• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.53-61
• /
• 2015

Development of highly efficient and energy-saving tractors has been one of the issues in agricultural machinery. For design of such tractors, measurement and analysis of load on major power transmission parts of the tractors are the most important pre-requisite tasks. Objective of this study was to perform pre-processing procedures before effective analysis of load data of agricultural tractors (30, 75, and 82 kW) during major field operations such as plow tillage, rotary tillage, baling, bale wrapping, and to select the suitable pre-processing method for the analysis. A load measurement systems, equipped in the tractors, were consisted of strain-gauge, encoder, hydraulic pressure, and radar speed sensors to measure torque and rotational speed levels of transmission input shaft, PTO shaft, and driving axle shafts, pressure of the hydraulic inlet line, and travel speed, respectively. The entire sensor data were collected at a 200-Hz rate. Plow tillage, rotary tillage, baling, wrapping, and loader operations were selected as major field operations of agricultural tractors. Same or different farm works and driving levels were set differently for each of the load measuring experiment. Before load data analysis, pre-processing procedures such as outlier removal, low-pass filtering, and data division were performed. Data beyond the scope of the measuring range of the sensors and the operating range of the power transmission parts were removed. Considering engine and PTO rotational speeds, frequency components greater than 90, 60, and 60 Hz cut off frequencies were low-pass filtered for plow tillage, rotary tillage, and baler operations, respectively. Measured load data were divided into five parts: driving, working, implement up, implement down, and turning. Results of the study would provide useful information for load characteristics of tractors on major field operations.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.30 no.6 s.113
• /
• pp.321-326
• /
• 2005

Tractor performance was analyzed using the data from 226 Korean-made and 107 imported tractors tested at the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering for the 25-year period from 1980 through 2004. The performance analysis included the specific volumetric fuel consumption (svfc), power per unit weight and traction coefficient evaluated from the viewpoint of PTO power level. No significant performance improvement has been made for the Korean-made tractors over the last 25 years. The average svfc for the maximum PTO power has increased by only $2.1\%$ from 1980 to 2004, resulting in 2.86 kW${\cdot}$h/L in 2004. The average maximum PTO and drawbar power per unit weight of ballasted tractors were 1.38 and 1.19 kW/kN in 2000-2004, indicating $14.0\%$ and $5.9\%$ decreases respectively from 1980 to 2004. The traction coefficient has increased by $23.1\%$ over the 25 years, resulting in 0.68 in the 2000-2004 period. Poor performance improvement was also observed from the imported tractors. In the 2000-2004 period, average svfc for the maximum PTO power, PTO power per unit ballasted weight, drawbar power per unit ballasted weight and traction coefficient of the imported tractors were respectively 3.0 kW${\cdot}$h/L, 1.34 kW/kN, 1.13 kW/kN and 0.68. PTO and drawbar power per unit weight were lower in imported tractors than the Korean-made tractors. Comparing the test results with those of tractors less than 37 kW tested at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory from 1981 to 2002, the Korean-made tractors have exhibited better performance in terms of power per unit weight. However, poor performance in the svfc and traction coefficient was observed. The average svfc and traction coefficient of the Korean-made tractors were respectively $86.4\%$ and $83.7\%$ of the tractors tested at the NTTL over the same period.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
• /
• 1993.10a
• /
• pp.1102-1109
• /
• 1993

This paper describes the research and development of Walking Tractors and Tillage Implements for Phase I (1991-1992) . The project consists of : (1) the study and need for the development of the walking tractors for Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries ; (2) the comparison in the use of the walking tractors and their transmission systems that are made in Thailand and aborad : and (3) the design of future walking tractors for Asian farmers in developing countries. The design of the walking tractors is concentrated to provide the ease to farmers, especially the elderly and female which will play an important role in the future agriculture of Thailand due to the lack of manpower. In addition , the design of the walking tractors is also aiming for small-scale farmers, the majority that have limited land capital. The walking tractors consist of several components but the most important one is the " Transmission System" . Thus, the research is concentrated in the devel pment an design of the a new transmission system. The new machine , currently developed, is named after the Chulalongkron University as " Chular Walking Tractor " , model SPJS -60. The tractor uses a 6-7 horsepower diesel engine with three forward gears and one reverse gear. The tractor also uses the latest gearing technology so called planetary gearing system with steering clutches system that never been used in any earlier model. The advantages of the planetary gearing system are : (1) the final drive gear can be small, and can be designed to provide higher strength with less wearing resistance, (2) the system eliminates a shaft which is used in other systems, thus reduces the weight and the manufacturing cost . Furthermore, the Chular Walking Tractor has an additional power take off shaft that can be used or linked with other standard agricultural implements.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.314-325
• /
• 1992

This paper reviews some relevant criteria for the evaluation of ride quality of agricultural tractors. Although there still exist many deficiences and shortcomings, ISO 2631 'Guide for the evaluation of human exposure to whole body vibration' may be the most pertinent criterion to the ride quality evaluation of tractors. The effects of ride vibrations on the human health and performance were also reviewed and summarized in general terms.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.427-438
• /
• 1998

In Korea, rotary implements are mainly utilized in the tillage operation. The attitude control system for rolling phenominon of tractors, which in caused due to uneven ground surfaces and sinkage of tractor wheels, is one of the most important control systems in agricultural tractors. The attitude control system of a rotary implement, attached on tractors, was designed and fabricated in this study. The control system was largely composed of four main units; a setting unit, a detection unit, a controller and a hydraulic unit. The implement was controlled by control signals from a computer proportional to controlled errors, on/off action of two directional solenoide valve and lift cylinder on the right lift rod. Response characteristic experiments for the control system fabricated in this study were carried out indoors and outdoors. The results of experiments showed the response characteristics sufficient to use as the attitude control system of rotary implements for agricultural tractors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
• /
• 2000.11b
• /
• pp.132-138
• /
• 2000

Complex gear shifting and high speed-reduction ratio reduce the transmission efficiency in power driveline of agricultural tractors. According to a field test, the power transmission efficiency of a tractor in transporting operations was estimated about 70%. However, the actual efficiency was found by the experiment to fluctuate in a range of 56 to 87%. Therefore, the constant efficiency model commonly used for a simulation of power drivelines is not likely to simulate its performance more accurately. In order to predict power transmission efficiency more accurately, a new model was proposed and the new concepts of the maximum efficiency and sticking torque were introduced. The error mean between the measured and the predicted efficiencies was about 2.3% in mean. The new model reflecting the transmission characteristics in the power driveline of tractors could be used to analyze and predict the power transmission performance of tractors more accurately.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.75-79
• /
• 2017

The use of tractors to carry out agricultural work has played an important role in mechanizing the agricultural sector. A repairable mechanical system (such as an agricultural tractor) is subject to deterioration or failure. In this study, a regression model was used to predict the failure rate of a John Deere 3140 tractor. The machine failure pattern was carefully studied, and key factors affecting the failure rate were identified in five regions of the Khouzestan province. Through a questionnaire, data was obtained from farm records. This data was grouped into six sub-groups, according to the annual use hours (AUH) and the manner in which the tractors were stored. Results showed that AUH and storage policies affected failure rate slightly. With an increase in the age of the tractors, the failure rate in the tractors used for 1050-2000 hours annually and stored outdoors was higher than those used for 200-1000 hours annually and stored in sheds. When the tractors were of the same age, the slope of the curve in the 200-1000 annual use hours increased gradually and then rapidly, but failure rate in the 1050-2000 annual use hours was high from the beginning, and subsequent increase in this value was almost uniform. As a result, it can be said that with an increase in the annual use hours, the failure and breakdown rate in John Deere 3140 tractors rapidly increases, but maintenance conditions only slightly affect the failure and breakdown rate.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2009

In order to evaluate environmental comfort of tractor cabs, temperature, relative humidity and noise within the cab were taken from 31 tractors during plowing and rotovating operations. The temperature and humidity were evaluated with regard to the comfort zone of KS B ISO 14269-2 and PMV of ISO 7730. The noise was evaluated with regard to the permissible sound level of OSHA for daily exposure of 8 hours. The collected data indicated that thermal environment of the cabs was out of the comfort zone, which meant tractor operators worked under uncomfortable thermal conditions. Difference in the thermal comfort by tractor power and maker, and type of works was not found. However, 25% of the studied tractors showed PMV in a range of -0.5 to +0.5, which indicated their operators worked under the comfort criteria. PMV was improved when the cab was air-conditioned. Levels of measured cab noise were lower than the permissible criteria, and 76.7% of the studied tractors had cab noise ranged from 75 to 85 dBA. There was a tendency that high powered tractors, rotovating operations and locally-made tractors had greater cab noise levels. However, their differences were insignificant.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.416-421
• /
• 2011

This study was initiated to prevent rear-end collision which causes the most frequent human damage by agricultural tractors. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the luminous performance of a stop lamp for an agricultural tractor which could reduce rear-end collision. The performance test of luminous intensity distribution was conducted for a total of 12 tractor models classified by size (above 44 kW for large, 30~43 kW for medium, and below 29 kW for small) and production area (domestic, foreign manufacture) in accordance with Regulation No.7 of UNECE Vehicle Regulations-1958 Agreement considering ${\pm}$20 standard deviation. Three out of 5 large, 3 out of 4 medium, and all small tractors were resulted as inadequate for the test criterion. This study found that the luminous performance results were better as the size of agricultural tractors became bigger. One out of 4 foreign and 2 out of 8 domestic manufacturers were suitable for the test criterion, and overall no difference from the luminosity test results was observed between domestic and foreign manufacturers. In addition, the measuring points, HV, 5L, 5R, 5U and 5D with the minimal luminosity revealed flaws (80% of the proportion of faulty products). Therefore, it is urgent to improve the quality for measuring points (HV, 5U, 5L, 5R, 5D) of stop lamps to apply Regulation No. 7.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.191-198
• /
• 1993

Vertical and horizontal ride vibrations of the selected agricultural tractors were measured and evaluated with respect to the ISO 2631 'guide for the evaluation of human exposure to whole body vibration'. Evaluation showed that at the normal transportation speeds of 1.4~20km/h on both the concret and ground surfaces tractor drivers were exposed to the vibrations whose magnitudes exceed the 8 hour fatigue decreased proficiency boundary in the frequency ranges of 2~16Hz in vertical and 1~2Hz in horizontal directions. Considering that tractor operation becomes as one of the specialized job for the future farming in Korea, measures must be made to protect the drivers against harmful ride vibrations of agricultural tractors.