Agricultural feed mixer with torque sensing automatic transmission

A feed mixer apparatus comprising:

• a mixing chamber for receiving feed, and having a mixing element situated therein for mixing the feed;
• a drive system having a plurality of drive system components, including a transmission, the transmission having a plurality of gear ratios and connected with the mixing element, the plurality of gear ratios including at least a higher gear ratio and a lower gear ratio;
• a torque sensor interconnected with at least one drive system component to detect the torque demand of the mixing element, wherein the torque sensor provides a torque sensor signal representative of the torque demand;
• a control unit having a display and a plurality of user inputs, wherein the control unit is in at least indirect communication with the transmission and the torque sensor, and wherein the control unit is configured to receive the torque sensor signal, compare the detected torque demand to a pre-determined torque value, and signal the transmission to shift from a higher gear ratio to a lower gear ratio or from a lower gear ratio to a higher gear ratio based at least in part on the result of the comparison;
• and
• a speed sensor for communicating a speed signal to the control unit, wherein the speed sensor is interconnected with one of the drive system components, and wherein the control unit is configured to provide an output to the transmission to change gear ratios, based at least in part on the speed signal.