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Final Presentation. Team CNH. Raquel Ciappi Brad Miller Stephen Petfield Chris Uthgenannt. Background Information. Case New Holland (CNH) is the number one manufacturer of agricultural tractors and combines Products include: Harvesting and seeding equipment Balers
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Final Presentation Team CNH Raquel Ciappi Brad Miller Stephen Petfield Chris Uthgenannt
Background Information • Case New Holland (CNH) is the number one manufacturer of agricultural tractors and combines • Products include: • Harvesting and seeding equipment • Balers • Disc mowers and mower conditioners
Disc Mowers • Disc mowers are used to cut crops such as alfalfa and hay before baling • Mowers utilize 4-6 oppositely rotating blade heads aligned along a shaft underneath the mower’s hood • Under normal operating speeds blade heads rotate at 3000 rpm • A protective curtain on the mower is used to provide shielding from high-speed projectiles • Conditioning rolls are used to crush crop stems and decrease drying time
Problem Definition • Before cutting, crops must pass by the protective curtain • Current curtain exerts a large force on crops causing a knockdown effect and lower quality cut • To eliminate this effect farmers are mowing with the mower deck in a raised position • Raised deck poses safety hazards from high speed projectiles
Project Scope • Identify causes of knockdown force (KDF) • Create testing methods to quantify knockdown force • Design a new shielding system to attenuate knockdown force while maintaining adequate projectile protection
Wants and Metrics • Using discussions with CNH a set of wants was developed • Metrics were created as a basis for design evaluation
Design Proposal • Possible areas for modification of existing design to decrease knockdown: • Turbulent airflow underneath mower • Curtain material • Mounting system • Each factor is assessed using engineering analysis and conducting tests in a controlled environment • Key findings implemented in a new design prototype
Proposed Modifications • Employ air vents and mesh curtain to control turbulent airflow generated by mower • Implement lighter curtain material • Modify mounting configuration for hinge system
Airflow Analysis • Preliminary airflow analysis was conducted to examine turbulent airflow effects on curtain • Mower curtain modeled as a flat plate subjected to normal flow • Drag effects exert significant outward force on mower curtain (22.3 lbf) • Further experimental testing needed to fully understand airflow effects
Airflow Testing • Initial testing examined airflow effects by measuring airflow velocities using an anemometer • Measurements taken at 10 different locations along lower and upper halves of curtain • 2 sets of trials conducted: • Closed deck hood • Open deck hood
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Preliminary Results • Similar patterns seen for each testing configuration • Air velocities projected outward suggest use of mesh at high velocity locations
Airflow KDF Contribution • Conduct testing measuring the force needed to deflect curtain • Measurements taken with mower on and off • Measurements at 4 locations along curtain • Examines the role of airflow with respect to knockdown force • Results show airflow is a significant factor in causing crop knockdown
Mower Deck Ventilation • Another method to control airflow is implementation of vents on the mower deck • Examining blade head air direction, vents installed at optimal locations on mower deck • To evaluate vent effectiveness air velocities were measured at: • Bottom of curtain • Each vent location • Different vent configurations employed to examine variations in air velocity
5 4 3 2 1 Ventilation Test Results • Results suggest that no vent combination reduces air velocity • Velocities at bottom of curtain actually increased with vents
CFD Analysis • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) performed • Confirms testing results and further explores turbulent air patterns • Simple simulation in COSMOS Flow Works • CFD results show little or no velocity near deck hood • Highest velocities point directly towards curtain
Airflow Conclusions • Airflow is a significant factor in crop knockdown • Testing and CFD results demonstrate that vents do not control airflow • Modifying turbulent air effects of mower is complex and not feasible • Employing mesh curtain sections still a viable method to reduce knockdown force
Proposed Material Design • Curtain design consists of a non-homogenous solid material lighter than existing design • Sections of mesh material employed at areas with high air velocities • Conduct testing to: • Ensure mesh passes ISO safety standards • Select a material to lower knockdown force
Etch Test • Modified ISO standards test to determine projectile ejection patterns • Mower curtain replaced by layers of plywood, Styrofoam, and paper • Mower pulled by tractor over piles of sand, gravel, and water mixture • Projectile ejections recorded by indentations or projectiles lodged in Styrofoam Mower deck Plywood Sand and gravel Styrofoam Mower blades Paper
Etch Test Results • Styrofoam divided into 6 sections • Projectile impacts were counted and separated into large and small categories • Large projectiles averaged 28 strikes per section • Indicates that solid curtain material must be used PICTURE OF STYROFOAM GOES HERE!
Transition! • Add some kind of slide so that we can transition from material to mounting without losing the audience because we haven’t discussed a way to evaluate the knockdown force of different materials
Mounting Method • Three new mounting methods proposed: • Conventional hinge • Spring hinge • Counterweight hinge • Preliminary analysis of each hinge design was conducted to predict each system’s performance
Mounting Analysis • Assuming no curtain deflection, equations were derived for each mounting system • Illustrate behavior of knockdown force with varying angle (taken from horizontal) Basic Hinge Spring Hinge Counterweight
Mounting Analysis Results • Derived equations were used with approximate values for each parameter • Force vs. Angle graph constructed to compare designs • Predicts performance of each mounting configuration • Spring hinge and counterweight most appealing designs • Minimizing both force and angle will produce best results
Component Integration • The optimal curtain material and mount need to be determined • Testing apparatus designed to quantify knockdown force of various materials and configurations under controlled conditions • Eliminates turbulent air flow variable • Knockdown Force Test (KDF Test)
Motor Crossbar Load Cell Knockdown Force Test • Apparatus utilizes load cell to measure force exerted by moving curtain assembly • Electric motor provides constant curtain speed of 0.642 mph • 12 trials performed to assess forces of 4 different materials and 4 mounting systems
KDF Test Results • Lighter materials reduce knockdown force • Test results similar to hand calculations • Hinge designs serve to attenuate knockdown • Vinyl and Polyurethane materials were too light for spring hinge and counterweight
Material Conclusions • Vinyl and Polyurethane materials performed best but are not used • Materials cannot withstand turbulent airflow generated by mower • Single-ply curtain used on final design • INSERT VIDEO OF VINYL CURTAIN FLAPPING
Mounting Conclusions • Existing fixed mount produced largest knockdown force • Counterweight ideal but not used for final design • More complex design • Requires more parts • Longer installation times • Implement conventional hinge design
Prototype Design • Add stuff here
Design Validation • Compare prototype design to original system using: • Validation testing • Design metrics and target values: • Safety • Knockdown Force • Compatibility • Simplicity • Production Cost
Validation Testing • Curtain assembly performance test evaluates new design • Full scale validation test • Measured the force of 2” inward curtain deflection with mower on and off • Force measurements recorded for: • Hinged single-ply • Fixed single-ply • Fixed double-ply
Curtain Assembly Performance Test Results • Hinged single-ply yielded lowest force values • Confirm key findings of KDF test • Validates final design
Design Metrics Evaluation • New design uses material which passes ISO safety tests • Reduction in knockdown force by .4559 lbf • Compatible and simple design • Small increase in production cost per unit
Final Design? • Final design slightly modified to reduce manufacturing costs
Total Project Cost *=not actually purchased by team