Parametric Investigation and Optimization of the Newly Developed Pant Loading Ramp Machine

Abstract

Objective of the current study was to optimize newly developed pant loading ramp to perform manual handling task. Pant loading ramp was 19 feet in length, having width of 2 feet, anti-slippery, easy to move due to provision of rotating wheels, adjustable at varying heights of the loading vehicle (between 2.5-5 feet) and reduces the loading time up to 30 minutes.  For this purpose experiments were conducted on a group of 20 experienced manual handlers in rice mills of Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand, India. The reliability and validity of the developed, loading ramp was assessed by using response surface methodology in terms of change in energy expenditure (EE), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), total cardiac cost of work (TCCW) and grip strength (GS). Therefore Response Surface Methodology (statistical tools to determine the significance of a factor over a response or collection of mathematical and statistical techniques for empirical model building) was applied to optimize the operating parameters of ramp such as load weight, height of ramp and time. As per Box Behenken design total 17 experiments were carried out each of which varied over three levels as load weight (40, 50 and 60 kg.), height of ramp (3, 4 and 5 feet), and time (3, 4 and 5 min.). ANOVA and coefficient of determination (R2) test were applied. In result it was observed that use of pant loading ramp was able to reduce Energy Expenditure (EE) of respondents’ from 14.55 kJ/min. to 11.41 kJ/min., Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) from 85.45 to 20%, Total Cardiac Cost of Work (TCCW) from 996.3 to 564.36 beats and Grip Strength (GS) from 47.45 to 3.30% with overall desirability of 0.84%. In comparison with traditional method it was also found to reduce Average Working heart Rate (AWHR) (14.55-11.41), Peak Energy Expenditure (PEE) (16-12), Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) (85.45-20), Grip Strength (GS) (47.45-3.30) and Total Cardiac Cost of Work (TCCW) (996.3-564.35). Relative advantages showed that more than 95% users were highly satisfied and found it advantageous.