Search Results

Instantaneous combine grain yield monitors need to provide reliable yield measurements since yield as a function of location is key information needed to manage fields by management zones. A scale and a yield monitor measured the same stream of grain and provided similar results when compared to each other. Data from either device may be misinterpreted if care in calibration and operation is not taken. Careful operators who pay attention to calibration, maintenance, and manufacturer's instructions will be required.

Work solenoids are widely used in household appliances. The environment and design of this type application does not lead to solenoids for the earthmoving industry. This paper presents the environmental effects to be considered when designing a solenoid for the earthmoving industry. It further explains the need for, and type of, test necessary to validate the design. Finally a review of production quality procedures, necessary to insure reliable production parts is discussed.

Find out why you should attend the 2025 Noise and Vibration Conference and Exhibition.

Explore what’s next in the world of mobility by discovering the latest standards, technical advancements, professional development and networking opportunities here

Welding has been used extensively in automotive components design due to its flexibility to be applied in manufacturing, high structural strength and low cost. To improve fuel economy and reduce material cost, weight reduction by optimized structural design has been a high priority in auto industry. In the majority of heavy duty vehicle's chassis components design, the ability to predict the mechanical performance of welded joints is the key to success of structural optimization. FEA (finite element analysis) has been used in the industry to analyze welded parts. However, mesh sensitivity and material properties have been major issues due to geometry irregularity, metallurgical degradation of the base material, and inherent residual stress associated with welded joints. An approach, equilibrium-equivalent structural stress method, led by Battelle and through several joint industrial projects (JIP), has been developed.

RMS (Reliability-Maintainability-Safety-Supportability) engineering is emerging as the newest discipline in product development due to new credible, accurate, quantitative methods. Weibull Analysis is foremost among these new tools. New and advanced Weibull techniques are a significant improvement over the original Weibull approach. This workshop, originally developed by Dr. Bob Abernethy, presents special methods developed for these data problems, such as Weibayes, with actual case studies in addition to the latest techniques in SuperSMITH® Weibull for risk forecasts with renewal and optimal component replacement.

Wear characteristics of four bearing materials have been investigated under different sliding conditions. The bearing materials used were CDA 954, CDA 863, CDA 932, and CDA 938. Using a Taber Wear Tester, a cylinder on a flat geometry was used as a tribo contact pair. All bearing materials in the form of a thick cylindrical disk were subjected to combined sliding-rolling motion against a rotating flat disk. The flat disk was either an abrasive disk, or a very soft steel disk, or a hardened steel disk with and without lubrication. Wear was measured as weight loss after several thousand cycles of rotation. Maximum wear of the bearing materials occurred when the counter body was a very soft steel disk. These results together with the wear rate of each bearing material sliding against four different counter bodies are presented. These results are found to be of practical importance in the design and application of journal bearings made of materials used in this investigation.

Measuring water quality and preventing drawbacks caused by deteriorated water quality in tap water fluid power systems is a unique problem. Tap water is a suitable environment for waterborne microorganisms. It also contains dissolved and undissolved organic and inorganic matter. Wear particles in the tap water fluid power systems are a separate problem, however closely linked to problems above mentioned. Contamination and the quality of the pressure medium in the system is a function of local characteristics of tap water, operating parameters, system and component design and contamination introduced to the system. To study effects of water quality on tap water fluid power systems, and to evaluate methods for measuring water quality and particle counting, a pilot scale hydraulic system was constructed. The pilot scale system emulates typical operation of a commercial tap water fluid power system.

This paper focuses on the manufacturer's conflict in the conceptual design of commercial vehicles between highly customized special vehicles and the greatest possible degree of standardization. Modularity and standardization are crucial success factors for realizing high variance at the best cost efficiency in development and production as well for achieving the highest quality standards at reduced efforts for technical validation. The presented virtual design approach for commercial vehicle concepts allows for purposeful design and integration of new concepts and technologies on the component level in an existing product portfolio - not neglecting manufacture's portfolio requirements concerning standardization and modularity. The integrated tool chain helps to bring trade-offs to a head that exist in balancing between dedicated vehicles with best customer-relevant characteristics and standardized vehicles with the highest degree of commonality.

Door slam test is one of the important durability tests in door design and development. Door requires to meet certain performance requirements like it should close properly (no metal to metal contact), there should not be any leakage, and closing operation should be smooth & with minimal effort and it should survive the life of the vehicle. Virtual simulation of door slam test, correlation with physical test results and effect of various parameters like seals stiffness are demonstrated in this study. Slam Analysis was carried out in LS-Dyna solver before physical test. This not only helped in avoiding initial structural design flaws, but also helped us in deciding door latch position, effect of mass distribution in the door and study of force distribution between primary seal, secondary seal and door latch. Primary and secondary seals played a critical role in the analysis. An intended length of both the seals was tested first to get its stiffness curve.

The existing instrumentation of a soil bin was retrofitted with virtual instrumentation techniques to achieve improved repeatability and more precise measurements. Current-loop sensors were added to the prime mover for improved speed control. Soil preparation operations were instrumented to determine penetrometer forces as a function of soil penetration depth, soil surface smoothness, compaction force, and soil surface elevation. Test hitch-points for agricultural implements were instrumented with wheatstone bridge force transducers. Implement depth was found with ratiometric linear transducers. Distance and speed determinations utilized an optical encoder with a resolution of 3.0 × 10-4 m. Temperature measurements were also recorded with solid state current transducers.

An agricultural tractor is often modified for special farming applications such as horticulture where the standard design is not suitable or accessible. In such cases, farm equipment manufacturers are demanded frugal and cost effect Engineered farming solutions. One such design is the innovative High Ground Clearance Tractor (HGCT) kit offered to increase the Tractor height without damaging the crop during farming operations. In this paper, the author proposes a durability assessment method to evaluate the HGCT kit attachments to meet the durability criteria. Road load data acquisition is done to measure the acceleration and strain levels for various horticulture operations such as tillage, spraying and transportation. Actual operating conditions are simulated with the help of four poster durability setups inside the lab which helps to reduce the field testing for design iterations.

This paper will focus whining noise on rear axles applied in mid-size trucks. Vehicle integration changes during development affect directly the gear noise perception, in which it may be intensified. Also, gear material and heat treatment choices for the rear axle need to be done carefully, taking into consideration the integration changes and also the driver usage. A lessons learned collection over the diverse aspects of a rear axle whining noise will be the basis of this paper.

The design complexity of today's vehicles places tougher demands on the electrical interconnection system, particularly within the engine compartment. This paper outlines three areas of product development specifically aimed at improving the performance of such systems. These are: ENVIRONMENTAL SEALING AND PROTECTION of multiple wire splices, wire bundles, and connectors. VEHICLE WIRING, with particular regard to high temperature resistance on critical components such as ABS systems. ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE (EMI) PROTECTION via the use of shielded cables, and simple and reliable shield termination/splicing techniques. Together, these new materials and products combine to provide tougher, smaller, higher temperature resistance and environmentally sealed electrical interconnection systems.

Heavy duty valvetrains have evolved over the last 20 years with the integration of engine braking into the valvetrain. Jacobs Vehicle Systems have developed the High Power Density (HPD) engine brake that increases retarding powe, especially at low engine speed. The system works by converting the engine from a 4 stroke during positive power into a 2 stroke for retarding power. This more than doubles the retarding power at cruise engine speeds reducing the need to downshift in order to control the vehicle, compensates for reduction in natural vehicle retarding due to aerodynamic and friction enhancements, and enables the same vehicle retarding power with a smaller displacement engine as engine downsizing becomes prevalent. This paper describes lessons learnt during a recent vehicle demonstration project undertaken by Jacobs including performance, durability, integration with the engine powertrain, controls development, calibration, management of air system and transient operation.

Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) developed its own vacuum die casting process to produce true T6 heat treatable aluminum die castings. This process was initiated by OMC Research and developed jointly with OMC Waukegan. The project began 1990 and was put into production in 1992 on the outboard motor lower mount bracket shown in figure 1. OMC is producing vacuum die cast aluminum parts made with 356.0 alloy and T6 heat treated which meet or exceed the strength of similarly alloyed and processed permanent mold or lost foam cast parts. The application of this process is being expanded within the realm of structural outboard motor parts to include other mounting brackets, as well as fuel system components. An automotive die caster is using the technology and equipment provided by OMC to produce leak tight air conditioner compressor housings.

Several methods have been developed which use rapid prototyping techniques to assist in the creation of prototype metal castings. Methods exist for a number of casting processes such as sand casting, die casting, investment casting, and evaporative pattern casting. In many cases, these methods can reduce both the time and cost required to create prototype castings.

The conceptualization, design, analysis, prototyping, and testing of a steel casting are described. The methods used include 2D CAD, 3D solid modeling, finite element analysis, Solid Ground Curing rapid prototyping, and laboratory prototype testing. The part was successfully delivered to field testing on time. The use of the MCAE techniques provided a more optimal part more quickly than the use of standard CAD techniques would have provided. A minor cost penalty was paid for the prototype pattern versus conventional prototyping.

A review of the design and application of a commercial Electronic Shift Control for Power Shift Transmissions as used on Off-Highway Vehicles that are produced in low volumes. While product design is important and of interest, the key to installed reliability has proven to be the effective use of the vehicle battery and ground bus.

The only way to operate a construction machine efficiently is to improve the cost effectiveness. First, it is necessary to clarify the policy regarding owning and operating costs which directly concern cost effectiveness, and the location and standards for measuring reliability and maintenance activities which we face in connection with cost effectiveness. Next, it is important to have efficient maintenance support activities to improve the mechanical availability for the customer. However, for the customer, the support activity most concerned with maximizing profit is not simply maintenance problems. It is necessary to have support activities which go back to the source of the user's implementation processes. We would like to introduce what kind of systems are available for these support systems, and as it is now impossible to operate the systems without using the power of computers, we would like to give examples of comprehensive systems using hardware and software.