The 1D simulation of the mechanism for steering in a transverse plane of the grain harvester adapter

Abstract

BACKGROUND: When operating forage harvesters and grain harvesters, the ability to maintain a given cutting height by an adapter is an important condition for the technological process with minimum losses. In the field surface following systems, longitudinal and transverse following systems are used. Uncoordinated operation of these mechanisms can lead to a decrease in the quality of the technological product harvested and increased losses in cutting height. Therefore, the study of operation and selection of optimal parameters of both longitudinal and transverse following systems is an important task for the formation of algorithms of their joint operation. However, the transverse following system mechanisms are often overlooked in terms of characterization. AIM: Development of the mathematical model for the mechanism for steering in a transverse plane of the grain harvester adapter for research of its operability, response rate and determination of the optimal parameters of its components. METHODS: The authors employ the Simcenter Amesim multiphysics simulation platform, which has established its merit as a platform for multidisciplinary simulation of mechatronic systems, as a research tool. RESULTS: The model of the mechanism for steering in a transverse plane of the grain harvester adapter was developed, its kinematic and force characteristics were determined and analysed. One variant of the model is presented in this paper. The analysis of the characteristics made it possible to estimate the response rate of the adapter steering mechanism and the wavelength of the field surface irregularities in the transverse plane, at which satisfactory operability is ensured. CONCLUSION: The developed mathematical model of the mechanism for steering in a transverse plane of the grain harvester adapter helps to ensure the optimal system components’ parameters and to conduct extensive studies into the system’s operability, both as a whole unit and its individual components. The approach outlined can be utilised to study other field surface following mechanisms, including the system of automatic field surface following of the grain harvester adapter.