A Kinematic Model of the Dual Basecutter of a Sugar Cane Harvester

Abstract

A model has been developed which describes the basecutter kinematics of the dual basecutter sugar cane harvester. The model calculates the maximum permissible velocity ratio (forward speed/disc rotational speed) to maintain total blade coverage of the cane crop and to prevent contact between the discs and uncut stalks, for a given set of basecutter and crop parameters. The model is used to investigate the effects of variation in the crop parameters on the maximum permissible forward speed of the harvester. Within reasonable limits of sugar cane crop parameters and to avoid disc contact, the maximum harvester forward speed in a narrow row of loosely supported thin stalks is over double that for a wide row of firmly held thick stalks.