3 point hitch draft control portable#
3 point hitch draft control software#
3 point hitch draft control plus#

3 point hitch draft control software#

The software has the ability to download logged data from the logger into the computer.

3 point hitch draft control plus#

The data logger was equipped with software, SquirelView Plus edition, version 5.3.6. The instrumentation system consists of the following (a) Load cell (100 kN)strain gauge type, (b) Load cell bracket, (c) Load cell amplifier board (print circuit board), (d) Data logger-Grant-SQ2040/2F16 and (e) HP Laptop computer system. The experiment was carried out on the outdoor soil bin facility at the Science and Technology Education Post-Basic (STEP-B) Research Field of the Federal University of Technology, FUTA, Akure located on geographical coordinate, 7 o 15 ' 0 '' N and 5 o 11 ' 42 '' E. Instrumentation system was assembled to measure draughts of subsoilers operating at different depths. In order to achieve better soil disturbance, reduced draught force and energy requirements, and less traction resistance, the application of vibratory (oscillatory) and rotary subsoilers in modern day design and development of subsoilers are preferred for lower overall demand on engine power Thus, variation in power requirements depends on subsoiling depth, soil water conditions and the amount of compaction. Consideration should be given to the design of shanks shape of subsoiler, as they are very important to the efficiency and effectiveness of subsoiling. Hence several researchers have studied various subsoilers and parameters to minimize draught force and total power requirements with considerable increase in soil pulverisation. Draughts reduction, minimal power utilisation and increased soil disruption and pulverisation are some of the main performance indicators of subsoilers. Development and performance evaluation of subsoilers and their energy requirements during operation has been of great concern to engineers and farmers as these have direct and indirect effects on the efficiency of tillage operations. Subsoiler is a tractor mounted implement used to loosen and break up soil hard-pan at depths up to 60 cm and above the level of a traditional disk plough, mouldboard plough, chisel plough or rotary plough. Subsoilers have gained much ground in their application for alleviating soil compaction and are attracting awareness in their utilization for conservative tillage practices. Understanding of accurate measurement of tillage parameters will help in the design of new tool shapes which will reduce tool draught, energy demand and increased soil disruption over a wide speed range.ĭraughts, power requirements and soil disruption of tillage tools are important parameters useful for their effective design, fabrication and performance during operation for effective agricultural mechanisation.

3 point hitch draft control portable#

Different instrumentations have been put in place for measurement of soil disturbance, including soil profile meter, digital imaging equipment and image tracking & analysis software, laser distance sensor, linear actuator, portable pc, and a lightweight aluminium frame that can quickly and accurately measure above and below-ground soil disruption caused by tillage. Different types of instrumentations such as transducer, dynamometer, strain gauge and extended orthogonal ring transducer have been utilized in the measurement of forces on tillage tools. Others are soil structure, soil texture, angle of internal soil friction, cone index, bulk density, porosity and soil moisture. Several parameters that affect tillage forces and soil loosening are tool parameters such as tool geometry, width, height, curvature, rake angle, tool speed, depth of operation, soil consistency, soil structure, consolidation, soil strength, soil cohesion, soil adhesion and soil type. Measurement of tillage forces, energy requirements and soil failure using instrumentations during subsoiling for alleviation of soil compaction and conservative tillage practices was considered. The field tests showed that the dynamometer worked. The dynamometer system was calibrated and several field tests were conducted to measure the force required to pull the different mounted plows. The recording system consisted of a Campbell data logger (CR10X) with a notebook computer.

The dynamometer system consists of three parts including: the chassis, sensing components, and recording system.

With the strain gages installed on the three sensing pins and developed five Wheatstone bridges in such a manner that, the draft forces in each link in addition to vertical forces on the lower links are measured. In this research, a threepoint hitch dynamometer system was fabricated for the category 0 & I tractors with the weight of 49 kg and the chassis is in a reversed U-shaped frame which allows the use of PTO at the same time. In order to reduce the cost of production, knowledge of today’s complicated tools is essential. Tractor is used as a main source of power in developing countries.