Patent ID: 7381130
Filing Date: 2008-06-03
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. An agricultural combine comprising: a body defining a space, the space having forward and rearward portions, the forward portion containing a separating system, and a rear opening spaced rearwardly of the separating system; an crop residue propeller disposed in the rearward portion of the space between the separating system and the rear opening and operable for propelling a flow of crop residue rearwardly along a crop flow path from the separating system toward a rear end of the space; a cleaning system disposed in the forward portion of the space below the crop residue propeller and including a fan disposed for directing a flow of air rearwardly through an air flow channel through the space between the cleaning system and the propeller, the cleaning system further including a beater pan disposed beneath the propeller and above the air flow channel and a sieve disposed below the airflow channel; and an air pressure sensor disposed in the forward portion of the space, the air pressure sensor disposed below the beater pan and above the sieve, the air pressure sensor operable for sensing an air pressure condition in the forward portion which is indicative of a plugging condition toward the rear end of the space, wherein the forward portion is substantially free of plugging thereby increasing the reliability of monitoring the onset of plugging in the rearward portion.