Platform auger torque sensing brake activation

A method of controlling how much torque is applied to a feed auger of a harvesting assembly, the feed auger is rotated by a feed auger drive, the method comprising:

• sensing the torque applied to the feed auger and forming an actual feed auger torque signal;
• communicating the actual feed auger torque signal to a controller having a memory;
• comparing the actual feed auger torque signal to a maximum desired feed auger torque signal stored in the memory of the controller;
• disengaging the feed auger drive when the actual feed auger torque signal exceeds the maximum desired feed auger torque signal.

A harvesting assembly comprising:

• a frame;
• a feed auger rotatably mounted to the frame, the feed auger being provided with retractable fingers that are freely rotatably mounted to a finger timing shaft;
• a feed auger drive for rotating the feed auger relative to the frame;
• a brake for braking the rotation of the feed auger;
• a timing shaft torque sensor for sensing torque transmitted to the finger timing shaft and providing an actual timing shaft torque signal;
• a controller having a memory in which a maximum desired timing shaft torque signal is stored, the controller activates the brake braking the feed auger when the actual timing shaft torque signal exceeds the maximum desired timing shaft torque signal.

A method of controlling how much torque is applied to a feed auger of a harvesting assembly, the feed auger is rotated by a feed auger drive and is provided with retractable fingers freely rotatably mounted on a finger timing shaft, the method comprising:

• sensing the torque applied to the finger timing shaft and forming an actual timing shaft torque signal;
• communicating the actual timing shaft torque signal to a controller having a memory;
• comparing the actual timing shaft torque signal to a maximum desired timing shaft torque signal stored in the memory of the controller;
• braking the feed auger drive when the actual timing shaft torque signal exceeds the maximum desired timing shaft torque signal.