Experimental Study of Operational Properties of Two-Machine Drilling Aggregate

The purpose of this study is to improve the technical and economic performance of the enhanced two-machine seeder based on the wheel-type tractor of traction class 1.4. Experimental research is based on the general provisions of the standard methodology for operational and technological evaluation of the operation of machine-tractor units in the field. Processing of results from experimental study was carried out by means of developed programs on a PC. Results obtained from field experiments testing the aggregate consisting of two-machine seeder of traction class 1.4, two SZ-3.6 seeders and a semi-mounted coupler indicate its high operational and technological efficiency in comparison to both single-machine and similar two-machine units as part of a conventional trailer hitch. Although it shows an increase in specific time losses at headland of up to 5%, due to the wider working width, utilization of a new two-machine unit on the basis of a semi-mounted coupling in comparison with a single-machine unit allows increasing the productivity of the work by 1.96 and reduction of fuel consumption by 20%. In order to ensure that two-machine unit will perform turning on headland in the optimal mode, it is necessary to equip it with a special automatic device that would change the speed of movement in compliance with the angular speed of tractor‘s steering wheels according to the developed algorithm.