Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

DEVELOPMENT OF A TILLAGE MACHINE FOR SEEDBED CULTIVATION OF HEAVY SOILS

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Content

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Tillage of heavy soils

Project objective and system requirements

Machine concept and working tools

Functional prototype machine and fieldtest results

Conclusion and outlook

Development of a tillage machine for seedbed cultivation of heavy soils 11.11.2017

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Heavy Soils

general facts

• soils with high propotion of clay or loam (> 50%)

• ca. 850.000 ha of heavy soils in Germany (≈ 7% of arable area)

advantages disadvantages

source: www.haus-und-grund-muensterdorf.de

good nutrient supply and water holding capacity

“minute soils”, tillage is very wheater-dependend

increased crop yields tillage is energy intensive need of heavy machines

• high soil fertility (“Bodenpunkte” > 50 up to 100)

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Source: ble

Development of a tillage machine for seedbed cultivation of heavy soils

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Tillage Machines

tillage and seedbed-cultivation

• high area output needed by short tillage time

common implements for seedbed cultivation

• acceptable seedbed-quality usually with multiple transitions

• basic tillage with plough or cultivators

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source: Amazone source: Väderstad

Development of a tillage machine for seedbed cultivation of heavy soils

source: die-landmaschine.at

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Tillage Prototype of TU Dresden from 1988

• specialized for ploughed heavy soils

• traction and steering by the implements

• only mechanical variable drives

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characteristics

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Project Objective

Development of an active powered implement for seedbed cultivation

of heavy soils with low draft force requirements and an acceptable seedbed quality within one transition.

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Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

working width 3 m

reducing soil-compaction

System Requirements

implement seedbed-cultivation

of heavy soils

ploughed soil

compacted soil

with / without biomass

working speed up to 15 km/h

low to zero draft force

multifunction tools

variable drive for different soil conditions

tillage in one transition

(high efficiency)

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Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Tillage Process

seedbed-cultivation

• subsoiling

• pre crushing

• deep compacting

step 1:

• fine crushing

• rear compacting

step 2:

additional:

• generate propulsion

• support machine

60 …

80 m

m

100 …

200 m

m

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• leveling

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Concept Working Tools

star packer thooth packer flat

• outer diameter

• number of working elements

• slip

Characteristics for generating propulsion:

tools for tillage step 1

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thooth packer tilt advanced tool

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

standard tine rotor tilt tine rotor passive-active-tool angle iron crumble roller

Concept Working Tools

tools for tillage step 2

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Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

General Machine Concept

variable drive

frame - optimized for compressive forces

kinematic to lift up rear axle from tractor

two working-sections

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Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Functional Prototype Machine

working-section 1 with double rotor (1 m working width )

working-section 2 (0,5 m working width)

electric drive (140 kW PMSM) with integrated inverter

planetary gear & chain drive

force measurement adapter with 6 DOF

ECU for motor control and ISOBUS

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Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Field Tests

• very dry … wet

soils with high fraction of loam

• loosened … compacted

test conditions:

• soils with previous tillage

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soils with high fraction of clay

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Field Tests Results

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generation of propelling force (negative draft force)

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Field Tests Results

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v = 10 km/h

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Field Tests Results

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Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Field Tests Results

11.11.2017 - 17 - Development of a tillage machine for seedbed cultivation of heavy soils

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

work result: work result: work result: work result:

Field Tests Results

11.11.2017 - 18 - Development of a tillage machine for seedbed cultivation of heavy soils

o +

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

work result: work result: work result: work result:

Field Tests Results

11.11.2017 - 19 - Development of a tillage machine for seedbed cultivation of heavy soils

o + o

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Conclusion

• functional prototype machine at TU Dresden with working width of 1 m

• propelling force depends on slip, soil condition and tool geometry

• machine concept, tools and generation of propulsion verified

• heavy soils offer a good fertility, but tillage is “energy intensive”

• higher slip ratios reduces draft force or even generate propelling forces

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Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Next Steps

optimize working tools for compacted soils

design implement with working width 3 m

design a construction for lift up rear axle tractor

concept drive train, process sensors and control structures

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develop steering concepts

Faculty of Mechanical Science and Engineering - Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology

Development of a tillage-machine for seed-bed cultivation of heavy soils

Thank you for your Attention !

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