Design and optimisation of a reel mechanism for mechanical harvesting of lentil (Lens culinaris) crop using bending theory

PRIYANSHU  KUMAR; SUBHASH  CHANDRA; SANJAY KUMAR  PATEL; SANJAY  KUMAR; ABHISHEK  UPADHYAY; ADITYANSHU  TRIPATHI

doi:10.56093/ijas.v96i7.175596

Authors

PRIYANSHU KUMAR College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar 848 125, India
SUBHASH CHANDRA College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar 848 125, India
SANJAY KUMAR PATEL College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar 848 125, India
SANJAY KUMAR College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar 848 125, India
ABHISHEK UPADHYAY College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar 848 125, India
ADITYANSHU TRIPATHI College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar 848 125, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v96i7.175596

Keywords:

MATLAB simulation, Mechanical harvesting, Reel-crop interaction, Reel design, Stem deflection

Abstract

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) harvesting in general is associated with low plant height and high pod shattering leading to the significant crop loss during harvesting. The present study was aimed to develop the specialised reel mechanism to optimise the mechanical reel relation according to the crop status. Reel was developed by using mechanical crop modelling based on bending theory. While applying the bending theory, lentil stems were treated as elastic beams for study of the deflection angle (φ) at variable deflection force. The flexural rigidity of stem (D), ear weight of crop (W), reel force (P), loading height (hp) and reel kinematics were taken into account for deriving the mathematical expressions by using MATLAB within the selected crop parameters range. The crop deflection angle was optimised by using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) optimal (custom) design. The developed reel mechanism was evaluated for its parameter in relation to the angular displacement between successive tine bars (α), number of tine bars (n), reel rotational velocity (ω) and header advancement/radian of reel rotation (Ro). Measured mechanical and physical properties of lentil plants were taken as design inputs to achieve adequate stem deflection for cutting lentil crop while minimising shattering losses. The analysis showed that increasing the flexural rigidity of lentil stems decreased deflection, while reel force and pod weight increased the deflection angle. Loading point height significantly influenced crop position at the cutter bar, which guided the selection of reel radius (R), position and speed of reel. An appropriate lentil reel mechanism was designed using mathematical models with optimum parameters of R=35 cm, φ = 83.79°, Zr = 16cm, α = 45.74°, n = 8 and Ro = 28 cm. The developed machine recorded a reel loss of 2.92% which was minimal in comparison to the reported value of 9% for pulse crops harvested using conventional cereal-based headers.

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