Effect of the Increase of Horsepower on the Performance of Agricultural Transporters
Date Issued
2014
Date
2014
Author(s)
Chang, Wen-Shuo
Abstract
Agricultural transporters are cheap and highly adaptable to different terrain. According to the current regulations, the maximum power of agricultural transporters must be less than 13 hp. The number of agricultural transporters has remained at 27,000 to 39,000, during the last 10 years. This shows that many farmers own agricultural transporters.
In recent years, the manufacturing technology for single-cylinder engines has progressed rapidly. Some factories could produce agricultural transporters with 23 hp at almost the same cost. Farmers generally require more powerful agricultural transporters. The domestic manufacturers of agricultural transporters can also produce 23hp units. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the power of agricultural transporters. It is unclear whether increased power affects the operating safety of a vehicle, so real vehicles are tested.
The study is divided into three parts: Firstly, a four-wheeled agricultural transporter (manufactured by the Wu’s company) is used for a performance test, in order to determine the meaning of the performance test items. Secondly, five local manufacturers that produce and sell agricultural transporters provide individual transporters with a power greater than 13hp to determine whether their performance meets the requirements. Thirdly, some transporters are chosen from the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute’s performance tests with similar size and load, in order to compare the large-size and small-size vehicles. The comparison items include slippage on even ground, slippage on a sloping field, the braking distance on even ground, the minimum turning radius and the static rollover angle, without a load on the cargo platform, in order to determine the effect on safety of an increase in horsepower for agricultural transporters.
The experimental results show the static rollover angle for agricultural transporters, as provided by manufacturers, is greater than 35 degrees, and that all of the braking distances (m) on even ground are less than 15% of the travelling speed (km/h), so the vehicles meet the safety requirements of the regulations. Large-size and small-size transporters with various power ratings demonstrate significant differences in the slippage on a sloping field, the braking distance on even ground, the minimum turning radius and the static rollover angle. Large-size transporters with various power ratings also demonstrate significant differences in slippage on a road and small-size transporters with various power ratings demonstrate significant differences in slippage on a gradient. This study shows that an increase in horsepower definitely influences the safety of agricultural transporters, but safety remains acceptable.
Subjects
農地搬運車
打滑率
煞車拖動距離
最小轉彎半徑
側面翻覆角
Type
thesis
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