Patent ID: 6951514
Filing Date: 2005-10-04
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. An agricultural combine for harvesting, threshing and separating an agricultural crop, the agricultural combine comprising: a supporting structure; ground engaging means for propelling the supporting structure at a harvesting speed; crop processing assemblies located in the supporting structure; a feederhouse is mounted to the supporting structure for directing a harvested crop to the crop processing assemblies, the feederhouse having a front drum with a maximum upward position; a feederhouse force sensor is coupled to the feederhouse for sensing the force exerted by the harvested crop on the feederhouse as the harvested crop is directed through the feederhouse, the feederhouse force sensor comprising a first sensor for measuring upward displacement of the front drum below the maximum upward position of the front drum and a second sensor for measuring the upward force exerted on the front drum by a harvested crop when the maximum upward position is reached by the front drum, the feederhouse force sensor providing an actual feederhouse force signal; a controller for adjusting the harvesting speed of the ground engaging means in response to the actual feederhouse force signal sensed by the feederhouse force sensor.