Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences for tractor performance evaluation information are: major tractor manufacturers (AGCO, CNH and John Deere), test engineers at OECD tractor test stations around the world, scientists and engineers researching tractor performance, governmental organizations that determine taxes for tractors based on fuel consumption, and tractor purchasers. The target audiences for row-crop planter evaluation information are: planter manufacturers, manufacturers of after-market products to improve seed spacing of planters, and producers to whom seed spacing uniformity is important. Changes/Problems: The current regression model for hourly fuel consumption includes tractor transmission operation modes and drawbar power, requiring separate regression analyses for different gears/speeds. Results suggested a revision and expansion to the model to include gears/speeds as well as transmission operation modes and drawbar power. This may result in revisions to the test procedure, reporting of results, and standards. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? One graduate student conducted his M.S. research on testing tractors with CVT transmissions. That student graduated (M.S. in Agricultural Engineering) and is currently employed in the tractor manufacturing industry. Two graduate students conducted their M.S. research on evaluation of seed spacing uniformity of planters. Both students graduated (M.S. in Mechanized Systems Management) and are employed, one in a manufacturing industry, and one in the agricultural equipment manufacturing industry. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results of this work have been disseminated to the communities of interest through publications in scientific journals; presentations at professional conferences; University Extension meetings with growers; planter tune-up clinics with seed companies, equipment dealerships and growers; and a proposal for an optional tractor test procedure presented to engineers from tractor test stations around the world that participate in the OECD tractor testing codes and schemes. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Tractor CVT transmissions: Several findings impacted testing procedures for evaluating fuel efficiency of tractors with CVT transmissions. The order in which different steady-state loads (different percentages of full tractor power) were applied did not affect the results. Hourly fuel consumption was determined to be linearly related to drawbar power. The tractor with the CVT transmission operated in automatic mode had higher fuel efficiency than with the CVT operated in manual mode and the throttle set to maximum, when the drawbar power was approximately 78% or less of maximum power. Measurement of fuel consumption characteristics at three speeds indicated significant differences among fuel consumption-drawbar power relationships at different speeds. A proposal for an optional test was presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Designated Authorities for the OECD Tractor Codes and Schemes. The proposal was adopted and will be included in the 2014 edition of the Code 2 OECD Standard Code for the Official Testing of Agricultural and Forestry Tractors as an optional test for Fuel Consumption at Varying Drawbar Loads. Row-crop planters: A custom portable data acquisition system was developed to acquire seed spacing data from a standard OEM seed detection sensor at mid-height in a planter seed drop tube. Slope and travel pattern (uphill-downhill versus on-the-contour) had significant effects on seed spacing uniformity for cell plate, flat plate, and finger pick-up metering units. For the cell plate unit, seed spacing uniformity was best on a level surface, or traveling uphill-downhill on a 10% slope. On a 20% slope, the best seed spacing uniformity with the cell plate was obtained with uphill-downhill travel. The finger pick-up unit had equally good seed spacing uniformity on a level surface, and with either travel pattern on a 10% slope. On a 20% slope, the finger pick-up had better seed spacing uniformity with the on-the-contour travel pattern. The flat plate unit had equally good seed spacing uniformity with either travel pattern on a 10% slope, and better seed spacing uniformity with uphill-downhill travel on a 20% slope. Planter seed tubes have been considered serviceable unless they are chipped, cracked or broken. Seed spacing uniformity is degraded by seed tube wear long before the tubes get chipped, cracked or broken. The publication on seed spacing and seed tube wear gives preliminary guidance for replacement of seed tubes to maintain reasonable seed spacing uniformity.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2008
Citation:
Searle, C. L., M.F. Kocher, J.A. Smith, and E.E. Blankenship. 2008. Field slope effects on uniformity of corn seed spacing for three precision planter metering systems. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 24(5):581-586. Also available online at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub/
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2010
Citation:
Coffman, B.A., M.F. Kocher, V.I. Adamchuk, R.M. Hoy, and E.E. Blankenship. 2010. Testing fuel efficiency of a tractor with a continuously variable transmission. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 26(1):31-36. Also available online at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub/
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2010
Citation:
Howard, C.N. 2010. Testing fuel efficiency of tractors with both continuously variable and standard geared transmissions. M.S. thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Available online at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengdiss/
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Howard, C.N., M.F. Kocher, R.M. Hoy, and E.E. Blankenship. 2011. Testing fuel efficiency of tractors with both continuously variable and standard geared transmissions. ASABE Paper No. 1110971. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, MI 49085.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Kocher, M.F., J.M. Coleman, J.A. Smith, and S.D. Kachman. 2011. Corn seed spacing uniformity as affected by seed tube condition. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 27(5):7111-715. Also available online at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub/
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Howard, C.N., M.F. Kocher, R.M. Hoy, and E.E. Blankenship. 2013. Testing the fuel efficiency of tractors with continuously variable and standard geared transmissions. Transactions of the ASABE 56(3):869-879. Also available online at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub/
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The test procedure to document the fuel consumption characteristics of tractors (with either CVT transmissions or standard gear transmissions) at partial load has been presented to the OECD and has been referred to the working group in charge of developing revisions to the codes. PARTICIPANTS: Michael Kocher, principal investigator, edited and revised a journal article to address reviewer's comments. Deere and Company is supporting adding the new optional test procedure to the OECD Code 2 test of tractor performance to describe the fuel efficiency of tractors operating under partial load conditions. TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary audiences for the testing of tractors include the major tractor manufacturers (AGCO, CNH and John Deere), and test engineers at OECD tractor test stations around the world. The secondary audience for this portion of the project includes other tractor manufacturers, governmental organizations that determine taxes for tractors based on fuel consumption (proposals under consideration in Spain, France, and Korea), and tractor purchasers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Most of the OECD tractor performance test code involves determining tractor performance (inculding fuel consumption) at full power, although in normal use, depending on the operation to be performed, tractors may operate at anywhere from 30 to 90 percent of full power. In the current code, the only partial-load tests occur at 50 and 75 percent of full power, and at only two speeds. Use of the proposed optional test will provide curves of fuel consumption as a function of tractor power for each of three selected gear settings (speeds) in the normal operating range of the tractor.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The graduate student who extended our work on evaluating fuel efficiency of tractor CVT transmissions completed his research work, wrote and defended his thesis, and graduated with his Master of Science degree in Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering. His thesis is now available free online at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Digital Commons website(http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengdiss/). The graduate is now employed in the agricultural equipment industry. A paper based on this work has been submitted for publication in a refereed journal. A test procedure to document the fuel consumption characteristics of tractors with CVT transmissions was developed, and has been proposed for addition to the OECD tractor test codes as an optional test. Research of the effects of row-crop planter seed tube condition on uniformity of corn seed spacing has been published in a refereed journal, and is also available online at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Digital Commons website http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub/. PARTICIPANTS: Michael Kocher, principal investigator, performed the following work on this project: editing and revising journal articles to address reviewer's comments, made oral presentations at professional meetings, and wrote the proposal for the optional test procedure to be added to the OECD tractor performance test Code 2. Deere and Company provided resources and support for the research involving testing of tractors with CVT transmissions, and is supporting adding a new optional test procedure to the OECD Code 2 test of tractor performance to describe the fuel efficiency of tractors with CVT transmissions. TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary audiences for the testing of tractors with CVT transmissions include the major tractor manufacturers (AGCO, CNH, and John Deere), and test engineers at OECD test stations around the world. The primary audiences for the evaluation of seed spacing uniformity are producers interested in obtaining high uniformity in seed spacing from their planters, and after-market companies selling products aimed at improving the seed spacing uniformity of planters sold by the major equipment manufacturers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Results from the tractor CVT transmission portion of the project were determined to be useful information for tractor customers. A test procedure was developed that combined elements of the current OECD Code 2 test of tractor performance with elements from the procedures used in this portion of the project to develop an optional test that has been proposed for addition to the OECD codes. Hourly fuel consumption was determined to be linearly related to tractor drawbar power, and this finding was valid for both tractors with continuously variable and standard geared transmissions. This result suggested that five loads (rather than 17) could be used to determine a valid description of hourly fuel consumption. Measurement of fuel consumption characteristics at three speeds indicated there were significant differences among fuel consumption-drawbar power relationships at different speeds. Planter seed tubes have been considered serviceable unless they are chipped, cracked or broken. The seed spacing uniformity evaluation portion of this project showed that seed spacing uniformity is affected by seed tube wear long before the tubes get chipped, cracked, or broken. The most recent publication from this portion of the project provides preliminary guidance for replacement of seed tubes to maintain reasonable uniformity of seed spacing.
Publications
- Howard, C.N. 2010. Testing fuel efficiency of tractors with both continuously variable and standard geared transmissions. M.S. thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Available online at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengdiss/
- Howard, C.N., M.F. Kocher, R.M. Hoy, and E.E. Blankenship. 2011. Testing fuel efficiency of tractors with both continuously variable and standard geared transmissions. ASABE Paper No. 1110971. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, MI 49085.
- Kocher, M.F., J.M. Coleman, J.A. Smith, and S.D. Kachman. 2011. Corn seed spacing uniformity as affected by seed tube condition. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 27(5):711-715. Also available online at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub/
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Testing procedures and results of evaluation of fuel efficiency of CVT tractors have been disseminated through one published journal article. The article is available free on the University of Nebraska Digital Commons website (http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub/index.html), and has been downloaded 122 times since it became available on the website, an average of 17.4 times per month. PARTICIPANTS: Michael Kocher, principal investigator, edited the journal article and revised it to address journal reviewer's comments. Bart Coffman, agricultural engineering student, collected and analyzed the data and wrote his undergraduate honors thesis on this project. Viacheslav Adamchuk assisted with data analysis and revisions to the journal article. Roger Hoy, Director of the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab, and Erin Blankenship supported the project with resources, experiment planning, and assistance with revisions to the journal article. Deere and Company also provided resources for the project. TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary audiences for this portion of the project include tractor manufacturers (John Deere, AGCO, and CNH), and test engineers at OECD test stations around the world. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Several findings have impact on testing procedures for evaluating fuel efficiency of tractors with CVT transmissions. The order in which different steady-state loads (different percentages of full tractor power) were applied did not affect the results. Hourly fuel consumption was determined to be linearly related to drawbar power, so the number of drawbar load levels could be reduced from 17. The tractor operated with the CVT in automatic mode had higher fuel efficiency than with the CVT in the manual mode and the throttle set to maximum, when the drawbar power was approximately 78%, or less, of maximum power. These results influenced procedures for the next research project, working towards a proposal for an optional test procedure to be included in the OECD Code 2 test of tractor performance.
Publications
- Coffman, B.A., M.F. Kocher, V.I. Adamchuk, R.M. Hoy, and E.E. Blankenship. 2010. Testing fuel efficiency of a tractor with a continuously variable transmission. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 26(1):31-36.
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Dissemination of the results occurred through one published journal article, and inclusion of this information in planter tune-up clinics and Extension education seminars. PARTICIPANTS: Michael Kocher, principal investigator, wrote the journal article and revised it to address journal reviewers comments. John Smith, collaborator, conducted planter tune-up clinics and Extension education seminars. TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audience for this research is corn producers. A secondary target audience is planter equipment manufacturers, both original equipment manufacturers and after-market manufacturers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Slope and travel pattern (uphill-downhill versus on-the-contour) had significant effects on corn seed spacing uniformity for cell plate, flat plate, and finger pick-up metering units. For the cell plate unit, seed spacing uniformity was best on a level surface, or traveling uphill-downhill on a 10% slope. On a 20% slope, the best seed spacing uniformity with the cell plate was obtained with uphill-downhill travel. The finger pick-up unit had equally good seed spacing uniformity on a level surface, and with either travel pattern on a 10% slope. On a 20% slope, the finger pick-up had better seed spacing uniformity with the on-the-contour travel pattern. The flat plate unit had equally good seed spacing uniformity with either travel pattern on a 10% slope, and better seed spacing uniformity with uphill-downhill travel on a 20% slope.
Publications
- Searle, C.L., Kocher, M.F., Smith, J.A., and Blankenship, E.E. 2008. Field slope effects on uniformity of corn seed spacing for three precision planter metering systems. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 24(5):581-586.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A custom portable data acquisition system was developed by a consultant to acquire seed spacing data from a standard OEM seed detection sensor at mid-height in a planter seed drop tube, and a shaft encoder used to measure planter travel speed. The data acquisition system reports data to a notebook computer on which analyses of the data are performed. Testing of the initial version of the system measuring seed spacings within the rated speed range showed data overrun errors and a few negative spacings. Collaboration with the consultant resulted in elimination of these errors. Data were collected to compare seed spacing uniformity evaluation from an OEM seed detection sensor at mid-height in the seed tube and the University of Nebraska opto-electronic seed spacing analysis system with its multi-channel seed detection sensor below the bottom of the seed tube. Tests were conducted with new and used seed tubes giving different seed spacing uniformity, and metering units giving different seed spacing uniformity. PARTICIPANTS: Michael Kocher developed the seed spacing analysis portion of the Visual Basic program with which the custom portable data acquisition system is operated. Mike tested the system measuring seed spacings, detected the system errors and worked with the consultant to eliminate the errors. He also tested the system measuring seed spacings after revision of the system and verified that the revisions eliminated the errors. Mike collected the data for comparing the seed spacing uniformity evaluation from an OEM seed detection sensor and the University of Nebraska opto-electronic seed spacing analysis system. TARGET AUDIENCES: The outcomes from this project will provide helpful information to producers of row crops for which seed spacing uniformity is important. Outcomes from this project may also provide information that planter manufacturers may use to improve their products, or that after-market manufacturers may use to develop products to improve seed spacing uniformity of planters. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Analyses of the data have just been completed. No outcomes or impacts have developed at this time.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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