Design Features of Tractors for Work on Slopes

Abstract

The problems of creating tractors, self-propelled chassis, forestry and agricultural machines of special designs for the mechanization of crop production, land reclamation and construction in hard-to-reach conditions of forest, agricultural and mountain lands are considered in the work. A comparative analysis of design solutions that have found application in domestic and foreign tractors used in the performance of technological and transport operations on sloping lands and badlands in agriculture and forestry is given. It is noted that a number of models of universal row-crop tractors provide for the possibility of increasing stability by turning the housings of the remote final drives relative to the rear axle housing. For tractors, at the same time, the wheelbase increases and the ground clearance (ground clearance) decreases. It is indicated that the analysis of the features of the operation of wheeled tractors on the slopes made it possible to substantiate the methods and means that improve their main indicators: differential lock; lowering the center of gravity; the use of tires with high lugs, additional steel wheels, lugs, expanders; the use of half-tracks and wheeled tractors with a 4K4 wheel arrangement. The advantages and disadvantages of using tracked and wheeled tractors as the base machine have been established. Slope preference for tractors with front drive axle. Such tractors, equipped with the previously listed devices, have better traction properties, maneuverability and controllability, approaching caterpillar tractors in these indicators. Recommendations for the implementation on slopes, forest and agricultural lands of all-wheel drive low-clearance wheeled tractors are given in the work. In conclusion, it is indicated that, despite the considered features, when creating tractors for working on small-contour plots located on slopes up to 25 °, preference is given to wheeled low-clearance tractors, which is caused by a cheap design due to minor design changes compared to the basic models.