04374nam a2200181 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000230006024501120008326000420019530000090023750000180024652038560026465000290412065000090414965300220415865300120418014444192009-07-16       1978    bl uuuu  m   00u1 u    #d1 aMESQUITA, C. de M.  aDesign of a belt conveyor system to reduce losses from a floating soybean row-crop header while harvesting.  aLincoln: University of Nebraskac1978  a53p.  aM.Sc. Thesis.  aThe purpose of the research was to design a belt conveyor system and to determine if it would reduce shatter and stalk losses originating from a commercially available bean bucket action during harvest. The conveyor system basically consisted of an endless belt on two shafts, one equipped with two tighteners. The hydraulic drive system for the conveyor consisted of a hydraulic motor, a relief valve, a flow control valve and interconnecting hoses. This hydraulic system was powered by the hydraulic system of a New Holland 1500 combine which was used for the field tests. This combine was equipped with a conventional header to which six bean buckets were attached. A completely randomized design was used to analyze the Harcor soybean samples collected from a 12 ha (30 acres) field. Five tests were run. The first, comparing the shatter losses between the bean bucket equipped with the belt conveyor and the standard bean bucket, showed that the belt conveyor system reduced losses at the 10% level of significance. The second test comparing the stalk losses between both systems again showed a reduction in losses with the belt conveyor system. This time the difference was at 2.5% level of significance. The third test compared shatter plus stalk losses between both systems. The results showed a significant reduction with the belt conveyor at the 2.5% level. The fourth test compared shatter plus stalk losses caused by the bean bucket with the belt conveyor system, to the preharvest losses. The results revealed no significant difference. Finally, the fifth test compared shatter plus stalk losses caused by the standard to the preharvest losses. The results showed a significant difference at the 1% level. The crop and field conditions were less than optimal as a result of a rainfall, strong winds, snow,  and high ridging of the crop. These factors contributed to the high average losses presented in the data. The high ridging of the crop resulted in occasional carrying of ground particles by the belt conveyor causing problems, including minor damage to the belt. The accomplishments of this research are summarized as follow: 1. A belt conveyor system was designed and adapted to a commercially available soybean head or bean bucket. The performance of the belt conveyor system allowed remarking the following features: a. The hydraulic drive system seemed to be an excellent way of moving the belt conveyor system. The small size of the parts, flexibility, and the variability and range of speeds are important factors offered by the hydraulic system. However, in future studies a bigger reservoir or an oil radiator may be needed to prevent possible over heating in the system. b. The performance of the friction drive belt system raised some doubt about its dependability. Besides the problem caused by the ridging of the crop, it was noted that large tension was necessary to maintain a straight belt surface between the two shafts. This resulted in large torque demands of the hydraulic motor to move a single row unit. The use of a more flexible belt driven by chains and sprockets adapted to the shafts would possibly improve the system. These changes could also allow using a common driver shaft on a multi-row unit in future studies. 2. The belt conveyor system was effective in reducing shatter and stalk losses when compared to the standard bean bucket. The feeding ability of the conveyor was noticeably better than the standard bean bucket. This was statistically confirmed. The bean bucket with the belt conveyor system lost only an average of 38 kg/ha (0.58 bu/acre). This is really a small amount even if the bad conditions of the crop were not considered. This rather insignificant loss was confirmed by the lack of statistical difference between preharvest losses and the losses caused by the belt conveyor system.  aPerda Durante a Colheita  aSoja  aHarvesting losses  aSoybean