Sideways Overturning and Overturning Angle Test for a Three-Wheel Riding-Type Cultivator

Abstract

Tractors are the basis of agricultural mechanization; however, there are restrictions on adjusting their wheel widths to adapt to cultivation styles required for various field crops. Further, it is difficult to confirm the state of work using a rear-mounting-type farm implement. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a three-wheeled cultivator suitable for operation in various fields. The side overturning angle is measured using only one rear wheel, which corresponds to the overturning baseline, and by matching the front wheel (center) and rear wheel to the overturning baseline (lateral). The overturning angles are measured five times in total while increasing the wheel width of the test apparatus (drive part) from 1320 to 1720 mm. For analyzing the difference load of the rear overturning angle in a three-wheel control unit, the height of the front wheel is increased by 0 to 30 cm. A difference of least 0.7° (1320 mm) up to 1.4° (1620 mm) between the left and right overturning angles was observed. For the sideways overturning angle (lateral) versus the sideways overturning angle (center), the left overturning angle increased by about 4%, and the right one increased by about 9%. The maximum angle at which the three-wheel riding-type cultivator implement can be operated was analyzed to be at about 44.39°. It is safe to operate a vehicle with a sideways overturning angle less than 29° on the right and 31.4° on the left. The difference between the sideways overturning angle (center) and the sideways overturning angle (lateral) is attributed to the position of the fuel cell and the oil pump of the three-wheel riding-type cultivator. Since the minimum overturning angle on the right wheel is 29°, it is necessary to modify the structure of the cultivator.