Lab: 12
Date 03/04/2012
Title: Tractor position control system
Objective
To study the position control and draft control mechanism of Massey Fergusan
1030.
Facility used:
For studying about the position control system of tractor the cut model of MF
1030 model operated by hand was used. The hydraulic system of this tractor was
dismantled to study the working of the system. In the position control system, constant
depth of operation is maintained by automatic adjustment of depth of implement. In this
system, control valve is operated directly by the driver to raise lower or hold an
implement, mounted on the linkage at any chosen height. The three-point hitch can be
raised hydraulically. A single-acting cylinder is used for lifting the implement and the
weight of the lower links and attached implement provides the only force for lowering the
hitch. The essential elements of the hydraulic lift are illustrated in Fig.1.
Fig 1: Hydraulic system of the tractor.
Implement moving through the soil exerts pressure on link (1). This pushes
against the control spring (2). And rod (3). The rod is coupled to the control fork (4).
Which moves the control valve (5) back and forth in the hydraulic pump? (6) The control
valve (5) regulates the amount of oil entering the pump (6). The tractor PTO shaft (7)
passes through the pump proving its power. Oil delivered by the pump passes through the
base plate (8) and up a delivery tube (9) to the lifting cylinder (10) varying amounts of oil
in the cylinder cause the piston (11) to push the rod (12) thus lifting and lowering the lift
arms (13). Raising, lowering and adjustments are carried out manually with the control
lever (14). Which operatee the shaft (15). This moves the control fork.
Fig 2: Working of hydraulic
ydraulic system of the MF 1030.
Components of the position control system
The position control system is used when the position of the lift arm is kept constant
with respect to the horizontal during the operations like fertilizer application, sowing, and
transplanting irrespective of their draft. The position is the position of lift arm with
respect to the horizontal. The control of the position of the 3 point linkage is achieved
hydraulically with the use of hydraulic pump, hydraulic actuator (single acting) and
associated circuitry arrangement of valves.
valves
The descriptions of the
the functions of different components of the position control
system are
1. Control lever: The operator modifies the position of the control lever to set the
position of the linkages i.e. controlling the working depth of the implement in the field.
The two quadrants were the quarter circle shaped part to the right of the seat on which the
operating levers were mounted, one for position, one for draft. To operate the control
valve on the pump. This has a 'see saw' with a roller at the top, an adjusting bolt in the
middle, and is connected to the internal control valve at the bottom.
2. Control valve: The pump should pump all the time when the control valve operating
lever is not pressed, hold and lower as the control valve is pushed in (roller pushed
towards rear of tractor).
3. Safety relief valve: The hydraulic system of MF 1030 also has one very important
safety feature. This is a safety relief control. If while plowing the implement was to strike
a solid object, like large rock or tree root the hydraulic pressure is released, the weight
transfer to the rear wheels is immediately reduced to such an extent that the weight of the
tractor is actually supported by the implement. Thus leaving the back wheels to
harmlessly spin. This prevents damage to implement and tractor and reducing the risk of
rear roll over.
Fig 3: Safety relief valve.
4. Fast and slow lowering of implement: the rate of returning oil from the cylinder to
the sump was controlled by an implement lowering adjustment knob. This can be
adjudged to fast or slow rate of lowering of the implement.
When the tractors engine is running the hydraulic pump operates continuously
getting its drive from the transmission PTO output shaft. Four pistons moving back &
forth suck oil in through the chambers and push it out through the same chamber outlet
valves. The oil flows up through the standpipe between the pump & lift cover. When oil
enters the ram cylinder it forces the piston forward and the arms are raised. When the
operator places the lever in the down position the lift covers mechanism closes the pumps
control valve and the pumps pressure is dumped back into the differential housing. The
oil in the ram cylinder returns through the same standpipe & dumps.
Draft control system of MF 1030: The Draft control was patented by Harry Ferguson
June 1926. The draft control system is used to control the draft automatically by varying
the depth of operation as when soil engaging implements are used like plough, cultivator
and subsoiler. The main components of the draft control system were:
1. Draft control lever
2. Lever
3. Spring loaded guide rod
4. Roller
5. Self locking adjustment nut.
The compression force exerted through a spring in the top link also acts on the built-in
hydraulic system to govern soil depth of the implement automatically (draft control).
Manual changes in depth are made by the Finger Tip Control Lever within easy reach of
the driver's seat.
Conclusion:
1. The hydraulic system of MF 1030 was very compact.
2. The hydraulic pump was composed of four plunger pumps driven by Yoke cam
mechanism.
3. Systems was having an arrangement of fast and slow lowering of the implements.
4. An additional safety relief valve was provided to protect the system from damage
from sudden obstruction (large stones and roots) during operation as it reduces the
weight transfer from the implement to the tractor and tractor starts slipping.
