Design and development of an automated testing bench for the hydraulic motor drive of the pneumatic system's fan in a cotton harvesting machine

Abstract

This article presents the principle of utilizing hydraulic drives instead of mechanical drives for transmitting motion to working parts in cotton harvesters, as well as the principle of bench testing. In cotton harvesters, the mechanisms driving the fan used in the pneumatic system that conveys cotton from the harvesting apparatus to the hopper consist of reducer, contour, and belt drives. These mechanisms cannot ensure uniform movement, resulting in strong rotational vibrations in the fans. Experiments have shown that the addition of supplementary hydraulic drives to the cotton harvester's hydraulic system leads to rapid oil overheating and a decrease in the oil's viscosity coefficient. The proposed test stand employs a separate oil tank and valve for the operation of the hydraulic motor, which receives motion from a dedicated power take-off shaft.