Case IH announces two new combine harvesters for 2019

Case IH will market three new Axial-Flow combine harvesters of the 250 series in 2019, replacing the current 7240, 8240 and 9240 models.

They stand out for several automated functions designed to let operators easily optimize machine performance in terms of throughput and harvest quality.

New AFS Harvest Command™ automation system
The improvements made to the new Axial-Flow 7250, 8250 and 9250 combine harvesters concern Case IH's AFS Harvest Command™ automation system.

This all-new technology uses sixteen sensors to monitor the combine continuously and adjusts seven different parameters to maximize its performance.

Managed from the AFS Pro 700 terminal in the cab, this automation system is suited to wheat, rapeseed, corn and soybean harvests. The operator only needs to make a few settings according to the crop type and conditions for the machine to reach the desired output.

The base version of AFS Harvest Command™ is equipped with the widely proven ACS (Automatic Crop Settings) system. It adjusts the various components, such as fan speed and concave clearance, according to the crop type selected on the AFS terminal screen, which removes the need to set each element individually

. The operator can fine-tune the combine settings on the go and save the parameters for later reuse.

The next version, equipped with the Feedrate Control system, adjusts the forward speed according to the crop load in the feeder house to achieve the desired results or performance, in order to limit losses and reach maximum or fixed throughput.

The operator only has to set the maximum engine load and the forward speed for Feedrate Control to work up to the set limits.

The new Feedrate Control system allows more precise adjustment of forward speed according to the crop and the traction load. It can be used on its own and is suited to all crop types.

The top-of-the-range option is the fully integrated AFS Harvest Command™ automation, which automatically adjusts the threshing and cleaning system settings using the same criteria as Feedrate Control, with the addition of grain quality monitoring.

This new technology relies on cameras and sieve pressure sensors to feed additional directives into the machine's automatic adjustment process, in order to limit impurities in the grain sample and thus preserve optimal quality, the characteristic on which the reputation of the Axial-Flow combine is built.

The fully automated AFS Harvest Command™ can be used in four different ways.

In every case, the operator sets a maximum engine load and a maximum forward speed so that the combine operates in:
Performance mode: the combine travels at a certain speed to achieve an acceptable level of grain loss from the rotor and the cleaning system.
Fixed Yield mode: the combine maintains a target yield by changing its speed and adjusts itself to limit losses.
Maximum Yield mode: the combine operates until it reaches the speed or power limit set by the operator, while adjusting its settings to limit grain loss from the rotor and the cleaning system.
Grain Quality mode: the combine adjusts its settings to maintain the targeted grain quality and impurity level, while limiting losses.

?The AFS Harvest Command™ automation system is not designed to replace the operator and make decisions for them, but rather to optimize them, by identifying the factors that limit the combine's performance when conditions change, displaying them and making the adjustments to deal with them,? says August von Eckardstein.

Rotor cage and sieve improvements
Axial-Flow 250 series combines with AFS Harvest Command™ are equipped with rotor transport vanes adjustable from the cab, operated from the right-hand console in the cab when the automation system is not in use, or automatically when the AFS Harvest Command™ automation system is engaged.

The six rear vanes are linked and offer a wider adjustment range. They can also be adjusted manually from the ground.

Changing the pitch of the vanes speeds up or slows down the passage of the crop through the rotor cage, while adjusting threshing and separation performance to crop conditions improves yield.

In combination with the upper and lower sieve controls, the AFS Harvest Command™ automation package is also equipped with a new in-cab pre-sieve adjustment device that allows the AFS Harvest Command™ system to automatically adjust all sieve parameters based on input from the loss sensors, the grain quality camera and the sieve pressure sensors.

It can also be activated manually when AFS Harvest Command™ is not running. The in-cab adjustable pre-sieve is also available as a stand-alone option, which includes a remote switch allowing setting from the removable side covers.

The sieve pressure sensors send data on sieve load to AFS Harvest Command™, which lets the system understand the risk of losses and make the necessary adjustments before they occur.

These sensors link sieve overload and losses, and adjust the fan and sieve settings accordingly.

This technology thus prevents grain losses when yields vary and at the headland.

In combination with the Auto Fan option, the system also takes the combine's inclination into account. Fan operation combined with the sieves maintains the ideal operating setting and optimal sieve pressure. ?As a result, the sieves are much more efficient and produce cleaner grain, while limiting the risk of overload,? says August von Eckardstein.

Transmission changes
A new continuously variable transmission, equipped with a Field and Road mode control and a real-time two-speed range control, improves traction and removes the need to stop and change mode during work or when traveling on sloping terrain.

Controlled by a configurable multifunction speed lever, it provides closed-loop speed control to maintain the set speed when ground conditions change.

The respective maximum speeds in range one and two are 18 km/h and 25 km/h, although the maximum values can be set according to operator preferences and ground conditions. ?With fewer range changes and adjustable maximum speeds, downtime is limited in favor of productivity,? says August von Eckardstein.

Complemented by optimized hydraulic traction drives, the transmission upgrade improves smoothness by 36 % when traveling on roads. At the same time, a new advanced differential lock replaces the previous mechanical pedal with an electric button mounted on the floor, while the external brake disc is replaced by an internal oil-bath cooled brake, which delivers the same braking force with less pedal effort while improving the cooling performance required in situations where continuous braking is needed.

Improvements to X-tra Chop package
The X-tra Chop straw chopper package is now fitted with a new remote switch for ground-level spreader board actuation, to make accessing the engine deck easier for fuelling and maintenance.

Feeder house improvement
In addition to the current feeder house lifting capacities of 4,5 tonnes and 5,2 tonnes, a new lifting capacity of 6,1 tonnes is available on the largest Axial-Flow models to make it easier to handle 12,6 m draper headers and 16-row corn headers.

A factory-fitted dual lateral tilt system can now also help control 12,6 m draper headers.

A new optional cab-controlled front face fore/aft adjustment function allows the operator to change the fore/aft angle of the header, over a total tilt range of 11,9 degrees.

This improves harvesting efficiency in short crops (beans) and tall crops. Improvements to the header height control function result in better responsiveness and float, as well as adjustable acceleration for return to cutting position and resumption.

The GRAS (Ground Speed Adaptive Sensitivity) system automatically adjusts header height sensitivity as the forward speed increases or decreases in order to maintain header stability and responsiveness.

For example, when the response sensitivity is set to a high value and the operator reduces the combine's forward speed, the system sensitivity also decreases to preserve header stability.

However, as the sensitivity setting remains at the high set point, header responsiveness is preserved when the operator returns to the previous forward speed.

For more information on Case IH Axial-Flow® 250 series combine harvesters:

https://www.caseih.com/emea/fr-fr/produits/harvesting/axial-flow-250-series