• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2003

An oscillating digger mechanism was designed, constructed. and tested. The mechanism is consisted of a six-bar linkage, one four-bar linkage was fer the digger blade and the other one fur variable soil-crop separation. Experimental variables were amplitude(3, 6, 9 mm). frequency(11.2, 14.9. 17.0 Hz), and forward speed of tractor(0.91, 1.13, 1.56 km/h). Each combination of these variables was replicated three times to measure the draft and torque for power requirement evaluation. and the broken-up soil height on the soil separation sieve mechanism. Four parameters λ(the ratio of vibration speed to forward velocity), p(the ratio of vibration acceleration to forward velocity), K(the ratio of vibration acceleration to gravitational acceleration), and T(the product of λ and K) were induced from three experimental variables: amplitude, frequency, and tractor speed. And the power requirement and soil separation ability were analyzed by regression. Though λ and K were known to be the representative parameters. T was the most moderate one to explain draft. torque. and soil separation in this study. It was estimated that the T equal to or greater than 2.4 was the minimum recommended value. Figure 18 would be useful fir the selection of amplitude. frequency, or operating tractor speed once any two variables are known.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 1989

An oscillating potato digger for power tillers was designed and constructed to evaluate the effects of vibration on potato digging. Changing the levels of amplitude, frequency, and travel speed, 16 combinations of such parameters were tested in the potato field. The measured variables were harvesting loss and damage, and storing loss of the mechanically harvested potatoes. It was observed that the operation of the digger blade was good with amplitude of 12 mm, frequency of 9.67 Hz, and travel speed of 0.87 km/hr. Under these conditions the harvesting loss and damage were 3.18 % and 0.67 % that are very lower than those of 6.83 % and 9.83 % of traditional harvesting method. The operating efficiency of the experimental digger under optimum operating conditions was about 552 $m^2$ per hour which was about 20 times higher than 27.2 $m^2$ per man per hour of traditional harvest.