Mechatronic Solutions for the Safety of Workers Involved in the Use of Manure Spreader

Massimo Cecchini,Vincenzo Laurendi,Danilo Monarca,Filippo Cossio,Daniele Puri

doi:10.3390/agriculture7110095

Massimo Cecchini, Vincenzo Laurendi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture7110095

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Abstract

An internationally acknowledged requirement is to analyze and provide technical solutions for prevention and safety during the use and maintenance of manure spreader wagons. Injuries statistics data and specific studies show that particular constructive criticalities have been identified on these machines, which are the cause of serious and often fatal accidents. These accidents particularly occur during the washing and maintenance phases—especially when such practices are carried out inside the hopper when the rotating parts of the machine are in action. The current technical standards and the various safety requirements under consideration have not always been effective for protecting workers. To this end, the use of SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) allowed us to highlight critical and positive aspects of the different solutions studied for reducing the risk due to contact with the rotating parts. The selected and tested solution consists of a decoupling system automatically activated when the wheels of the wagon are not moving. Such a solution prevents the contact with the moving rotating parts of the machine when the worker is inside the hopper. This mechatronic solution allowed us to obtain a prototype that has led to the resolution of the issues related to the use of the wagon itself: in fact, the system guarantees the stopping of manure spreading organs in about 12 s from the moment of the wheels stopping.

Highlights

The risk of injuries related to the use of agricultural machinery has always been of primary importance, as evidenced by the high incidence of work-related accidents resulting from the improper use of agricultural machinery and equipment [1,2,3].The aim of this work focuses on the needs—recognized at national and European levels—to provide technical solutions against the risk of crushing, catching, and cutting during the use of self-propelled or towed manure spreaders [4,5,6]
From a mechatronic point of View, the decoupler consists of a magneto-mechanical mechanism [34]
Wagon wheel movement detectors; a motor disengagement device; a torque limiter to limit the torque during overloads; a programmable logic controller (PLC); a man-made command for manual resetting of conveyor and distributor systems, located in a safe area; a hydraulic distributor or a solenoid Valve for conveyor control

Summary

Introduction

To provide technical solutions against the risk of crushing, catching, and cutting during the use of self-propelled or towed manure spreaders [4,5,6]. These are agricultural machines used to distribute manure or other materials over a field [7]. Their use is fairly widespread in livestock farms, but it could be even more widespread in the future because climate change may require more organic matter inputs to the soil over Vast areas of the globe [8,9]. The access of an individual into the loading hopper when the rotating parts of the machine are in motion is not prevented

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