AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
96	70465 	S2  	D 	AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY    	1.00

Contents

STAFFING:

Examiner: H. HARRIS
Moderator: M. PORTER

SYNOPSIS:


Agricultural engineers are concerned with the characteristics, use and
design  of  agricultural machinery.  This unit examines the functional
requirements,  operation  and  performance  of  harvesters,   tillage,
planting   and  spraying  implements,  and  considers  basic   machine
elements,  power  hydraulics, power transmissions,  the  mechanics  of
cutting,   thermodynamic  processes  and  energy   flows.    Machinery
selection  and  the  economics of farming systems are  dealt  with  in
detail, along with the stability, safety, ergonomics, performance  and
testing of tractors.

OBJECTIVES:

At the conclusion of this unit, the student should be able to:

  1. calculate the weight transfer, stability and performance of a tractor implement combination;
  2. measure tractor PTO and drawbar outputs;
  3. calculate tractor engine performance parameters;
  4. describe the function of grain, cotton, sugarcane, vegetable, root crop, and tree crop harvesters;
  5. compare the different types of planters and measure their performance;
  6. compare the different types of tillage implement and select the most suitable type for various purposes;
  7. describe the different types of spraying equipment and test and calibrate them;
  8. calculate basic thermodynamic properties and describe simple thermodynamic processes;
  9. calculate the performance of driers and cooling devices using psychrometric charts;
  10. calculate pressures, flows and forces in hydraulic circuits;
  11. describe the machine elements and power transmissions used in agriculture;
  12. understand the processes involved in the cutting of agricultural materials;
  13. discuss the rational selection of farm machinery and the economics of farming systems.

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)
    

  1. The agricultural tractor.  Stability, ergonomics safety,              25.00
performance measurement and PTO and drawbar testing.
Implement/tractor performance.

    

  2. Mechanisation.  Choice of farm machinery.  Calculation                12.00
of optimum capacities.  Farming systems and modelling.

    

  3. Machine elements.  Hydraulics, power transmissions.                   10.00

    

  4. The mechanics of cutting of agricultural materials.                   4.00

    

  5. Basic thermodynamic properties and processes.  Grain driers,          12.00
controlled environments and psychrometric charts.

    

  6. Principles and performance of tillage implements, planters,           37.00
harvesters and spraying equipment.

TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

Srivastava A K, Goering C E, Rohrbach R P, Engineering Principles of
Agricultural Machines, American Society of Agricultural Engineers,
Michigan, ISBN 0-929355-33-4.

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Liljedahe J B, Turnquist P K, Smith D W, Hiki M, Tractors and Their
Power Units, AVI, 4th Edition, 1989.

Culpin C, Farm Machinery, Blackwell Scientific Publications, 12
Edition, 1992.

Witney Brian, Choosing and Using Farm Machines, Longman, 1988, ISBN 0-
582-45600-2.

Rohner Peter, Industrial Hydraulic Control, John Wiley, 3rd Edition,
1988.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Lectures                                      	42
Tutorials/Workshops                           	16
Laboratory or Practical Classes               	12
Directed Study                                	25
Private Study                                 	45
Examinations                                  	3
Assessments                                   	32

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No	*F/S	Marks		Due		Description					Wtg(%)		LBL
1 	S 	        	23/08/96	TRACTOR PTO TESTING                     	10.00   	N
2 	S 	        	23/08/96	TRACTOR DRAWBAR TESTING                 	10.00   	N
3 	S 	        	20/09/96	LITERATURE ASSIGNMENT                   	8.00    	N
4 	S 	        	11/10/96	PLANTER PERFORMANCE                     	10.00   	N
5 	S 	        	01/11/96	GRAIN DRIER                             	12.00   	N
6 	S 	        	END S2  	3 HOUR FINAL EXAMINATION - RESTRICTED   	50.00   	N

F=Formative, S=Summative

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    The  final  examination in this unit is restricted. Students  may
     bring  the  following  items into the  final  examination  :  (a)
     writing and drawing instruments, (b) portable calculator, and (c)
     own  notes,  summaries.  However, they will NOT be  permitted  to
     consult  printed study materials or reference materials specified
     for the unit, or to consult worked solutions to tutorial problems
     or previous examination questions.
2    In  order  to achieve the grades HD, A, B and C in this unit  the
     student must achieve the following percentages :
     HD - 75% of total possible marks in each assessment
        - 80% of total marks for all assessments.
     A  - 70% of total possible marks in each assessment
        - 75% of total marks for all assessments.
     B  - 63% of total possible marks in each assessment
        - 68% of total marks for all assessments.
     C  - 50% of total possible marks in each assessment
        - 55% of total marks for all assessments.
3    Because  it is normal practice to release model answers  promptly
     after the due date, the penalty for late submission of assignment
     work will normally be the loss of all marks for the assignment.
4    It  is the policy of the Faculty of Engineering and Surveying NOT
     to  accept  submission  of assignments  by  facsimile  or  email.
     Students  in remote locations who do not have regular  access  to
     postal services may be given special consideration.
This information is accurate as at 02/12/96