Design And Analysis Of Manually Driven And Engine Powered Wheat Crop Reaper For Broad Bed Furrows

Abstract

Harvesting, an important field operation for any food grain crops, is the cutting process carried out when the crop attains physiological maturity such that a maximum recovery of quality product is obtained. Harvesting operation has to be done at a particular period but in shorter time. Harvesting by using traditional method is time consuming; it needs much labour force and result in grain loss. Importing combine harvester is too expensive and not affordable for small scale farmers. The aim of the thesis is to design and develop of wheat crop reaper for harvesting wheat crops mainly for furrows prepared by BBM and also for traditional furrows. It is intended to help small scale farmers for harvesting wheat crops efficiently. Main parts of machine component were selected by preparing concept selection based on created selection criteria. Design and design result of each part were included in this paper and material selection for most part based on the availability in Ethiopia. 2D and 3D of different assembled and detail component of a machine was generated by CATIA V5R17 software. The designed reaper was manually driven and powered with diesel engine for cutting wheat crop stems. With the help of pulley-belt arrangement drive power is transmitted from engine to gearboxes. A spur gearbox and a bevel gearbox are used. One end of bevel gear box output shaft was connected to slider crank mechanism which converts rotary motion of shaft into reciprocating motion of cutter bar. Reciprocating cutter bar slides over fixed bar and created scissoring action between cutter blades which were responsible for cutting the wheat crop stems. Collecting mechanism consist of flat belt with collecting lugged plates bolted on it. After completely manufacture the wheat reaper, this machine can be compact and efficient to cut the wheat stems. The reaper is moderately compact and easy to handle. This machine is able to run of field easily and the efforts of the farmers are reduced. The operating, adjusting and maintaining principle of the developed reaper is made simple for effective usage by unskilled farmers.