Design of an Electro-Hydraulic Laboratory Test System for Adjusting the Inclination Angle of Sowing Machines
Abstract
Field testing of grain sowing machinery requires favorable field conditions and sufficient time periods, making laboratory tests a preferred alternative for determining performance under controlled conditions. However, a standardized testing system for evaluating sowing machinery has not yet been established. In this study, a test system was designed for laboratory testing of universal grain sowing machines. A movable platform was built on a chassis made using sheet metal with different dimensions and profiles. It operates through a hydraulic system via a programmable logic controller-based control system. The sowing machine placed on this platform allows for inclination adjustments (front, back, right, and left), simulating real field conditions in a laboratory environment. The setup is adaptable and can be easily secured to different types of sowing machines. Strength calculations were conducted for critical points of the developed system and compared with catalog values to assess reliability. The connection load on the lower bracket was measured at 2,023.22 N, which is lower than the catalog values (Fcat = 51,202 N). Based on the conducted tests, the laboratory test system was determined to be reliable.
