Patent ID: 8469784
Filing Date: 2013-06-25
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling a grain combine comprising: a. providing a grain combine comprising a rotor/cylinder, a sieve, a fan, a concave, a feeder, a header, an engine, and a control system; said concave having a concave setting related to the concave's distance from said rotor/cylinder; said sieve having a plurality of openings; said control system having a means for controlling the size of said openings of said sieve, the speed of said fan, the speed of said rotor/cylinder, and said concave setting; b. engaging said feeder and lowering said header; c. selecting a separator loss target, engine load target, and a sieve loss target; d. increasing the ground speed of said grain combine until said selected engine load target is reached; e. harvesting a grain with said lowered header and said engaged feeder of said grain combine after said selected engine load target is reached; f. continuously monitoring separator loss, sieve loss, engine load, and ground speed of said grain combine during said step of harvesting; g. determining said monitored separator loss is greater than said selected separator loss target, and performing an adjustment from the group of adjustments consisting of: adjusting the speed of said rotor/cylinder, adjusting said concave setting, adjusting said engine load target, and combinations thereof; h. determining said monitored sieve loss is greater than said selected sieve loss target, and performing an adjustment from the group of adjustments consisting of: adjusting the speed of said fan, adjusting the size of said openings of said sieve, adjusting said engine load target, and combinations thereof; i. said control system performing said step of determining said monitored separator loss is greater than said selected separator loss target and said step of determining said monitored sieve loss is greater than said selected sieve loss target; and j. whereby said step of determining said monitored sieve loss is greater than said selected sieve loss target comprises determining said monitored sieve loss is greater than said selected sieve loss target comprises and then: