Experimental study of work quality cleaner of root crop heads from residues

Abstract

Goal. Experimentally determine the rational values of the constructive and kinematic parameters of the new cleaner of the heads of root crops, in particular sugar beet, which ensure the high quality of the process of cleaning from the remains of ghee on the root. Methods. A special program and methodology of experimental studies were developed to conduct field studies to determine the qualitative performance indicators of the new cleaner, the results of which were processed by statistical methods on a PC using the basic methods of regression and correlation analysis. Results. A new design of the cleaner of the heads of root crops from the remains of the husk has been developed, which is two drive horizontal shafts on which cleaning elastic rubber blades on hinges are installed in the radial direction. The shafts «embrace» each row of root crops, and the rubber blades, applying elastic blows to the heads from two opposite sides, effectively clean the spherical surfaces of root crops from the remains of the husk. A new experimental facility has also been created, which makes it possible to simulate the operation of the new purifier in field conditions and conduct its experimental studies. In addition, a program and methodology for conducting a field multifactorial experiment to determine the quality indicators of the new purifier’s work has been developed. The obtained results, processed with the help of a PC, showed that the improvement of the quality of the technological process of cleaning the heads of root crops with a cleaner with two drive horizontal shafts can be achieved by increasing the angular speed of its drive shafts and reducing the height of the installation of the blades above the level of the soil surface at the average values of the translational speeds of movement. Conclusions. The analysis of the obtained functional and graphic dependencies made it possible to determine the rational mode of operation of the cleaner of the heads of root crops, when the highest quality work will be carried out to remove the remains of the husk from the spherical surfaces of the root crops: the speed of the forward movement of the cleaner — 0.75–1.5 m  s–1; angular speed of rotation of drive shafts — 54.2–78.4 rad  s–1; the height of the cleaner blades above the soil surface is 1–6 cm.