• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.349-359
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• 2022

The aim of this study is to analyze the dynamic characteristics of proportional control valves according to various working conditions as a basic study for developing proportional control valves for auto-steering tractors. The dynamic characteristics of proportional valves were measured using hydraulic characteristics measurement system, and the power was analyzed using measured flow rate and pressure data. As the experimental conditions, the tractor engine speed and steering angle was selected as the main variables, and the experiment was performed on urethane road conditions. As a result, it was found that the flow rate, pressure, and power of the proportional control valve increased as the tractor engine speed and steering angle increased. In particular, as the steering angle increased at the same engine speed, the flow rate, pressure, and power tended to increase by up to 190%, 172%, and 273%, respectively. Similarly, as the engine speed increased at the same steering angle, the flow rate, pressure, and power tended to increase up to 161%, 122%, and 168%, respectively. Therefore, it can be seen that the steering angle has a higher influence on the dynamic characteristics of the proportional control valve than the engine speed.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2010

This study was conducted to develop an index of fuel consumption to rate agricultural tractors by their fuel efficiencies. The fuel consumption index consisted of two components: basic and operational indexes. The basic index is to consider an average amount of fuel consumed by engine when it transmits 20 and 100% of the rated power. The operational index is to consider the fuel consumed by tractor for typical field operations: plowing, rotavating, and the remains. The equations and procedures to obtain these indexes were proposed. The method and fuel consumption rate to classify tractors into 5 grades were also proposed. The best 15% of the tractor models were rated as the first grade, 20% as the second grade, 30% as the third grade, 20% as the fourth grade, and 15% as the fifth grade in order of fuel efficiency. Using the fuel consumption index, the classification was conducted on 143 tractor models tested at the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering from 2000 to 2007. The proposed 5-grade system of classification using the fuel consumption index could be used to rate the fuel efficiency of 20-100 kW tractor models produced over past 10 years in Korea.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.21-33
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• 2014

Background: Significant technological development and changes happened in the tractor industries. Contrariwise, the test procedures of the major standard development organizations (SDO's) remained unchanged or with a little modification over the years, demanding new tractor test standards or improvement of existing ones for tractor performance, safety, and comfort. Purpose: This study focuses on reviewing the research trends regarding performance, safety and comfort evaluation of agricultural tractors. Based on this review, few recommendations were proposed to revise or improve the current test standards. Review: Tractor power take-off power test using the DC electric dynamometer reduced human error in the testing process and increased the accuracy of the test results. GPS signals were used to determine acceleration and converted into torque. High capacity double extended octagonal ring dynamometer has been designed to measure drawbar forces. Numerical optimization methodology has been used to design three-point hitch. Numerous technologies, driving strategies, and transmission characteristics are being considered for reducing emissions of gaseous and particulate pollutants. Engine emission control technology standards need to be revised to meet the exhaust regulations for agricultural tractors. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) program has been used to design Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS). Program and methodology has been presented for testing tractor brake systems. Whole-body vibration emission levels have been found to be very dependent upon the nature of field operation performed, and the test track techniques required development/adaptation to improve their suitability during standardized assessment. Emphasizes should be given to improve visibility and thermal environment inside the cab for tractor operator. Tractors need to be evaluated under electromagnetic compatibility test conditions due to large growing of electronic devices. Research trends reviewed in this paper can be considered for possible revision or improvement of tractor performance, safety, and comfort test standards.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.36-45
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• 2022

The aim of this study was to verify an E-driving system of a 44 kW-class electric tractor using agricultural workload data. Workload data were acquired during field test (plow tillage, rotary tillage, loader operation, field driving, asphalt driving) using a conventional tractor with a load measurement system. These workload data were converted to data of a 44 kW-class tractor based on the load factor of the engine. These data were used to verify the design of the E-driving system of an electric tractor. High-load operations such as plow tillage, rotary tillage, and loader operation could be performed at stage L and stage M. High-speed operation (asphalt driving) could be effectively performed at stage H using a rated rotational speed of the motor. As a result, the E-driving system of the electric tractor was possible to perform all major agricultural operations according to gear stages of range shift. Based on results of this research, we plan to develop an electric tractor equipped with an E-driving system and conduct research on actual vehicle verification in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2005

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.1039-1050
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to measure load data for a 55 kW class agricultural tractor during a harvesting operation and to analyze the required power according to the working conditions. A field test was conducted at three different tractor speeds (1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 km·h^-1). A load measurement system was developed for the front axles, rear axles, and for power take-off (PTO). The torque and rotational speeds of the axles and PTO were measured during the field test and were calculated as the required power. The results showed that the total required power was in the range of 4.86 - 5.48 kW during the harvesting operation according to the tractor speed, and it was confirmed that this represents a ratio of 8.8 - 10.0% of the engine rated power. Also, it was confirmed that the required power of the axle and PTO increased as the tractor speed increased. In future studies, we plan to supplement the measurement system for a tractor to include a hydraulic system and perform a field test for harvesting various underground crops.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2001

This work was intended to investigate the effect of vibration transmission paths on the ride vibration of tractor during the rotavating and transporting operations by applying the vibration path analysis method. Accelerations at the cab mounts were measured during the rotavating and transporting operations. Ride vibrations at the sear were than calculated using the measured accelerations at the cab mounts, and the frequency response functions and inertances between the seat and cab mounts, which were derived experimentally by the impact hammer test in static condition. The human sensitivity to vibration frequency was also taken into consideration for the calculation of ride vibrations at the 1/3 octave center frequencies in the frequency domain. Vibrations transmitted through rear cab mounts affected more significantly the ride vibration of tractor. The peak accelerations at the seat occurred at the frequencies of the engine and crank speed, and the frequency induced by tire lugs on the road transportation. It was found that the rear cab mounts should be improved in order to reduce the ride vibrations more effectively.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.9-18
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of the soil cone index (CI) on the tractor work load. A load measurement system was constructed for measuring the field data. The field sites were divided into grids (3×3 m), and the cone index was measured at the center of each grid. The work load measured through the plow tillage was matched with the soil cone index. The matched data were grouped at 600 kPa intervals based on the cone index. The work load according to the cone index was analyzed for engine, axle, and traction load, respectively. The results showed that when the cone index increased, engine torque decreased by up to 9%, and the engine rotational speed and brake-specific fuel consumption increased by up to 5% and 3%, respectively. As the cone index increased, the traction and tillage depth were inversely proportional to the cone index, decreasing 7% and 18%, respectively and the traction and tillage depth were directly proportional to the cone index, increasing 13% and 12%, respectively. Thus, it was found that the cone index had a major influence on the engine, axle, and traction loads of the tractor.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.31 no.1 s.114
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• pp.1-8
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• 2006

This study was conducted to identify the characteristics of PTO rattle noise of a direct engine-PTO driveline for agricultural tractors. In order to reduce production costs of agricultural tractors, a direct engine-PTO driveline was recently introduced to the tractors produced in Korea. This simplified drive line reduced a number of gears and counter shafts in previous one. However, it caused a severe rattle noise under an idle condition, which was perceived as intolerable by many tractor operators. PTO rattle noise was measured at two locations: one 3 em apart radially from the centerline of the PTO shaft and another 100 em apart backward from the PTO end and 160 em high from the ground. Characteristics of the rattle was analyzed using the data measured near the PTO shaft. It was found that the period of rattle noise was same as the explosion stroke of engine and its peak level was about 123 dB (A) with PTO engaged at an idle engine speed of 880 rpm. As the engine speed increased, the rattle noise decreased. The frequency band of the rattle was 0.5-2.0 kHz and the frequency of peak sound pressure was 1.4 kHz. When compared the rattle noise between the locally produced and imported tractors of the same type of PTO driveline, the former generated louder rattle noise than the imported one by 7 dB (A). It was suggested that the rattle noise of local tractors must be reduced at least by 7 dB (A) to meet the international level.