MODELING OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS OF CUTTING POTATO BUILDING WITH A BLADE OF A LEMECH

Abstract

For Ukraine's successful entry into Western markets, it is necessary to ensure the competitiveness of its own products, which is achieved through comprehensive mechanization of technological processes, reducing labor costs, increasing yields and quality of products. The most common method of mechanized potato harvesting is undermining the tuber layer with its subsequent destruction and separation of tubers from the heap, which contains plant impurities, soil lumps and stones. The most difficult is the separation from the tubers of strong soil lumps and stones. Attempts have been made to overcome this problem by placing potatoes on well-sifted sandy soils, using special agronomic techniques that reduce, to some extent, the number of lumps. However, such measures are local in nature, not reliable enough and significantly complicate the technology. About 25% of the area occupied by potatoes is heavily littered with stones, the size of which is close to the size of tubers, and about 40% of planted potatoes are placed on soils prone to significant lump formation. Accordingly, the aim of the study was to conduct a comparative analysis of technologies and machines for harvesting potatoes, to develop a model for cutting a potato heap with a ploughshare blade. The research was carried out by technological and structural analysis of technologies and machines for harvesting potatoes. In the process of research methods of comparison and mathematical modeling of technological processes were used. The information base of the research was the work of Ukrainian and foreign scientists on technologies and machines for potato harvesting. On the basis of the comparative analysis of technologies and machines for potato harvesting the main processes influencing agrotechnical indicators of harvesting equipment are revealed, the model of cutting of a potato heap by a ploughshare blade and other constructive and kinematic parameters of working bodies of a ploughshare blade is developed.