Abstract. To improve the HMCVT gear shifting smoothness of the
self-propelled cotton picker, the quadratic orthogonal rotation test was
carried out through the HMCVT test bench and control system with engine
speed, clutch oil pressure, flow control valve, load torque, displacement
ratio as the influencing factors while jerk, dynamic load coefficient, speed
drop, weighted acceleration RMS, frictional work as the response indexes.
The mathematical model between the response indexes and the influencing
factors was established through the data processing software Design Expert
10. After the single factor and multi-factor experimental analyses, the
parameters were optimized based on the response surface methodology to
obtain the optimal parameters. The test was carried out on the HMCVT test
bench with the optimized parameter combination. The engine output speed was
900 rpm, the clutch oil pressure was 3.5 MPa, the flow control valve was 4.9 L min−1, the load torque was 130 Nm and the displacement ratio was −0.93. The
result was as follows: the jerk was 5.04 m s−3, the weighted
acceleration RMS was 0.467, the speed drop was 20.32 rpm and the dynamic
load coefficient was 12.16. This study provides reference for the smooth
shifting of the self-propelled cotton picker, which is of a certain
significance to promote the operation of the self-propelled cotton picker
under multiple working conditions.