AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY FUNCTIONAL AND SAFETY TESTING SERVICE TEST REPORT No. 03 039a REVERSIBLE PLOUGH: Vari Legender 180 OL 3E (extensions: 03.039b - Vari Legender 180 OL 2E; 03.039c - Vari Legender 180 OL 4; 03.039d - Vari Legender 180 CP 3E; 03.039e - Vari Legender 180 CP 4) MANUFACTURER: KUHN S.A. B.P. 60 F 67706 Saverne Cedex (France) MARKETED IN ITALY BY: KUHN ITALIA S.R.L. Via Cerca per Colturano, 8 20077 Melegnano (MI) Rome, November 2004 1/11
TESTS CARRIED OUT IN COMPLIANCE WITH ENAMA SPECIFICATIONS NO. 03 REV. 2.1 SEPTEMBER 2003 BY ISTITUTO SPERIMENTALE PER LA MECCANIZZAZIONE AGRICOLA (EXPERIMENTAL INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL MECHANISATION), MONTEROTONDO - ROME: Supervisor Technical tests Collaborators Ing. Giovanni Santoro Dott. Agr. Roberto Fanigliulo Dott. Agr. Daniele Pochi Mr Gino Brannetti Mr Cesare Cervellini TABLE OF CONTENTS DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENT 3 TECHNICAL DATA 5 ACCESSORIES 6 TEST CONDITIONS 6 RESULTS OF TESTS 6 NOTES ON FUNCTIONALITY 8 Connecting and adjustment devices 8 Quality of work performed 8 MODELS IN THE SAME SERIES 10 TESTING OF SAFETY REQUIREMENTS 10 TO FACILITATE INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS, IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT: 1 MPa = 1000 kpa = 10 bar 10 kgforce/cm 2 1 dan 1.02 kgforce 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h. Manufacturer: KUHN SAVERNE Tel. 0033.88018100 Fax. 0033.88018101 email: info@kuhnsa.com internet: www.kuhnsa.com Marketed in Italy by: KUHN ITALIA S.R.L. Tel. 02.982161 Fax. 02.98230362 email: infoit@kuhn.it internet: www.kuhn.it 2/11
DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENT The Kuhn plough, part of the Vari Legender range, model 180 OL 3E, is a reversible three-share plough with 180 bodies, mounted to the tractor s three-point hitch (category ISO 3) via a headstock. The implement is normally used to break up the soil at a medium depth (up to 450 mm), in particular allowing the efficient deployment of the reversible ploughing technique. It is able to work in both the infurrow and especially out-of-furrow configuration thanks to the considerable lateral movement compared to the tractor, obtained using a special hydraulic system, taking the form of a parallelogram, linking the working parts to the tractor s headstock (fig. 1). Figure 1 The parallelogram system for the plough s out-of-furrow technique. This solution allows the plough to line up in a balanced position prior to rotation, so as to avoid excess exertion of the tractor lift during the body rotation phase. The plough consists of a single main beam, onto which the working bodies are bolted. The beam also houses parts used to adjust working depth and width. The beam can rotate, via a hydraulic system, around a horizontal axis parallel to the forward direction of the tractor, thus with a half-rotation (180 ) one or the other set of bodies can be brought to a working position. The headstock linking up to the tractor s three-point hitch is fitted with a suspension device, called Optidrive, which absorbs all shocks to the tractor during transport and end-of-field manoeuvring phases, enhancing stability and facilitating the positioning of the plough for both the working and transport phases, without having to detach the third point. The working bodies consist of a share with a reversible blade, used to horizontally turn the soil, a universal mouldboard, which turns over the soil in a lateral direction, an adjustable sole, which helps to keep the plough stable in a longitudinal direction, and a vertical face that prevents the soil of the compact wall from breaking up into the just opened furrow. Working width is adjusted via a hydraulic cylinder fitted into the frame; furrow width is adjusted continuously according to the type of soil and traction power available from the tractor. The same cylinder realigns the plough prior to turnover and helps to memorise the working width, so that after a turnover cycle the plough returns to the previously set and checked width thanks to a slat located on the frame and visible from the tractor cab. Hydraulic adjustments are possible even when the plough is buried, thus facilitating work close to obstacles. A second hydraulic cylinder ensures rotation of the plough around its longitudinal axis in order to alternate the direction of soil turnover. To adjust ploughing depth in the two directions, the front bodies are handled directly from the tractor cab via the mixed lift control, while for the rear bodies, in order to obtain an even working depth and prevent the plough from sinking in wet soil, an ad hoc tyre 3/11
is present, that can be adjusted using a turnscrew depth stop, or can (optionally) be fitted with a hydraulically adjustable shock absorber. A second tyre, also located at the tail of the plough and equipped with suspension using elastomeric blocks, provides support for the implement during road transport. The tested three-share plough forms part of the 180 OL out-of-furrow range, with two other models having 2 and 4 working bodies; there are also two 180 CP in-furrow models with 3 and 4 working bodies, to which the present test report is extended. The diagram of the implement is given in figure 2. 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 14 13 12 11 10 Figure 2 Diagram of plough and its parts. 1) third-point hitch; 2) headstock connecting to tractor; 3) hydraulic cylinder for rotation of plough along its longitudinal axis; 4) share protection; 5) share with reversible point; 6) coulter; 7) universal mouldboard; 8) mouldboard extension; 9) working depth wheel; 10) shock absorber of depth wheel; 11) beam; 12) pivot for front rotation of plough; 13) hitch-up to lower arms of tractor lift; 14) hydraulic unit controlling and adjusting the plough. 4/11
TECHNICAL DATA SERIAL NUMBER OF TESTED MACHINE: 6507 Size working position total width (mm) 1371 1981 total length (mm) 5450 total height (mm) 2040 transport position total width (mm) 2040 total length (mm) depending on linkage position total height (mm) depending on linkage position Frame type square welded box reversible with ½ turn; beam section (mm) 180 Working bodies number 6 (3x2) clearance (mm) 950 angles (with reference to opening of plough) all closed all open 1 of share connection ( ) 49 52 2 average for mouldboard ( ) 56 59 3 of upper edge of mouldboard ( ) 53 56 4 of soil wall ( ) 53 53 5 of ground penetration ( ) 24 24 longitudinal distance between bodies (mm) 1040 1270 horizontal distance between bodies (mm) 1150 1200 working width of body (mm) 457 660 theoretical working width (mm) 1371 1981 max. theoretical working depth (mm) 450 450 Skimmer cylindrical blade Coulter blade type Share blade type with reversible chisel Mouldboard universal Depth wheel pneumatic measure 10,0/75-12 diameter (mm) 710 section width (mm) 270 Transport wheel pneumatic measure 7,5-10 diameter (mm) 665 section width (mm) 225 Body protection device traction bolt Total measured weight without accessories (kg) 2620 Lubrication points lubricators (no.) 15 5/11
ACCESSORIES The manufacturer has declared that the machine can have the following optionals: extensions: suitable for universal and cylindrical mouldboards for blocking the plough; skimmers: broad blade with working depth of 30 50 mm, mounted on the beam, serving to lift and turn over the turf into the bottom of the furrow opened previously; pivoted wheel to adjust the working depth, with shock absorber: with and without hydraulic adjustment, Ø of 600 mm and width of 322 mm; six-way circuit selector (electromagnetic valve): serves to operate two dual-effect cylinders with a single dual-effect distributor; rear lighting kit allowing transport of the plough on the road TEST CONDITIONS The implement was field tested at the Experimental Agricultural Mechanisation Institute at Monterotondo (Rome) in June 2004. The working parts of the plough were fitted with broad-blade skimmers. TRACTOR USED The plough was coupled to a 4-wheel drive tractor having the following characteristics: rated power 205 kw total mass 11000 kg coupling device cat. 3 ISO TEST SOIL The test area was formed by a series of strips of hard, flat land. The surface layer contained agrestal biomass, covering 78.8% of the ground. Prior to ploughing the parameters given in table 1 were determined. skeleton (%) 0 sand (%) 2.3 lime (%) 43.4 clay (%) 54.3 liquid limit (%) 62.2 plastic limit (%) 40.3 plasticity index 21.9 humidity 0 m 0,2 m (%) 19.1 humidity 0.2 m 0.4 m (%) 19.8 Average apparent density (g/cm 3 ) 1.49 Average penetration resistance (MPa) 1.90 Average apparent density on dry soil (g/cm 3 ) from 0 to 200 mm (g/cm 3 ) from 200 to 400 mm (g/cm 3 ) 1.45 1.48 Table 1 Physical-mechanical properties of test soil. RESULTS OF TESTS The Vari Legender 180 OL 3E plough was deployed in both the out-of-furrow and in-furrow working configurations, in test A and test B respectively, at the maximum working depth and width. In both sets of tests the tractor, after having established the tractor s most appropriate forward speed, engaged dual traction and the differential lock, and the accelerator lever was moved to the top position. The functional and operational characteristics (referring to one hectare) of the tractor-implement combination were then determined; results are shown in table 2. The results of the analysis of soil tillage performed by the Kuhn plough are given in figure 3. Measurements were carried out directly in the field, immediately after the tractor s passage, sifting soil in sieves having meshes of 200, 100, 50, 25 and 10 mm, breaking soil down into six size classes. 6/11
Elements Test A Out-of-furrow Performance Test B In-furrow theoretical working width (m) 1.98 1.98 effective working width (m) 1.97 1.97 operating working width (m) 1.94 1.94 working width usage (%) 98.5 98.5 thickness of layer of ploughed soil (m) 0.70 0.66 working depth (m) 0.47 0.45 swaft (m) 0.23 0.21 ploughed section (dm2) 91.6 87.7 surface roughness index for ploughed soil 9.5 8.8 soil fining index after ploughing 0.34 0.31 effective working time (h/ha) 1.08 1.10 operating working time (h/ha) 1.71 1.73 operating performance (%) 63.1 63.7 effective average speed (km/h) 4.8 4.7 operating field capacity (ha/h) 0.59 0.58 hourly fuel consumption (kg/h) 31.0 33.7 unit fuel consumption (kg/ha) 33.4 37.2 average traction force (dan) 6325 6727 average traction power required by work* (kw) 84.0 87.2 power supplied to tractor engine (kw) 119.5 131.2 global energy cost (kwh/ha) 203.9 227.5 average energy cost per loosened volume (kwh/1000 m 3 ) 43.9 51.1 tractor wheel slip (%) 20.1 20.8 *global power expended for machine traction, excluding losses of transmission, for wheel-spin, wheel slip and the power required for the tractor s hydraulic functions. Table 2 Average results obtained during field testing of Kuhn Vari Legender plough, model 180 OL 3E. 9% 14% >200 100 200 50 100 25 50 10 25 <10 8% 12% >200 100 200 50 100 25 50 10 25 <10 9% 42% 10% 47% 11% A 11% B 15% 12% Figure 3 Clod level of soil after passage of Kuhn plough in out-of-furrow position A and in-furrow position B (the legend gives, in mm, the size classes of clods). 7/11
Table 2 shows, for test A, a specific traction force of about 69.4 dan/m cm (per metre of effective width and centimetre of working depth on ploughed soil), resulting in a significant absorption of implement traction power, of 84.0 kw, operating at a good working speed. Wheel slip was 20.1%. For test B there was a specific traction force of about 76.7 dan/m cm, resulting in an absorption of implement traction power of 87.2 kw. In this case wheel slip was 20.8%. The table also shows that the theoretical working width was used to the extent of 98.5% in both tests, while the thickness of the ploughed layer was, in test A, 0.70 m with a soil swaft of 0.23 m, while for test B the thickness of the ploughed layer was 0.66 m, and the swaft 0.21 m. With regard to soil break-up, the data given in figure 3 were used to calculate values for the fining index: 0.34 and 0.31 respectively for test A and test B. In test A, clods with a diameter > 200 mm were 42%; clods with a diameter < 25 mm were 23%; clods with a diameter of between 25 and 100 mm were 20%. In test B, clods with a diameter > 200 mm were 47%; clods with a diameter < 25 mm were 20%; clods with a diameter of between 25 and 100 mm were 20%. The following ratios were also calculated for tests A and B respectively: 1) surface roughness ratio: 9.5% and 8.8%; 2) ploughed soil coverage ratio: 5.8% and 3.3%; 3) interment of vegetation biomass: 94% and 97%. The average hourly consumption of fuel was, for test A, 31.0 kg/h, and for test B 33.7 kg/h; the out-of-furrow test produced the lowest average energy cost per loosened volume of 1000 m 3 (43.9 kwh). The analysis of working times for the two tests did not show up significant differences in terms of forward speed and operating capacity. NOTES ON FUNCTIONALITY Connecting and adjustment devices Coupling of the plough to the tractor was simple and easy to perform, since with quick couplings the operation may be carried out by a single worker. A parking foot facilitates coupling and uncoupling operations. Preliminary preparation and adjustments, consisting of the alignment of working bodies perpendicular to the ground, can be performed quickly and accurately. Adjustment of the working width, using hydraulic controls and the width indicator, can be performed continuously from the tractor cab, both accurately and safely. Generally speaking, the control and reversal of the plough s working bodies during field testing was simple and easy to perform, in both working and end-of-field turning phases. Quality of work performed The possibility of continuously varying the working width makes the implement suitable for working on soils of different mechanical resistance, keeping the chosen working depth unaltered. The results obtained during field testing of the Kuhn Vari Legender reversible 3- share plough (fig. 4), despite the clayeylime nature of the ground and its high tenacity, show a good level of soil break-up/tillage and a constant working depth along the entire test strip. It is thus possible to achieve good ploughing results under ground conditions deemed to be difficult. The coulter s cutting action was neat and vertical, while the cutting action of the share did not disturb the wall of the furrow opened previously. Clods were fully turned over, resulting in the complete interment of surface turf. Analysis of the results obtained does not show a marked difference in the use 8/11
of the plough in the out-of-furrow and infurrow configurations, thus the choice may be based on the comfort of the driver and the reduction in damage caused by soil compacting and tyre consumption; these factors are not of relevance to the present test report. Fuel consumption and horsepower required for traction were generally adequate for the weight and size of the implement. Use of a 205 kw tractor appeared correct for the test conditions, even though a less powerful tractor may have been sufficient, particularly for less cohesive and tenacious soils, as declared by the manufacturer. Figure 4 The Vari Legend 180 OL plough during out-of-furrow work. 9/11
Elements Performance effective working width (m) 2.5 thickness of layer of ploughed soil (m) 0.64 working depth (m) 0.41 swaft (m) 0.23 surface roughness index for ploughed soil 9.1 soil fining index after ploughing 0.32 average effective speed (km/h) 4.3 operating field capacity (ha/h) 0.69 hourly fuel consumption (kg/h) 31.2 unit fuel consumption (kg/ha) 29.5 average traction force (dan) 6052 average traction power required by work* (kw) 72.4 tractor wheel slip (%) 28.9 *global power expended for machine traction, excluding losses of transmission, for wheelspin, wheel slip and the power required for the tractor s hydraulic functions. Table 3 Average results obtained during field tests with the Kuhn Vari Legender plough, model VL 180 CP 4. MODELS IN THE SAME SERIES Within the Vari Legender range Kuhn also presents the 180 CP in-furrow series, consisting of two models having three and four working bodies. These models differ from the 180 OL series by virtue of the possibility of working solely with the in-furrow configuration, even though the same bodies are fitted. Of the 180 CP range, the model VL 180 CP 4 was tested under extremely difficult conditions in terms of tenacity and resistance requirements. During testing, conducted at the maximum working width, the operating performance (referring to one hectare) was measured, the results of which are given in table 3. TESTING OF SAFETY REQUIREMENTS The machine is endowed with CE marking, an identification plate, safety pictograms, a user and maintenance handbook and an EC manufacturer s declaration of conformity. The EC manufacturer s declaration of conformity certifies that the machine conforms to the following harmonised standards and technical specifications: UNI EN 1553:2001 and ISO 11684: 1995. Checks carried out with reference to documentation sent by the Manufacturer did not show up inconsistencies with the contents of the aforementioned standards. The relative documentation has been filed. 10/11
THE PRESENT TEST REPORT IS VALID FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS OR UNTIL REFERENCE REGULATIONS FOR THE PLOUGH VARI LEGENDER 180 OL 3E AND RELATIVE EXTENSIONS ARE ALTERED, AND IS OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED BY ENAMA MEMBERS: ASSOCAP (Associazione Nazionale dei Consorzi Agrari) (National Association of Agricultural Consortia) CIA (Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori) (Italian Farmers Confederation) COLDIRETTI (Confederazione Nazionale Coltivatori Diretti) (National Confederation of Independent Farmers) CONFAGRICOLTURA (Confederazione Generale Agricoltura) (General Agricultural Confederation) UNACMA (Unione Nazionale Commercianti Macchine Agricole) (National Union of Agricultural Machine Dealers) UNACOMA (Unione Nazionale Costruttori Macchine Agricole) (National Union of Agricultural Machine Manufacturers) UNIMA (Unione Nazionale Imprese Meccanizzazione Agricola) (National Union of Agricultural Mechanisation Enterprises) AND BY MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE ENAMA, IN WHICH THE FOLLOWING ARE ALSO REPRESENTED: MIPAF (Ministry for Agricultural and Forestry Policies) Regions and Autonomous Provinces ISMA (Istituto Sperimentale per la Meccanizzazione Agricola) (Experimental Institute for Agricultural Mechanisation) E.NA.M.A. - ENAMA - ENTE NAZIONALE PER LA MECCANIZZAZIONE AGRICOLA (NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL MECHANISATION BODY) VIA LAZZARO SPALLANZANI, 22/A - 00161 ROME TEL. 06/4403137-4403872 FAX 06/4403712 email: info@enama.it http://www.enama.it 11/11