Characteristics of transmission efficiency in power driveline of agricultural tractors

Complex gear shifting and high speed-reduction ratio reduce the transmission efficiency in power driveline of agricultural tractors. According to a field test, the power transmission efficiency of a tractor in transporting operations was estimated about 70%. However, the actual efficiency was found by the experiment to fluctuate in a range of 56 to 87%. Therefore, the constant efficiency model commonly used for a simulation of power drivelines is not likely to simulate its performance more accurately. In order to predict power transmission efficiency more accurately, a new model was proposed and the new concepts of the maximum efficiency and sticking torque were introduced. The error mean between the measured and the predicted efficiencies was about 2.3% in mean. The new model reflecting the transmission characteristics in the power driveline of tractors could be used to analyze and predict the power transmission performance of tractors more accurately.