Development of Measuring Apparatuses of Loads on Tractor Wheel

Abstract

In order to measure loads on tractor wheel when a tractor was actually working on sloping ground, 3 types of measuring apparatuses (prototype, improved type and reimproved type) were orderly developed. The apparatuses were fitted to axle housing of a tractor and could independently measure 3 loads (lateral load, vertical load and torque) acting on the contact point between tractor wheel and the ground.
Reimproved type was developed to be fit for front wheel of 4WD tractor, The results on the accuracy of measurement by the apparatus were as follows;
1. Scattering in calibration of the each independent load without interaction was less than 10% of the calibration value.
2. The influence of interaction by the other load could not be disregarded, especially by torque, but the new calibration diagram could be obtained under the influence of the other loads with nearly the same scattering compared to the calibration under the independent load.
These results led us to the conclusion that reimproved type was effective for measuring the actual loads on tractor wheel.