The development of an on-off control system for automatic swather and combine height-of-cut adjustment
Date
1962
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
This thesis describes the development of an on-off control system which can be used for automatic height-of-cut adjustment on both swathers
and combines. The system was designed to be compatible with the hydraulic
and electrical systems already present on most grain harvesting
machinery. It can be pre-set by the operator, so that cutter bar movement
varies between any desired maximum and minimum positions.
A separate investigation was conducted to determine some of the
physical properties of grain plants. The results of this investigation
were applied to the design of the sensing elements in the control
system.
The performance of the system was determined in the laboratory by
mounting grain plants of different heights in a narrow strip around the
circumference of a large rotating table. The results obtained from the
laboratory study showed that the operation of this system was satisfactory
for all practical combinations of ground speed, grain height and
density of plant population. A more complete system was then constructed
and mounted on a pull-type swather. Field tests showed that this
automatic control system performed satisfactorily and could have a
number of practical applications.
Description
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Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Agricultural Engineering
Program
Agricultural Engineering