor, the apparatus comprising:a transducer coupled to the motor to measure the pressure exerted by the harvested cotton on the compaction member and to generate a pressure signal representative of the exerted pressure;a control circuit coupled to the transducer to receive the pressure signal and to generate a basket level indication signal a predetermined time after the pressure signal indicates a predetermined pressure is measured; andan indicator coupled to the control circuit, the indicator to receive the basket level indication signal and provide an indication of the level of harvested cotton in the basket assembly based on the basket level indication signal.