To boost the performance of its large combine harvesters, in the CS combine harvester CLAAS replaced the straw walkers with a “cylinder system” (CS) with eight separating cylinders. The new system was first launched in 1981 in the DOMINATOR 116 CS. This machine continued to use a threshing drum (1.58 metres in width). Eight separating cylinders were located behind the drum with separator concaves positioned underneath. The purpose of the concaves was to separate as much grain as possible from the straw. The separating cylinders took up the straw and transported it by a positively controlled process to the straw bonnet. This method of conveyance ensured a uniform crop flow. The grain itself could be separated very effectively from the thin straw layer. Both the concave gap of the separator concaves and the speed of the separating cylinders could be adjusted to suit the crop type. From 1986, the CS machines were renamed COMMANDOR to better distinguish between those with straw walkers and those featuring the cylinder system. The expensively produced system never quite made it onto the market, despite having set a harvesting world record with the CLAAS COMMANDOR in 1990 with 358 tonnes of harvested wheat in eight hours. Combine harvesters with the CS system continued to be manufactured until 1995.
WheelsAge.org '2005–pr.