Basket level indicator for cotton harvester

A method of indicating the level of harvested cotton in a basket assembly of a cotton harvester, the cotton harvester having a basket assembly into which the harvester moves harvested cotton and a compacting assembly coupled to the basket assembly having a motor and a compaction member, the motor driving the compaction member to compress the harvested cotton, the harvested cotton exerting a pressure on the compaction motor, the method comprising:

• measuring the pressure exerted by the harvested cotton on the compaction member;
• generating a signal representative of the exerted pressure;
• generating a basket level indication signal when the pressure signal indicates the basket assembly is approximately full;
• and
• providing an indication of the level of harvested cotton in the basket assembly based on the basket level indication signal.

A basket level indicator apparatus for a cotton harvester, the cotton harvester having a basket assembly into which the harvester moves harvested cotton and a compacting assembly coupled to the basket assembly having a motor and a compaction member, the motor driving the compaction member to compress the harvested cotton, the harvested cotton exerting a pressure on the motor, the apparatus comprising:

• means for measuring the exerted pressure and for generating a signal representative of the measured pressure;
• means for generating a basket level indication signal when the pressure signal indicates the basket assembly is approximately full;
• and
• means for providing an indication of the level of harvested cotton in the basket assembly based on the basket level indication signal.