Performance evaluation of different shape and orientation of digging blades in soil bin

Abstract

This research has optimized the shape of digging blade with the relationship between speed, rack angle and depth. The effect of speed, rack angle and depth of blades (triangular fork, V shape, convex and rectangular) on drafts has studied experimentally for the speed (2.06, 2.9 and 4.18 km/h), rake angle (15°, 20°, 25°) and depth of operation (10, 15, 20 cm) in a soil bin. The study has conducted in the soil bin to finalize the design of digger blades for minimum draft for the root zone depth of turmeric and ginger crops. Response surface methodology (RSM), a mathematical modelling technique has used for design experiments, statistical evaluation, and optimization of parameters. The mean values of the vertical and horizontal draft at different forward speed and depth of operation have increased with the increase in the rake angle of all four types of blades in the soil bin. The average minimum vertical draft has found to be 2.167, 2.987, 5.867 and 4.057 kgf at 15° rake angle and maximum of 26.967, 26.527, 42.473 and 89.533 kgf at 25° rake angle for triangular fork, V-shape, convex, and rectangular shape of blades, respectively. The average minimum horizontal draft has found to be 58.36, 59.317, 65.95, and 38.71 kgf at 15° rake angle and maximum of 153.517, 170.943, 183.82 and 241.67 kgf at 25° rake angle for V-shape, convex, rectangular and triangular fork shape of blades, respectively. The overall mean draft has found to be maximum in triangular fork shape blade and minimum in V-shape blade which can be used for performance evaluation of the digger in the field.