Studies on the Up-Cut Method of Rotary Cultivation (1)

Load Characteristics of Rotary Up-Cut Method

Abstract

The influence of soil condition, working condition and the shape elements of rotary hoe blade with respect to the load characteristics of the up-cut method of the rotary cultivation was studied. The results were as follows:
The direction of vertical and horizontal cutting force in the up-cut method were reverse of the down-cut method, namely vertical downward force and backward tractive force arised on the blade.
The vertical force of up-cut method was a little larger than the down-cut method, and the peak of vertical force came out behind that of horizontal force. The power requirements were a little smaller than the down-cut, if the vertical cutting area of up-cut method was the same as down cut, and they decreased more when the resistance became smaller. As the reason of these phenomena, the author considered that the soil breaking was caused mainly by tension.
With respect to the both cutting methods, the change of cutting angle by the change of rotating angle, lead or pitch of blade were investigated at the stationary status and the moving status. Consequently, the values of shape elements of blade should be selected to the characteristics of soil scattering, soil turning and soi-breaking were not injured at the long lead in the multil blade Howard's type.