• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2018

Purpose: The development of compact tractors that can be used in dry fields, greenhouses, and orchards for pest control, weeding, transportation, and harvesting is necessary. The development and performance evaluation of power transmission units are very important when it comes to tractor development. This study evaluates the performance of a driving power transmission unit of a 50 kW multi-purpose narrow tractor. Methods: The performance of the transmission and forward-reverse clutch, which are the main components of the driving power transmission unit of multi-purpose narrow tractors, was evaluated herein. The transmission performance was evaluated in terms of power transmission efficiency, noise, and axle load, while the forward-reverse clutch performance was evaluated in terms of durability. The transmission's power transmission efficiency accounts for the measurement of transmission losses, which occur in the transmission's gear, bearing, and oil seal. The motor's power was input in the transmission's input shaft. The rotational speed and torque were measured in the final output shaft. The noise was measured at each speed level after installing a microphone on the left, right, and upper sides. The axle load test was performed through a continuous equilibrium load test, in which a constant load was continuously applied. The forward-reverse clutch performance was calculated using the engine torque to axle torque ratio with the assembled engine and transmission. Results: The loss of power in the transmission efficiency test of the driving power unit was 6.0-9.7 kW based on all gear steps. This loss of horsepower was equal to 11-18% of the input power (52 kW). The transmission efficiency of the driving power unit was 81.5-89.0%. The noise of the driving power unit was 50-57 dB at 800 rpm, 70-77 dB at 1600 rpm, and 76-83 dB at 2400 rpm. The axle load test verified that the input torque and axle revolutions were constant. The results of the forward-reverse clutch performance test revealed that hydraulic pressure and torque changes were stably maintained when moving forward or backward, and its operation met the hydraulic design standards. Conclusions: When comprehensively examined, these research results were similar to the main driving power transmission systems from USA and Japan in terms of performance. Based on these results, tractor prototypes are expected to be created and supplied to farmhouses after going through sufficient in-situ adaptability tests.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.2
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• pp.154-164
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• 2011

This study was conducted to develop the semi-crawler type mini-forwarder that can be operated comfortable small-scale logging operation in the steep terrain and also used at a variety of operations such as the civil work in erosion control and forest-road. Considering the minimum turning radius and the width of forest operation road, the total length, width and loading capacity of the semi-crawler type mini-forwarder is 5,750 mm, 1,900 mm and $2.5m^{3}$, respectively. The maximum engine power is 96ps at 3600 rpm. Selected hydraulic pumps are consists of two main pumps and two sub-main pumps. Main hydraulic pumps are utilized to running motor of the front wheel and rear crawler. Sub-main pumps are utilized to the actuation parts such as steering, crane, out-rigger and dump cylinder. The transmission was adapted as the HST (Hydro-Static Transmission) system. The driving parts are designed and manufactured as the front wheel type and the rear crawler type. The steering type was manufactured as the ackerman type. Driving control parts type was designed and manufactured as driver's seat type of normal cars. It is also attached on auxiliary equipments such as winch, log grapple and out-rigger. The traveling speed of the semi-crawler type mini-forwarder in forest road was 5.3 km/hr to 7.7 km/hr.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 2000.11b
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• pp.472-479
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• 2000

A persimmon harvesting vehicle that can be operated in hilly orchards as well as a manipulator that can be used to harvest persimmons located in remote positions in the trees were designed and developed. The vehicle could be operated with keeping balanced position in an inclined field and its working platform could be moved up and down easy to approach fruits in a remote region with the aids of a hydraulic and a electrical and electronics systems. The weight of the vehicle was 927 kg and the center of gravity was located at 427 mm to the inner side from the center of a right driving caterpillar, 607 mm to a rear axle from the center of a front axle, and 562 mm to upward from ground. The automatic level control sensor for leveling the working platform was activated within 14.5 ∼ 16.5 degrees of slope variation. The total length of the manipulator was 1.39 m and weight is 975 g. It was powered by a 12 V geared motor to detach persimmon fruits with a rotational force. The gripper was made of plastic and rubber to increase a frictional force. In a performance evaluation test, static tipping angle, dynamic tipping angle toward front side when the vehicle was moving downward, climbing angle, driving speed of the vehicle were measured or calculated. In persimmon harvesting tests 24.9% of yield was increased by hand picking with the aid of the vehicle and additional 7% of yield were increased when the manipulator was used. Therefore, 99010 of total possible yield was achievable when both of the vehicle and the manipulator were used for the manual persimmon harvesting. Increase in 22.5% of total yield was achieved with the manipulator only.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2008

This study was conducted to develop a mobile tower-yarder with tractor for agriculture and forestry that is the efficient yarder in steep terrains, thinning operation and small scale logging operation. It was designed and manufactured that the power source of tower-yarder is equiped three hydraulic pump connected to PTO of tractor, and three hydraulic pump is used to operate the four motor for drum, the cylinder for clutch of interlocker, the cylinder for tower expanding and the out-rigger cylinder. It was to adopt the running skyline system and the inter-lock function, and to equip the double capstan drum, the storage drum and the clutch for interlock in the development of tower-yarder. It was to develop the tower-yarder which the winch torque of double-capstan drum, the traction force of double-capstan drum, the number of rotation of double-capstan drum and the line speed is $191kg{\cdot}m$, 1,910 kgf, 220.5 rpm and 138.5 m/min, respectively. And it was known that the optimum flange diameter of the main and haulback storage drum is about 360 mm and about 460 mm in order to storage the main line length of 250m and the haulback line length of 450 m. The carriage was made to adopt the running skyline system and to equip the lock function in order to the convenience of chocking and the fall down preventing of tree. It was provided to develop the wire remote controller for the inter-lock function, the convenience of control and the efficiency of yarding. In development process, this tower-yarder was attached the 3-point linkage hitch equipment and the tire wheel for the traction and moving of tower-yarder. Also, it was equipped that the out-rigger and the guy line in order to raise the safety and efficiency of yarding of tower-yarder.