• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.657-663
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• 2018

In this study, shape optimization was performed to improve the vibration isolation capability of an anti-vibration rubber assembly, which is used in the field option cabin of agricultural tractors. A uniaxial tension test and biaxial tension test were performed to characterize the hyper-elastic material properties of rubber, and the data were used to calibrate the material model used in the finite element analyses. A field test was performed to quantify the input excitation from the tractor and the output response at the cabin frame. To account for the nonlinear behavior of rubber, static analyses were performed and the load-displacement curve of rubber was derived. The stiffness of the rubber was calculated from this curve and input to the harmonic analyses of the cabin. The results were verified using the test data. Taguchi's parameter design method was used to find the optimal shape of the anti-vibration rubber assembly, which indicated a shape with reduced stiffness. The vibration of the cabin frame was reduced by the optimization by as much as 35% compared to the initial design.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.389-399
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was aimed at developing a tractor-driving simulator for the safety training of agricultural tractor operators. Methods: The developed simulator consists of five principal components: mock operator control devices, a data acquisition and processing device, a motion platform, a visual system that displays a computer model of the tractor, a motion platform, and a virtual environment. The control devices of a real tractor cabin were successfully converted into mock operator control devices in which sensors were used for relevant measurements. A 3D computer model of the tractor was also implemented using 3ds Max, tractor dynamics, and the physics of Unity 3D. The visual system consisted of two graphic cards and four monitors for the simultaneous display of the four different sides of a 3D object to the operator. The motion platform was designed with two rotational degrees of freedom to reduce cost, and inverse kinematics was used to calculate the required motor positions and to rotate the platform. The generated virtual environment consisted of roads, traffic signals, buildings, rice paddies, and fields. Results: The effectiveness of the simulator was evaluated by a performance test survey administered to 128 agricultural machinery instructors, 116 of whom considered the simulator as having potential for improving safety training. Conclusions: From the study results, it is concluded that the developed simulator can be effectively used for the safety training of agricultural tractor operators.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.1461-1466
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• 2000

This paper investigates the noise reduction scheme in tractor cabin by using various steps of experiment. The experiments were performed in the field as well as in the lab to facilitate the detail test procedure. Some of the test results were compared with computational results. Several noise sources and paths were identified including the engine compartment (cooling fan and timing gear cover), hydraulic system and its components (hoses, tubes and there mount) and structural characteristics of the cab, window, mounting bracket and machine frame including steps. Throughout the several design changes, cab noise level was reduced from 80.2dBA to 74.8dBA.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.10-18
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• 2016

A front-end loader (FEL) mounted on an agricultural tractor is one of the most commonly used implements to mechanize routine agricultural tasks. When the FEL is used with a loaded bucket, careful operation is required to maintain safety and avoid spillage when the tractor passes a bump because a change in the gravity center of the tractor due to varied loadings can affect the stability of the tractor. Use of a boom suspension system consisting of accumulators and orifice dampers can be instrumental in reducing pitching vibrations while increasing the handling performance of the FEL-mounted tractor. The objective of this research was to reduce bump shocks by adding an orifice and a flow control valve to the original hydraulic circuit composed solely of accumulators. A simulation study was performed using the SimulationX program to investigate the effects of an accumulator and an orifice-throttle damper on bump shocks. Results showed that the peak pressure on a boom cylinder and the vertical acceleration of a bucket were significantly affected by use of both an accumulator and an orifice damper. In a field test conducted with a 75-kW tractor, the peak pressure of the boom cylinder, and the root mean square (RMS) vertical acceleration of the bucket and seat were reduced by on average, 23.0, 42.2, and 44.9% respectively, as compared to those measured with the original accumulator system, showing that an improved design for the accumulator hydraulic circuit can reduce bump shocks. Further studies are needed to design a tractor suspension system that includes the effects of cabin suspension and tires as well as dynamic analysis.