Method and apparatus for ascertaining the quantity of a crop harvested in a combine

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for ascertaining the quantity of the tailings ( 39 ), output into a tailing augur ( 46 ) of a combine ( 1 ) and composed of grains ( 35 ) and non-grain components, in which the quantity of the tailings ( 39 ) is displayed by means of generating grain stream signals (X) and crop stream signals (Y, Z), and the quantity of the tailings ( 39 ) is detected in a cleaning system ( 18 ), assigned to the combine ( 1 ), or in a portion of the cleaning system ( 18 ), so that the quantity of the crop harvested ( 39 ) is relatively precisely ascertained and conclusively displayed in a simple way.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for ascertaining a quantity of a crop harvested in a tailing auger of a combine, in which a tailings quantity is formed by at least grains and non-grain components, the apparatus comprising means for detecting a quantity of the tailings at least in part in a cleaning system associated with the combine or in a portion of the cleaning system; and means for displaying the quantity of the tailings by generating grain stream signals which are proportional to a detected number of grains and crop stream signals which are proportional to a whole volumetric tailings stream.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said means for detecting the quantity of the tailings include means for ascertaining a proportion of grain in the quantity of the tailings.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 20 , wherein said means for ascertaining the proportion of grain in the quantity of the tailings include at least one grain stream measuring instrument which is provided with at least one pulse density sensor that generates the grain stream signals; and is operatively connected to an evaluation and display unit that permits a display selected from the group consisting of a qualitative display, a quantitative display, and both of the proportion of grains in the quantity of the tailings.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the cleaning system includes at least first and second screen planes; and further comprising at least one grain stream measuring instrument assigned to each of the screen planes.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 19;  and further comprising a plurality of grain stream measuring instruments which generate the grain stream signals that are processed and displayed in an evaluation and display unit into screen-plane-dependent proportion of the grains in the quantity of the tailings.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 19;  and further comprising an evaluation and display unit that displays various parameters of the stream of the crop being harvested.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said evaluation and display unit is configured to display the various parameters which, in addition to the proportion of grain in the tailings and the quantity of the tailings, includes cleaning losses and filtration losses.