Development of Emergency Stop Device for Hand-Fed Threshing on Head-Feeding Combine (Part 2)

—Force of Vertical Lifting by Women and Development of a Final Model—

Abstract

In head-feeding combines, we measured the force of vertical lifting by women in unlocking the threshing unit cover with only one hand. This is designed to protect farmers from sustaining severe injury if their hands are caught in the threshing unit during hand-fed threshing. We compared the force of vertical lifting by women with the control force of the unlocking lever for the threshing units of head-feeding combines already in the market. Based on the results of the comparison, we had to drastically reduce the control force of the unlocking lever of the threshing unit. In addition, the cost-benefit performance was low when we confirmed the effect of the brake on the threshing unit. Based on these results, we have produced final prototype threshing machines. These machines do not have a threshing unit brake; however, they can automatically unlock the threshing unit or pinching rod. This enables farmers to pull their hands out easily, if caught in the threshing unit. We believe that the automatic unlocking feature render these machines effective against severe injury.