Abstract
In order to obtain an basic data for the design of a leaf-stripping machine for sugar cane, the operational characteristics of a link chain type leaf-stripping roll and its durability were analyzed. The results obtained are summarized as follows.
1) In case of the feeding quantities beyond about 950kg/man-h, detrash rate decreased remarkably at the stripping roll-speed of 8.48m/s.
2) Trash rate decreased mainly in proportion to the stripping roll-speed, and it could be considered that there is no effect of the feeding roll-speed under the stripping roll-speed of 9.90-12.72m/s.
3) Cane loss increased in proportion to the stripping roll-speed. The maximum of cane loss was 5.7% under the stripping roll-speed of above 9.90m/s.
4) The increase of stripping power was 0.07-0.11kW in proportion to the rising of the stripping roll-speed of 1.41m/s and 0.01-0.04kW in proportion to the dropping of the feeding roll-speed of 0.08m/s, respectively.
5) Working efficiency made an approximation with a following equation within the limits of this experiment.
Y=10.74X0.98+(0.24×10-4)n
where Y: working efficiency (kg/man-h),
X: feeding roll-speed (rpm),
n: stripping roll-speed (rpm).
6) The higher stripping-performance (detrash rate: 98.0%, cane loss: under 1.0%, working efficiency: about 740-850kg/man-h) was obtained under the feeding roll-speed of 0.55-0.63m/s, the stripping roll-speed of 9.90m/s. This working efficiency was about 6-7 times higher as compared with manual operation.
7) Concerning the durability of the material of the link chain, maximum wearing rate was 19.7% at the hitted end of the chain, after the lapse of 100 hours. This material exhibited higher wear resistance, but the improvement of the welding methods of the link joint is the subject for a future study.
