Search Results

One of the major impacts on tractor performance during cultivation is variation in soil draft. The control strategy shall be developed to maintain the soil draft which mainly depends on the sensitivity and accuracy of draft measurement. This paper presents the theoretical calculation of force on the lower link points of three point hitch system in tractor and selecting an optimum point for the fitment of draft sensor. The force distribution on the lower and top link was studied by developing the suitable mechanical frame with hydraulic actuation to simulate the soil draft. The control strategy was developed to maintain the draft force with tractor hydraulic system and field testing was performed on 58 hp (43 kW) tractor to compare the draft control operation with lower link draft sensing methodology and conventional top link based draft sensing.

Recently, emerging technological developments in powertrain were mostly accompanied with electronics for efficient and precise control of various powertrain systems like engine, transmission, hydraulics, etc. Agricultural tractors are of no exception to this context. Most of the higher horsepower tractors above 50 HP are equipped with modern transmission systems such as Power-shuttle, Power-shift etc. having their wet clutch transmission and diesel engine controlled by an Electronic Control Unit. This is possible only with an engine that receives and provides electronic signals. Whereas a tractor with mechanical (non-electronic) engine is of predominant use in the Indian farm lands due to their low cost and immediate availability compared to that of an engine equipped with high-end electronics. Hence, there is a demand for low cost drivetrain with improved controls and without engine electronics.

Agricultural tractors are often subjected to various applications like front end loading work, cultivation work, where frequent forward and reverse gears are needed. Most of Indian agricultural tractors are equipped with mechanical transmission system which demands repeated clutching and de-clutching operation for such applications resulting in increased operator fatigue and lesser productivity. Also need of electronics in Indian agricultural industry for better farm mechanization is growing high. This research work depicts development of electronic bi-directional shifting (power shuttle) control design and calibration for farm vehicle fitted with wet clutch transmission. This research also reduces operator fatigue via frequent directional shift through electronic transmission. The control system is designed without any electronic interfacing with engine and also provides clutch-less gear shifting and auto-launch which offers ease to drive even for novice driver.