Abstract
This study was conducted to analyze the effects of tillage depth and gear selection on the mechanical load and fuel efficiency of an agricultural tractor during plow tillage. In order to analyze these effects, we developed an agricultural field measuring system consisting of a load measurement part (wheel torque meter, proximity sensor, and real-time kinematic (RTK) global positioning system (GPS)) and a tillage depth measurement part (linear potentiometer and inclinometer). Field tests were carried out using moldboard plows with a maximum tillage depth of 20 cm and three gear selections (M2H, M3L, and M3H) in a rice stubble paddy field for plow tillage. The average travel speed and slip ratio had the lowest M2H and the highest M3L. M3H had the highest theoretical speed, but the travel speed was 0.13 km/h lower than M3L due to the reduction in the axle rotational speed at deep tillage depth. Regarding engine load, the higher the gear, the greater the torque and the lower the axle rotation speed. The front axle load was not significantly affected by the tillage depth as compared to other mechanical parts, except for the M3H gear. The rear axle load generated about twice the torque of the front wheel and overall, it tended to show a higher average rear axle torque at higher gear selection. The rear axle load and fuel rate were found to be most affected by the combination of the tillage depth and gear selection combination. Overall, field test results show that the M3H had the highest fuel efficiency and a high working speed while overcoming high loads at the same tillage depth. In conclusion, M3H is the most suitable gear stage for plow cultivation, and the higher the gear stage and the deeper the tillage depth during plowing, the higher the fuel efficiency. The results of this study will be useful for analyzing mechanical load and fuel efficiency during farm operations. In a future study, we will conduct load analysis studies in other farming operations that consider various soil mechanics factors as well as tillage depths and gear selections.
Highlights
Tractor work is usually performed with very high load fluctuations
The effect of tillage depth and travel speed on draft force was analyzed during tandem disc, chisel plow, and field cultivator operations [25]; the results showed that tillage depth and travel speed had a great influence on draft force, but there were limitations when directly measuring tillage depth, and only the influence on draft force was analyzed with the exclusion of the mechanical load of major components
The field test measurement data was analyzed for data from 13 cm that was estimated to be the depth of the hardpan layer
Summary
Tractor work is usually performed with very high load fluctuations. The mechanical load and fuel consumption of the tractor are influenced by the operation type, travel speed, engine speed, openingSensors 2020, 20, 2450; doi:10.3390/s20092450 www.mdpi.com/journal/sensorsSensors 2020, 20, 2450 degree of the throttle, tire pressure, and ballast [1]. The mechanical load during tillage operation is an indicator of overall working performance and a key factor in designing the power transmission of an agricultural tractor [2,3,4]. The measurement of mechanical load measurement from field experiments is considered to be an important process for the optimal power transmission design of an agricultural tractor that could be used for a specific implementation [5]. It is essential into measure a mechanical load such that it reflects the actual operation conditions, such as the type of agricultural operation, travel speed, and so on. The parameters between the soil and the machine affect the mechanical load and fuel efficiency of the agricultural tractor [7]
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