Bionic Optimization Design and Discrete Element Experimental Design of Carrot Combine Harvester Ripping Shovel

Abstract

Aiming at the common problems of the high working resistance, low soil disturbance, and high rates of missed extraction in the operation of carrot combine harvesters, a high-efficiency drag-reducing bionic soil-loosening shovel was designed in this study. The physical parameters of the soil and carrots were measured, and the bionic drag-reducing shovel was designed using the badger claw toe as a bionic prototype. The shovel wing structures were designed. Based on the EDEM discrete element simulation technology, a multi-element simulation model of the shovel–soil–carrot contact was established to determine the effects of the operating speed and sliding angle of the shovel handle on the resistance. The effects of the blade inclination angle and blade opening angle on the resistance, carrot extraction force, and soil disturbance rate were also studied. The results show that the resistance increases with an increase in operating speed. With a blade angle (α) and blade inclination angle (β) of 120.27° and 47.37°, respectively, the performance of the high-efficiency drag-reducing soil-loosening shovel is the best, with the resistance and carrot extraction force being 1908.76 N and 55.37 N, respectively. The virtual simulation experiment shows that this efficient drag-reducing shovel can effectively solve the problems of the low soil disturbance, high resistance, and high missing carrot rates of carrot combine harvester shovels, while also improving the harvesting quality and efficiency of carrot combine harvesters and meeting the agronomic requirements of carrot harvesting.