Assessment of Iowa farmers' perceptions about auger safety

A survey of Iowa farmers was conducted to assess the farmers' perceptions and beliefs regarding auger safety and how these perceptions are put into practice. A questionnaire was designed to obtain information on the following auger-related topics: recognition of safe practices and appropriate shielding, personal practices and behaviors, risk perception, and personal beliefs. A random sample of 400 Iowa farmers (arrayed by county) was selected to be representative of Iowa farms. The response to the mailed survey was 23%. Some returned surveys were eliminated because the respondent was retired or did not own/operate augers, resulting in 57 usable questionnaires. Survey responses indicate that the majority of Iowa farmers who participated in this study can correctly identify appropriate shielding for auger intake that meet or exceed ASAE standards. Survey responses suggest that it is common practice in Iowa for youth (age 13 to 19) to operate augers. Iowa farmers in this study perceive the most important contributing factors to auger-related injuries to be operating an auger without shielding, failure to pay attention on the job, moving augers in a raised position, and using hand or feet to redirect the flow of grain. Survey results also indicate that carelessness is perceived to be the leading cause of auger-related injuries, and that auger related injuries can be avoided by having respect for the equipment, being careful, and using common sense. The results also show that the Iowa farmers who participated in this study commonly perform auger-related practices (e.g., moving an auger in a raised position) that they identify as being unsafe.     

An insight into the grain auger injury problem in Queensland, Australia

Grain auger-related injuries were studied by examining the injury data obtained from the Queensland worker's compensation database. Close to 60% of 52 claimants were male employees in the 20 to 34 age group. Fingers, hands, and arms were affected in 65% of all cases, and the auger flighting was involved in 60% of claims. The severity of auger-related injuries is reflected in the high average cost of claims and number of working days lost, which were more than double the all-industries values. Injuries involving the auger flighting are three times more costly (in time and money) than the all-industries values. More claims were made during winter and towards the end of summer, with the majority of injuries occurring in the animal industries. Most incidents occurred in the early or middle periods of a working shift. In addition, two focus group meetings were held to gain a broader perspective of the grain auger injury picture in Queensland, Australia. Focus group participants suggested that the operator's state of mind and attitude to safety are important, while the auger's age, type, and shielding were cited as important risk factors. They suggested that older augers are less likely to be adequately shielded, and mobile augers are most likely to be involved in injury events. The information gained from this study is being used to develop strategies to help farmers minimize injuries associated with the use of grain augers.     

智能农机多机协同收获作业控制方法与试验

为提高多台无人化智能收获机和运粮车协同作业效率，该研究以2台不同型号水稻收获机和1台运粮车为研究对象，开展了智能农机多机协同收获作业控制方法研究。根据协同作业控制决策约束条件，建立协同收获作业中有限个状态过程的改进型连续时间马尔科夫链模型。以减少非作业时间为优化目标，通过模型预测未来一段时间内每台收获机的卸粮时间，动态更新每台收获机的卸粮顺序和时间。仿真试验结果表明：本文控制方法相对于仓满后再召唤运粮车的卸粮方式有效减少了作业时间，协同收获任务的农机平均作业时间减少了13.58%。田间试验结果表明：智能农机多机协同作业控制方法实现了2台水稻收获机和1台运粮车协同自主作业，在场景1中，相对于仓满召唤卸粮模式，收获机1和收获机2非作业时间分别减少了71.25%和42%，收获效率提高了6.65%和5.22%；在场景2中，相对于仓满召唤卸粮模式，收获机1和收获机2非作业时间分别减少了77.64%和37.09%，收获效率提高了12.07%和5.78%。本文提出的控制方法可以实现收获-卸粮转运自主作业，减少了收获机的非作业时间，提高了作业效率，可为无人农场智能收获协同作业提供支撑。     

电驱动铰接式工程车辆操纵稳定性控制分析

铰接式工程车辆因其铰接转向机构布置,使整车行驶过程中的横向稳定性降低。该文针对电驱动铰接式车辆的结构特点,建立了三自由度整车行驶动态数学模型,利用其各轮可独立控制的特性,提出基于直接横摆力矩(direct yaw-moment control,DYC)的车辆稳定性控制策略。分别以前车体质心侧偏角和横摆角速度、后车体质心侧偏角和横摆角速度为控制变量,建立了2种基于不同控制变量下的铰接式车辆最优直接横摆力矩控制策略。通过对地下35t铰接式自卸车的瞬态响应进行仿真分析,从响应速度、精确性等方面,探讨了2种控制策略下铰接式车辆稳定性的实现与性能。该研究可为电驱动铰接式车辆的稳定性控制提供有益的参考。     

Assessment of the condition of Iowa augers, auger-related injuries, and farmers' perceptions about auger-related injuries

This study provides an insight into auger-related injuries, Iowa farmers' perceptions of auger-related injuries and the condition of augers used in Iowa agriculture. Specific auger-related injury data (437 records) from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) was examined and interpreted. The most likely body part injured was the finger and 11:00 A.M., 3:00 P.M., and 5:00 P.M. were the times of the day with the highest number of injuries reported. In addition, a survey was administered to 400 farmers to ascertain their awareness of auger-related injuries and to determine the condition of their augers. Farmers' perceptions of what body part is most likely to be injured by an auger and the level of severity expected from those injuries coincided with injury records from 1993 to 1997. A total 34% of the primary and secondary augers reported were unshielded or without guarding. This assessment provides insight for development of intervention countermeasures to reduce auger-related injuries.     

An investigation of three physical parameters of PTO entanglements

The PTO driveline is the most common means of transferring power from a tractor to towed machinery and stationary equipment. While equipment manufacturers install shielding to protect operators and bystanders from coming in contact with operating PTO components (particularly around the knuckle), entanglement is still a cause of some of the most catastrophic agricultural work-related injuries. This study investigated the influence of material type, material length, and angle of material introduction on entanglements with a spinning PTO shaft knuckle. These variables were tested using a laboratory PTO apparatus where 165 entanglements were recorded during the 720 trials conducted. The results indicate that lighter materials, such as cotton thread, have a significantly higher probability of becoming entangled than heavier materials, such as leather bootlaces. Materials that were longer (i.e., extend further below the midline of the PTO knuckle) have higher probabilities of becoming entangled than do shorter materials. The horizontal path that the material traveled across the centerline of the PTO shaft impacted the probability of entanglement. When the angle of intersection of the horizontal path of travel relative to the centerline of the PTO shaft is 90 degrees, or close to 90 degrees, a higher probability of entanglement occurs. All 165 entanglements occurred on the downward rotational side of the PTO knuckle regardless of which side the horizontal path of travel started from. The results of this study provide the first look at understanding the physical phenomena associated with the initial stages of PTO entanglements and set the stage for future research.     

Case reports of on-site investigations of auger-related farm injuries

Previous reports have indicated that injuries involving augers (screw conveyors) are a serious problem in agriculture, but to date on-site engineering inspections linking injuries to mechanical and procedural aspects have not been available. This article details four events involving injuries as the result of being entangled in auger flighting. In each report, the circumstances surrounding the injury event are outlined, and the machinery involved is evaluated in terms of its compliance with current safety standards. In three of the four instances, the machinery did not conform to current guarding standards or to safety sign standards. In these three cases, injuries were preventable with improved guarding according to ASAE Standards. In the other case, the machine complied with ASAE Standards, but the injury could have been prevented with improved guarding of the auger flighting.     

拖拉机动力输出轴动态转矩载荷谱编制与验证

拖拉机动力输出轴(power take-off, PTO)室内台架耐久性试验中转矩加载主要以静态加载或静态逐级加载方式为主,这种加载方式输出的载荷与PTO实际作业中承受的载荷动态特性不同,导致试验中PTO的失效形式及测试寿命与实际作业中存在差异。针对此问题,该文对多工况下PTO动态转矩载荷谱编制方法进行研究,测取了沙土、黏土2种土壤类型下旋耕、驱动耙典型作业的PTO转矩,利用希尔伯特黄算法对转矩进行预处理,采用四点循环雨流计数法对转矩均幅值进行频次统计,利用散点矩阵统计方法分析4种作业工况均值、幅值相关性及均值、幅值分布类型。基于Miner法则及轴类20CrMnTi修正S-N曲线,在损伤概率50%、相对误差5%、置信水平95%的统计条件下,确定了转矩样本容量。利用时域外推方法对PTO转矩数据进行外推。以阈值区间内峰谷值均值差的方差为指标,检验了外推过程中选取的阈值造成峰谷值均值波动的可能性。对比外推1次后载荷时间历程与原始载荷时间历程变化趋势。在时域频次外推因子为240、转矩累计频次达到106、平均加权4类转矩时,得到PTO动态转矩载荷谱。利用编制的动态载荷谱,驱动拖拉机传动系动态加载试验台对PTO进行台架耐久性试验,试验结果显示,PTO发生失效的时长为642 h,失效形式为PTO轴头花键磨损,失效时间、失效形式与实际作业一致,验证了动态转矩载荷谱的有效性。     

分段螺旋式甘草茎秆揉切装置设计与试验

针对全混合日粮饲草料揉切需求，该研究设计了一种分段螺旋式甘草茎秆揉切装置，对分段螺旋叶片的主体结构和搅龙结构参数进行设计，建立了刃口曲线方程，分析了装置揉切机理，并试制了分段螺旋式甘草茎秆揉切装置试验台。以搅龙转速、加工时间、填充系数、刀片与底壳间隙为因素，以粒度、破节率、单位质量能耗为指标，开展四因素三水平Box-Behnken试验，对试验结果进行方差分析和二次回归拟合，得出各因素对粒度影响显著性由大到小为加工时间、搅龙转速、填充系数、刀片与底壳间隙；对破节率的影响显著性由大到小为加工时间、填充系数、搅龙转速、刀片与底壳间隙；对单位质量能耗的影响显著性由大到小为填充系数、加工时间、搅龙转速、刀片与底壳间隙。对交互影响因素进行响应曲面分析并进行参数优化验证试验，结果表明：当搅龙转速为25 r/min、加工时间为12 min、填充系数为0.46、刀片与底壳间隙为15 mm时，甘草茎秆的揉切粉碎粒度为11.76 mm，破节率为83.27%，此时单位质量能耗为9 959.82 J/kg，试验值与模型理论值误差不超过7%，参数优化模型合理，满足作业要求。研究结果可为全混合日粮搅拌机的研发提供理论依据。     

The utilisation of poison hoppers designed for grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin) control

The grey squirrel is recognised as a pest species of economic importance but the justification of the view appears to be founded on local areas of severe damage. Despite evidence that damage may not be alleviated by squirrel population destruction, Warfarin poisoning was introduced as an alternative to trapping.The utilisation by wildlife of a poison hopper designed for grey squirrel control was investigated by automatic photography. Results confirmed that a number of species may feed from the grain presented via the hopper. However, the majority of the bait was removed during the hours of darkness when grey squirrels were not active. It is a conservative estimate that between 55 and 65% of the grain entered the environment via animals other than squirrels.In addition, the removalof bait by night visitors resulted in the accumulation of large quantities of bait at and around the entrance to the hopper tunnel. This increased accessibility to the potentially poisoned bait by animals other than squirrels.Until such time as evidence is produced to show these results as exceptional, it can only be concluded that fears expressed over the lack of specificity of this method of control are justified.     

冷藏车温度场不均匀度对蔬菜保鲜效果的影响

为了提高在冷藏运输过程中果蔬的品质,研究了冷藏车厢内部的温度场。冷藏车内合理的温度场,可以保证冷量的均匀分配,节约能耗,降低干耗及冻害损失,提高果蔬保鲜质量。该文以质量损失率、细胞膜渗透率、维生素C含量和叶绿素含量的变化作为评价指标,对不均匀度分别为3.71、5.68和8.36的温度场中贮藏的3种蔬菜(娃娃菜、尖椒和金针菇)品质的变化情况进行比较。结果表明,冷藏车内温度场的均匀程度与果蔬保鲜的效果成正比关系,不均匀度较低的温度场中贮藏的果蔬保持了较好的新鲜度。该文研究为冷藏车的优化设计提供了参考依据。     

玉米果穗螺旋摩擦输送装置的输送性能试验

为解决小型玉米联合收获机上难于配置果穗输送装置的问题,该文利用自制玉米果穗输送试验台,试验研究了玉米果穗螺旋摩擦输送搅龙的叶片高度、导向侧板倾角、导向侧板位置角、搅龙升运角和搅龙转速等对玉米果穗输送性能的影响,验证了玉米果穗输送装置对不同状态果穗的适应性。果穗处于下降侧输送、螺旋叶片高度20 mm、转速300 r/min、侧板位置角70°、侧板倾角75°的情况下,可以较好的完成玉米果穗的输送,有效避免了传统螺旋输送装置输送过程中引起的果穗损伤。     

PH—Postharvest Technology: Monitoring and Performance of a Commercial Grain Dryer

This paper presents detailed in situ experimental results for the performance of a commercial batch grain dryer under real operating conditions while drying barley. The distribution of key drying parameters of air temperature, relative humidity, airflow, grain moisture content, drying time and energy use are measured. For the two trials conducted, the overall cycle-averaged process thermal efficiency is 48·4 and 41·5%, respectively. This is achieved when the average initial moisture contents of the grain are, respectively, 15·7 and 17·2% and the highest plenum temperatures 41·4 and 34·0°C. During drying, unlike the stack-on temperatures, the exhaust air temperatures after the grain stack are fairly stable and only mildly affected by the variation of ambient conditions. After the initial heating period, the air enthalpy remains practically constant through the grain stack section. Close to the dryer centre, because of the presence of the auger, the air velocity is considerably lower than other parts of the dryer. The drying appears to be dominated by a drying front advancing through the grain stack. The reduction of grain moisture content is much faster during the last few hours of the drying process. The experiments highlight the importance of accurate measurement and representation of product moisture contents and airflow.     

谷物联合收获机在线测产技术研究现状与进展

为加速推进中国智慧农业发展,深入了解精准农业技术体系中田间谷物产量在线监测技术的研究现状,该研究重点概述了国内外谷物联合收获机在线测产方法,包括动态称量测量、体积测量、冲击力测量、射线测量及其他测量方法,介绍了不同测量方法的原理和测产传感器的关键技术与应用。从可行性、通用性、稳定性与准确性方面,分析归纳了中国当前谷物产量在线监测技术所存在的主要问题,指出冲击力测量方法应用广泛,但尚未考虑谷物与冲击板碰撞时对谷物造成的机械损伤等问题。同时,该研究提出了谷物联合收获机在线测产技术未来的研究重点与发展方向,旨在为作物产量信息监测技术与智能化农业机械装备的发展和应用提供理论依据和技术参考。     

Analysis of 151 agricultural driveline-related incidents resulting in fatal and non-fatal injuries to U.S. children and adolescents under age 18 from 1970 through 2004

Agricultural driveline-related incidents have been identified as an important cause of farm-related injury resulting in death and permanently disabling conditions to children and adolescents. A database of driveline-related injuries, including both PTO drivelines and secondary shafts and drivelines on agricultural equipment, developed at Purdue University was mined to identify all cases involving children and adolescents under age 18 who had been involved in a driveline-related incident from 1970 through 2004. Although these incidents did not account for a high percentage of all childhood farm-related injuries, this age group was found to make up nearly one in four documented agricultural driveline incidents. Of the 685 cases in the database with known ages, 151 were identified as youth under age 18. Findings indicated that these incidents often resulted in catastrophic injuries including amputation, spinal cord injuries, and compound bone fractures. Over the period studied, the trend in documented cases is declining, with recent years reporting below the yearly average and 2004 reporting no fatalities. Youth, primarily males, age 13 had the highest frequency of incidents, and over 50% of all cases occurred to youth ages 12 to 17. Fall was identified as the season with the most reported incidents. Amputations were documented in nearly 50% of all cases, and augers, elevators, and conveyors were the machines most frequently identified as being involved in the incident. Recommendations and strategies that specifically target the childhood injury problem related to agricultural drivelines are provided.     

压力式谷物产量监测系统优化与试验验证

为了提高谷物收获作业过程中谷物产量在线监测的精度,研制了基于谷物流压力原理的车载谷物产量在线监测系统,该系统包括谷物流量监测装置、定位装置、割台高度控制开关、核心处理器以及人机交互装置。以谷物产量与谷物流压力间的谷物产量监测数学模型为指导,搭建了谷物产量监测试验台,采用Box-Behnken试验设计方法优化谷物流量监测装置结构参数,研究了传感器数量、传感器安装位置和监测装置水平倾角对谷物产量监测系统测产误差的影响,确定了最优参数组合为传感器数量5、传感器安装位置0.24 cm、监测装置水平倾角5°,并对最优参数组合进行了验证试验,结果表明,谷物产量监测系统测产误差为3.27%,满足谷物产量监测的精度要求。对谷物产量监测系统田间实际效果进行了试验验证,试验结果表明,田间测产误差为5.28%,生成的产量分布图为后续田间作业管理提供了决策依据。     

冲量式谷物流量传感器测产信号处理方法

为研究冲量式谷物流量传感器背景振动噪声的提取及剔除方法,以减小背景振动噪声对其测产精度的影响,设计了一套冲量式谷物流量传感器室内标定台架,通过变频调速器控制驱动电机实现输粮搅龙和刮板升运器转速的改变以模拟联合收割机的不同田间工况,并对双板差分冲量式谷物流量传感器的测产信号处理方法进行了研究。通过算术均值滤波初步滤除测量板和参考板输出信号中的随机噪声,通过对参考板滤波输出信号的离散傅里叶变换(discrete Fourier transform,DFT)提取背景噪声的频谱特性,通过测量板和参考板DFT结果的频域差分实现测量板输出信号中背景噪声的剔除,对频域差分结果进行离散傅里叶逆变换(inverse discrete Fourier transform,IDFT)即可得到剔除了背景振动噪声后的传感器输出信号,再对其进行二次算术均值滤波,即得到最终的测产输出信号。通过室内台架标定,建立了谷物籽粒流量与测产输出信号和升运器速度之间的标定模型,并进行了室内模拟测产试验。试验结果表明:谷物流量范围为0.5~2.3 kg/s时,在不同的变频调速器输出频率下,最大测产误差不大于3.1%,测产精度较高且比较稳定,频域差分处理方法能较好地实现双板差分冲量式谷物流量传感器背景振动噪声的剔除。该研究可为冲量式谷物流量传感器测产系统的开发提供参考。     

基于EDEM的双螺旋奶牛饲喂装置给料性能分析与试验

奶牛精确饲喂技术的实施不仅能够促进奶牛业健康发展,而且还能够提高牛场经济效益。基于牛场现状,该文在设计的等径双螺旋精确给料的奶牛饲喂装置基础上,理论分析了物料输送速度与给料时间,通过Solidworks对双螺旋给料装置进行了三维建模,并利用EDEM软件分别对40 mm搅龙和70 mm搅龙不同转速(80、100及120 r/min)的给料过程进行了离散元仿真,分析了装置给料稳定性,结果表明,40 mm搅龙在转速为120 r/min时变异系数为0.052 2,70 mm搅龙在转速为100 r/min时变异系数为0.105 2,给料稳定性最优。为进一步验证仿真结果,在搭建的双螺旋给料饲喂装置上,对40 mm搅龙和70 mm搅龙进行了给料试验,试验结果显示,40 mm螺距搅龙转速120 r/min和70 mm搅龙转速100 r/min时给料稳定性最优,试验结果与仿真结果吻合。在验证装置给料稳定性基础上,对给料精度进行了试验,结果显示:40 mm搅龙和70 mm搅龙在80、100、120 r/min等不同工作转速组合下,给料精度均大于95%,当40 mm搅龙转速为120 r/min,70 mm搅龙转速为100 r/min时,给料时间为14.1 s,给料量为6.009 kg,装置给料精度不低于99.835%,符合奶牛精确饲喂效率与精度要求。     

玉米螺旋式清选装置的设计与试验

针对传统振动筛存在噪音大、筛分效率不高等问题,该文基于螺旋输送原理设计出一种玉米螺旋式清选装置,装置主要由输送搅龙、料槽、半圆筛片、减速电机、变频器等组成。输送搅龙外径为100 mm,螺距为100 mm,工作长度为2 000 mm,螺旋轴轴径为20 mm,6 mm孔径的筛片开孔率约为40%,16 mm孔径的筛片开孔率约为35%。以筛分效率和破碎率增加值为试验指标,对含水率为14.5%的玉米分别进行大杂清选试验和小杂清选试验。大杂清选试验结果显示,筛分主要在筛片前部分完成,且破碎率随着输送搅龙转速的增加而增加。小杂单因素试验表明,随着输送搅龙转速的增大,筛分效率逐渐增加,破碎率增加值逐渐增大;随着初始填充系数的增加,筛分效率缓慢降低,破碎率增加值逐渐增大;随着输送角度的增大,筛分效率先增加后减小,破碎率增加值逐渐增加。小杂正交试验结果表明,3种试验因素的最优组合为初始填充系数20%,输送角度0°,输送搅龙转速500 r/min;显著性检验结果显示,输送搅龙转速对筛分效率和破碎率增加值的影响均显著（P<0.05）;输送角度对筛分效率和破碎率增加值的影响均不显著（P>0.05）;而初始填充系数对筛分效率的影响显著（P<0.05）,但对破碎率增加值的影响却不显著（P>0.05）。该装置工作过程中噪音较小,运行可靠,筛分效率达到98.5%,试验结果可为后期研发螺旋式清选设备提供参考。     

Effects of tillage on productivity of a winter wheat-vetch rotation under dryland Mediterranean conditions

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of three tillage systems on crop yield in a winter wheat-vetch (Vicia sativa L.) rotation during 3-year growing seasons on a clay-loam soil in the northwest region of Turkey. The three tillage treatments were: (1) conventional tillage (CT); (2) shallow tillage (ST); (3) double disk tillage (DD).The wheat grain yield was significantly affected by tillage when averaged across years. The highest wheat grain yield was obtained with shallow tillage treatment. The year affected wheat grain yield significantly, mainly due to the distribution of rainfall through the growing season and probably due to the wheat-vetch rotation. Heads density and head length increased significantly with shallow tillage when compared with conventional tillage. Tillage practices had no significant influence on thousand kernel weight. Results from this study indicated that for a dryland wheat-vetch rotation cropping system, shallow tillage had higher wheat grain yields than that obtained from conventional tillage. Furthermore, mouldboard ploughing tillage in this crop rotation could be replaced by shallow tillage that would increase yield and would be likely to improve soil properties in the long-term. On the other hand, double disk tillage proved to be a promising soil management practice to improve vetch grain yield when compared with conventional tillage.