TEST REPORT No. 10c - 001

Transcription

1 AGRICULTURAL MACHINES FUNCTIONAL AND SAFETY TESTING SERVICE TEST REPORT No. 10c VINEYARD TOPPER WITH ROTARY BLADES: SPEEDY ROTOR MANUFACTURER: COLOMBARDO Reg. Leiso, S.Marzano Oliveto (Asti) - ITALY Rome, November 2003

2 TESTS CARRIED OUT IN COMPLIANCE WITH ENAMA SPECIFICATIONS NO. 10C REV.01 BY EXPERIMENTAL INSTITUTE FOR FARM MECHANISATION, TREVIGLIO SECTION (BG): FOR PERFORMANCE: Supervisor Test engineers Ing. Giovanni Santoro Dr. Agr. Carlo Bisaglia Ing. Giuliano Gruppo Geom. Renato Delmastro (CNR-IMAMOTER of Turin) TABLE OF CONTENTS DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENT 3 TECHNICAL DATA 4 TEST CONDITIONS 4 RESULTS OF TESTS 5 NOTES ON FUNCTIONALITY 6 REMARKS AND INSTRUCTIONS 7 TESTING OF SAFETY REQUIREMENTS 7 To facilitate interpretation of the results, it should be remembered that: 1 MPa = 10 bar 1 kw = 1.36 CV 1 m 3 /s = 3600 m 3 /h 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h 1 l = 1 dm 3 DM = dry matter C.V. (coefficient of variation) = parameter indicating the extent of data deviation from mean value. 2/8

3 Figure 1 Diagram of tested machine and relative parts: 1) front plate for tractor coupling; 2) vertical guide and hydraulic cylinder to adjust working height; 3) horizontal guide and hydraulic cylinder to adjust cutting depth; 4) main cutter bar; 5) secondary cutter bar for the head; 6) linkage and hydraulic cylinder to tilt the main cutter bar; 7) linkage and hydraulic cylinder to tilt secondary cutter bar; 8) hydraulically operated control levers. DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENT The Speedy Rotor, a vineyard trimmer with rotary blades (Fig. 1) is an implement fixed to the front of the tractor for the mechanical trimming of vines in summer months. The tested machine has an upside-down T-shaped steeltubed frame, endowed with lateral reinforcement, on which runners are mounted for the main movements: vertical (range of 600 mm) to adapt to the height of the row, and horizontal (range of 450 mm) for cutting depth. Forward movement comes from the tractor, while the rotary blades are responsible for cutting motion and depth. The cutter bar is divided into two parts. The vertical bar is the main bar, and is used to trim the side of the row. The secondary bar can be used when necessary to trim the top of vegetation, or can be aligned with the main bar in order to lengthen the width of the vertical cutting edge. The main bar, which has 4 blades each having a length of 400 mm and a width of 50 mm, has a cutting length of 1,390 mm. The secondary bar has a single blade 480 mm in length and 50 mm in width. On the main bar the blades are arranged in a single row, one next to the other, but there is a slight overlapping of the cutting range so as to avoid gaps in working areas. To prevent interference, neighbouring blades rotate on different planes 5 millimetres from each other. A single hydraulic engine sets in motion all the blades of the main cutter bar, which are connected to each other through a series of V-belts. A second, smaller hydraulic engine rotates the single blade of the secondary bar. A system of linkages and hydraulic pistons is used to 3/8

4 independently adjust the inclination of the two cutter bars in order to adapt the implement to the contours of vegetation. The blades and all adjustment movements are set in motion by the machine operator via a single hydraulically operated control lever fixed to the tractor, at the side of the driver s seat. Table 1 illustrates the main manufacturing characteristics of the implement. TECHNICAL DATA VINEYARD TRIMMER WITH ROTARY BLADES SERIES No.: 1996C SIZE total width (mm) 1,100 total length (mm) 550 total height (mm) 1,700-2,300 (horizontal/vertical secondary bar) FRAME type coupling to tractor DRIVE TRANSMISSION hydraulic equipment of the tractor Steel square tubes and plates (for beverages), protective aluminium casing; Bolted to an ad hoc plate fixed to front of tractor. Fixed-displacement hydraulic-engine, connected to tractor s hydraulic couplers STANDARD TOOLS type: steel blades total number 5, 4 of which on main bar, 1 on secondary bar length of single blades (mm) 400 (main bar); 480 (secondary bar) overlapping of blades (mm) 70 height of cutting edge (mm) 1,390 (main bar); 480 (secondary bar) adjustment cutting depth vertical slide (range 600 mm) lateral translation: horizontal slide (range 450 mm) operation hydraulic tilting main bar (range ) 30 tilting secondary bar (range ) 85 MAX. CAPACITY REQUIRED OF HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT (l/min) 20 TOTAL MASS (KG) 190 Tab. 1 Main characteristics of Speedy Rotor. TEST CONDITIONS Tests were conducted by the Treviglio Section of the Experimental Institute for Farm Mechanisation at the Experimental Farm run by CNR- IMAMOTER of Vezzolano (AT). TRACTOR USED The rotary blade trimmer was hitched to a tracked tractor, model FIAT 55-65, having the following characteristics: - nominal power (kw) total mass (kg) 2,530 The oil flow of the hydraulic system used to power the implement was 4/8

5 monitored using a portable flowmeter, and was set at 18.5 l/min with the drive shaft set at 1,800 rpm. TEST GROUND To assess operating behaviour, the trimmer was tested on a vineyard situated in a hilly area, 490 m a.s.l., with average slopes of 21% crosswise and 4% lengthwise. Rows were arranged parallel to height lines, and had an average length of 90 m. The form of planting was espalier, while the plant variety (Vitis vinifera) was Merlot. Plant layout was 3.1 x 1.3 m, with vine pairs 0.15 m apart and a grassy aisle. The layer of vegetation had an average breadth of 1.3 m, generally developing 0.7 m from the ground. The implement was used with the two cutter bars vertically aligned, since the height of vegetation was lower than that of the vine-supporting posts. Tests were repeated on three neighbouring rows in order to obtain reliable data. Fig. 2 provides an example of the conditions under which tests were performed. Fig. 2 The trimmer at work under test conditions. Tests set out to examine the efficiency and quality of cutting, the implement s working rates in relation to the unit area, power requirements and fuel consumption. RESULTS OF TESTS Quality of cutting and work capacity In order to assess the quality of work performed by the machine on the test vineyard, samples of materials cut by the implement were taken. The material collected was used to determine, manually, the length of vine shoots obtained and the relative average diameter measured at the centre of the cut shoot in order to calculate the typical average size of trimmings. The moisture contents of these samples was then determined through drying in a ventilated oven. The uniform trimming of the sample rows of vines was facilitated by the implement s ability to adjust cutting depth extremely accurately. The fine cutting precision, observable with the naked eye, was a result of the high speed of rotation of the blades, with peripheral speeds of 62.8 m/s for the main bar blades and 75.4 m/s for the secondary bar blade. Table 2 shows the size characteristics of trimmings and the implement s working capacity. Quantity of removed vegetation (kg/ha) Quantity of removed vegetation (kg/ha DM) DM (%) Average length of shoots (mm) 39.2 Average diameter at centre of shoots (mm) 3.9 Effective working time (h/ha) 2.08 Operating working time (h/ha) 2.57 Operating working yield (%) 80.9 Operating working capacity (ha/h) 0.4 Tab. 2 Average characteristics of removed shoots and working capacity of Speedy Rotor. Effective working time was calculated without considering added time needed to turn the tractor around in the field, while operating time included this aspect, with an operating performance 5/8

6 of approximately 80%, owing to the numerous changes in direction, necessary because trimming had to be carried out on both sides of the row. Power requirements The tractor moved up and then downhill as it went up and down the aisles. The forward speed was in keeping with the working condition of the test area, with reference to the lie of the land and the characteristics of plants to be trimmed, and was 3.1 km/h on average. The manufacturer has declared working speeds of up to 10 km/h under optimal conditions. With the implement set up as per above and under the working conditions relating to summer trimming, data were obtained on fuel consumption and power needs, given in table 3. It should be borne in mind however that the mechanised trimming of vines should be evaluated using qualitative rather than quantitative criteria. The results obtained showed up a very low consumption, Engine speed (rpm) 1,800 Pressure of hydraulic circuit (MPa) 8 Capacity of hydraulic circuit (l/min) 18.5 Average hydraulic power (kw) 2.5 Specific hydraulic power (kw/m) 1.9 Forward speed (km/h) 3.1 Blade rotation speed (rpm) 3,000 Peripheral speed of blades (m/s) 62.8 (main bar); 75.4 (secondary bar) Hourly consumption (kg/h) 6.1 Unit consumption (kg/ha) 15.7 Operating working width (mm) 1,300 Tab. 3 Power needs and consumption. technology and state, and by the conditions of the land it is working on. which was difficult to gauge from gross consumption, the main part of which derives from the displacement of the tractor itself. Moreover, the density and thickness of vegetation produced low power absorption of 1.9 kw per metre worked, thanks in part to the mass of the blades, making it possible to perform much of the cutting work through simple rotation inertia. With regard to consumption, values should be viewed as indicative, since as already mentioned they are chiefly influenced not by the trimmer but by the characteristics of the tractor, its NOTES ON FUNCTIONALITY The Speedy Rotor, a vineyard trimmer using rotary blades and an adjustable double bar for the topping (trimming of vine tops) and edging (trimming of sides) of vines, proved to be suitable for use in vineyards that adopt walltype planting methods, such as the espalier method, as seen in the tests. It may however also be used for other mechanised forms of planting, thanks to the possibility of adjusting 6/8

7 cutting depth and inclination of the bars. This characteristic also makes it possible to perform very precise trimming operations. Coupling to the tractor did not present any real problem, with the use of a plate that can be adjusted according to the tractor model it has to be coupled to. REMARKS AND INSTRUCTIONS The implement is endowed with instruction and maintenance handbook in compliance with existing law provisions. TESTING OF SAFETY REQUIREMENTS The machine is endowed with CE marking, an identification plate, safety pictograms, a user and maintenance handbook and an EC manufacturer s declaration of conformity. The EC manufacturer s declaration of conformity certifies that the machine conforms to the following harmonised standards and technical specifications: UNI EN 706:1998; UNI EN 1553:2001; ISO 11684:1995. Checks carried out with reference to documentation sent by the manufacturer did not show up inconsistencies with the contents of the aforementioned standards. The relative documentation has been filed. 7/8

8 THE PRESENT TEST REPORT IS VALID FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS OR UNTIL REFERENCE REGULATIONS ARE ALTERED FOR THE VINEYARD TRIMMER WITH ROTARY BLADES, MODEL SPEEDY ROTOR AND IS OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED BY ENAMA MEMBERS: ASSOCAP (Associazione Nazionale dei Consorzi Agrari) (National Association of Farm Consortia) CIA (Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori) (Italian Farmers Confederation) COLDIRETTI (Confederazione Nazionale Coltivatori Diretti) (National Confederation of Independent Farmers) CONFAGRICOLTURA (Confederazione Generale Agricoltura) (General Farming Confederation) UNACMA (Unione Nazionale Commercianti Macchine Agricole) (National Union of Farm Machine Dealers) UNACOMA (Unione Nazionale Costruttori Macchine Agricole) (National Union of Farm Machine Manufacturers) UNIMA (National Union of Farm Mechanisation Enterprises) (National Union of Farm Mechanisation Contractors) AND BY MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE ENAMA, IN WHICH THE FOLLOWING ARE ALSO REPRESENTED: MIPAF (Ministry for Agricultural and Forestry Policies) Regions and Autonomous Provinces ISMA (Istituto Sperimentale per la Meccanizzazione Agricola) (Experimental Institute for Agricultural Mechanisation) ENAMA - ENTE NAZIONALE PER LA MECCANIZZAZIONE AGRICOLA (Italian Agricultural Mechanisation Body) VIA LAZZARO SPALLANZANI, 22/A ROME - ITALY TEL FAX info@enama.it