The Influence of Using the Traction Booster of the Semi-Mounted Plough on the Performance Parameters of the Ploughing Set

The objective of this article is to verify the influence of the use of the traction cylinder of the semi‑mounted plough on the performance parameters of the ploughing set., Claas Axion 850 set, equipped with Hexashift mechanical stepped gearbox, fully geared under the load of Pöttinger semi-mounted plough was used for the purposes of the measurement. Assessed parameters included force in the upper rod, slip, effective performance of the set and fuel consumption. The results of the measurement clearly indicate the positive influence of the traction booster on the performance and energetic parameters of the ploughing set. By increasing the force in the upper rod, the torque is transferred to the land-wheel which partially relieves the furrow wheel and transfers the weight pertaining to this wheel to the land-wheel. This has decreased the slip (between 0 – 15 MPa: 7.5 % for plant-bed wheel and 2 % for furrow wheel) and increased the performance of the set (hectare efficiency was increased by 3.7 %) while reducing consumption and eliminating the undesirable compaction. The difference of effective consumption was between the pressure 0 and 15 MPa 0,6 l/ha which corresponds to a decrease of 2.6 % and 2.89 ml/m3, equal to a decrease of 3.9 %. Except for some exceptions, the changes of the monitored parameters were not statistically significant. This was caused especially due to the conditions of the measurement and also due to the chosen aggregation. The measured values fluctuated due to soil non-homogeneity, which was subsequently reflected in the size of the confidence intervals and due to the fact that the tractor was under-dimensioned for the given conditions and the plough construction, the influence of the traction booster has not been proven to such an extent.