On the Equivalent Mass of Tractor-Implement System (Part 1)

Measurement on Equivalent Mass of Four Wheeled Tractor-Implement System

Abstract

This paper describes equivalent mass, which is used for predicting dynamic characteristics like transient responses of the system, of a four wheeled tractor-implement system. The values of equivalent mass depend on gear ratio are expressed as a coefficient divided by the total mass. The tractor-implement system was disassembled and the moment of inertia of each rotating components, which form the drive train from the clutch to the output shaft, were measured to calculate equivalent mass by the trifilar pendulum system.
From the results, the coefficient of equivalent mass on the tractor itself is 5.77 and 0.15 for 1st and 8th gear respectively. The coefficient is rather bigger than that of an automobile.
The coefficient becomes bigger when the system has a rotary tiller which includes parts with high moment of inertia such as the rotary shaft.