International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

The key problem in the technological process of harvesting any root crops is the removal and harvesting of tops from their heads on the root. Root crop tops are a valuable product, such as a source of animal feed, green fertiliser, and a suitable raw material for biogas production, and therefore a prerequisite for harvesting them is to completely cut off all the green mass from the heads, collect it in a vehicle and transport it to the place of use. The main thing is to ensure that root crops do not have green plant residues on their heads, that the heads themselves are not damaged and that they are not knocked out of the soil. The purpose of this study is to develop and test in production conditions a new combined unit for harvesting root crop tops using an integrated arable wheeled tractor. This study used the methods of machine use in crop production, methods of experimental research and field testing of agricultural machines and evaluation of their performance indicators. As a result of the study, a new design and technological scheme for harvesting root crop tops using an integrated arable wheeled tractor of traction class 3 was developed and substantiated. The developed and tested unit performs the technological process steadily and has sufficiently high quality indicators of the tops harvesting. Thus, when using a three-row version of the tops harvesting unit, the amount of cut tops is about 95…98%. The degree of damage to the heads of root crops does not exceed the norms established by agricultural requirements (no more than 5%). However, during the operation of this tops harvester, there is too high a percentage (60…65%) of grinding of tops leaves during its continuous cutting and loading without spear.

At the Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnologies and Plant Protection – Sofia (IPAZR – Sofia) an experimental model of a machine for combined soil treatment in permanent plantations has been developed. The machine is designed to work using technology without turning the soil layer and at the same time at a sufficient depth for fruit plantations. Tests were conducted in laboratory and road conditions to verify the capabilities of the structure. Deficiencies have been identified, as a result of which the work must continue.

The article describes the combined aggregate that we use in the tea-growing sector, developed on the base T-16 МГЧ, on the basis of the obtained patent GE P 2016 6491 B. The theory of similarity and dimension has been used, functional connection between the optimization parameters and the acting factors is determined and the regressive equation which is the basis the optimal working modes are selected.

The article concern to the scientific and research works related to the development of mechatronic control system of sowing unit in the tilling-and-sowing combined machine. The essence of the project is the use in the combined machine of innovative control system responsible for the seeding process. The system will control the work of seeding unit (drive) and will maintain a predetermined depth of seeds sowing.

Grooved or pinned units used in seeding are characterized by variability in application rate as a function of the changing conditions of work (e.g. on the slopes). In the proposed solution, on the basis of the identification of the sensitivity of the sowing machine on the changing conditions of work, the control algorithm will be developed, which after application to a controllable propulsion system equipped with the necessary sensors will eliminate inaccurate dosing. Project/Grant No K2/IN2/64/182979 is co-financed from the budget allocated for science.