Development and testing of a peanut lifting mechanism for a peanut harvester | |
| Author | Chen, Ying-shen |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AE-91-13 |
| Subject(s) | Peanuts Harvesting machinery |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This study was aimed at the development and evaluation of a harvesting mechanism for the peanut. A clamping type harvesting mechanism was designed, fabricated and its technical feasibility was evaluated in a laboratory condition. The main components of the mechanism consisted of a clamping chain, compression rod, compression bolt and spring, and a power unit. Experiments were conducted in a laboratory soil bin by simulating the field conditions used f or peanut cultivation. Before the actual design of the clamping mechanism, some of the physical properties of the peanut stem and peanut peg were evaluated. These results were later used during the design of the clamping mechanism. The effect of spacing between plants in a single row, and using dividing and nondividing principle was studied. The forward speed of the machine was kept at 7 m/min and the clamping c ha in speed was 32 rev/min. It was observed that the dividing and non- dividing principle had significant effect on the clamping efficiency. For dividing type operation the clamping efficiency was 100%, while for non- dividing type of operation the efficiency varied from 82 to 85%. During nondividing type operation the plants lay down in the field were not successfully clamped and lifted. From the investigations in this study it was revealed that the clamping chain type principle can be successfully used for peanut harvesting. |
| Year | 1991 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Salokhe, Vilas M.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Gee-Clough, D.;Ilangantileke, S.G.;Maohua, Wang; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Chinese Petroleum Company;Taiwan, R.O.C .; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1991 |