The exemplary embodiments of subject disclosure relate generally to a plant harvesting machine (e.g., a combine harvester) and, more specifically, to apparatuses and methods for monitoring grain content within a tailings flow of a combine harvester.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An agricultural harvester e.g., a plant harvesting machine, such as, but not limited to, a combine, generally includes a header operable for severing and collecting plant or crop material as the harvester is driven over a crop field. The header has a plant cutting mechanism, e.g., a cutter bar, for severing the plants or crops via, for example, an elongate sickle mechanism that reciprocates sidewardly relative to a non-reciprocating guard structure. After crops are cut, they are collected inside the header and transported via a conveyor such as a draper belt towards a feederhouse located centrally inside the header.

From the feederhouse, the cut crop enters the crop processing area of the combine where it is threshed, separated and cleaned to separate grain from material other than grain (hereinafter “MOG”), whereby the grain is collected by the combine and the MOG discharged from the combine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the subject disclosure, there is provided a cleaning and tailings system of an agricultural harvester comprising an upper sieve and a lower sieve spaced from the upper sieve. A clean grain sheet is disposed below the lower sieve, and a tailings sheet is disposed below the clean grain sheet for receiving grain and MOG from the lower sieve and upper sieve. A tailings auger is disposed about a forward end of the tailings sheet, and a sensor is disposed about an inlet of the tailings auger for sensing impact of grain received by the tailings sheet.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment there is provided an agricultural combine comprising the cleaning and tailings system described above, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to determine an amount of grain received by the tailings sheet.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment there is provided a method for monitoring grain content within the tailings flow of the cleaning and tailings system of an agricultural harvester having an upper sieve and a lower sieve spaced from the upper sieve. The cleaning and tailings system further includes a clean grain sheet situated below the lower sieve and a tailings sheet situated below the clean grain sheet. A tailings auger is situated about a forward end of the tailings sheet. The method comprises the steps of disposing a sensor about an inlet to the tailings auger to sense impact of grain delivered from the tailings sheet, and using a controller in communication with the sensor, determining an amount of grain received by the tailings sheet.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure, there is provided an apparatus and method for monitoring grain content within a tailings flow of a combine harvester which accurately determines an amount of grain received by the tailings sheet in real time by virtue of disposing a sensor about an inlet to the tailings auger to sense impact of grain received by the tailings sheet. By placing the sensor about an inlet of the tailings auger, an accurate determination of the amount of grain received by the tailings sheet is achieved.

Other features and advantages of the subject disclosure will be apparent from the following more detail description of the exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure.

