Investigation on Effect of Stroke Length, Cutter Bar Speed, Moisture Content of Crop and Stem Diameter on Cutting Force for Development of Bengal Gram Harvester

Abstract

Aims: The effects of crop and machine parameters on cutting force for Bengal gram crop were investigated. Study Design: Experiments were carried out at two levels by using the standard protocol. Place: The study was carried out in the farm machinery work shop of Agricultural Engineering College & Research Institute, Kumulur, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India. Methodology: A double knife cutter bar test rig was developed for measuring the cutting force required for harvesting of Bengal gram crop. Experiments were carried out on JG 11 variety of Bengal gram crop at two levels of stroke length of the double knife cutter bar, four levels of cutter bar speeds, three levels of stem diameter and three ranges of moisture content (at harvesting stage, at 5 days before and after harvesting). Results: The minimum cutting force of 16.14 N was observed at 1.0 ms-1 for cutting 3 to 4.5 mm diameter with 14.08 to 15.1 per cent moisture content of stem. The maximum value of cutting force of 39.83 N was observed at 0.25 m s-1 for cutting more than 6 mm diameter with 20.2 to 20.45 per cent moisture content of stem. The double knife cutter bar with a stroke length of 76.2 mm registered 4.3 to 11.12 percent reduction in cutting force as compared to 50 mm stroke length for the all selected levels of parameters.