The Development of Walking Tractors for Asian Agriculture

This paper describes the research and development of Walking Tractors and Tillage Implements for Phase I (1991-1992) . The project consists of : (1) the study and need for the development of the walking tractors for Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries ; (2) the comparison in the use of the walking tractors and their transmission systems that are made in Thailand and aborad : and (3) the design of future walking tractors for Asian farmers in developing countries. The design of the walking tractors is concentrated to provide the ease to farmers, especially the elderly and female which will play an important role in the future agriculture of Thailand due to the lack of manpower. In addition , the design of the walking tractors is also aiming for small-scale farmers, the majority that have limited land capital. The walking tractors consist of several components but the most important one is the " Transmission System" . Thus, the research is concentrated in the devel pment an design of the a new transmission system. The new machine , currently developed, is named after the Chulalongkron University as " Chular Walking Tractor " , model SPJS -60. The tractor uses a 6-7 horsepower diesel engine with three forward gears and one reverse gear. The tractor also uses the latest gearing technology so called planetary gearing system with steering clutches system that never been used in any earlier model. The advantages of the planetary gearing system are : (1) the final drive gear can be small, and can be designed to provide higher strength with less wearing resistance, (2) the system eliminates a shaft which is used in other systems, thus reduces the weight and the manufacturing cost . Furthermore, the Chular Walking Tractor has an additional power take off shaft that can be used or linked with other standard agricultural implements.