Standardized short-cycle measurement approach of powertrain-load-scenarios for combine harvesters

Abstract

Recording measurement cycles for combine harvesters is essential yet challenging, especially when optimizing and designing modern powertrain structures. The seasonal availability of test environments limits the possibility of extensive measurement campaigns. Additionally, not all relevant load scenarios are present in each testing environment due to variable effects and current agronomical constraints. This approach allows for a broader range of load profiles to be examined within a defined measurement setting. Therefore, a standardized trajectory and a heuristic for the process control of a combine harvester are introduced in this paper. Performing a set of short profiles a cross section of possible load scenarios gets recorded with enhanced reproducibility. Subsequently, the data are compared to reference fleet data to discuss the degree of coverage of the measurement cycle and to evaluate its capability for powertrain assessment in comparison to data from real infield operation.

Keywords

• Combine harvester, cycle measurements, efficiency evaluation, powertrain optimization