Patent ID: 7648413

Claim:
A combine harvester, comprising: an engine for driving the harvester and for powering subsystems including at least a threshing mechanism operable for separating harvested crop into grain and crop residue, and a straw chopper, the straw chopper being engageable for receiving and chopping at least a portion of the crop residue and propelling the chopped residue from the harvester, and a first device operable for outputting a signal representative of status of the engagement of the chopper; structure configurable for directing the crop residue along a path into the chopper, and along at least one alternative path to bypass the chopper, and a second device operable for outputting a signal representative of the configuration of the structure; and an engine control system including a controller connected in operative control of the engine, and to the first and second devices for receiving the signals therefrom, the controller being configured and operable for automatically determining and setting a maximum available engine power limit as a function of at least the status of the engagement of the chopper, and for reducing the limit as a function of at least the configuration of the structure for directing the crop residue, wherein the chopper includes a plurality of stationary knives positionable in a fully extended position which will require the chopper to use a first level of engine power, and at least one retracted position which will require a level of engine power less than the first level, and a third device for determining the position of the stationary knives and outputting a signal representative thereof to the controller, and wherein the controller is automatically operable for adjusting the maximum available engine power limit as a function of the position of the knives.