Substantiation of the parameters of the working bodies of undulating disks of soil-cultivating harrows with a bionic approach

The article presents the methods and results of the bionic approach in the system of agricultural mechanics, which made it possible to theoretically substantiate the main parameters of the model of the working organs of wavy discs using two bionic prototypes - the burrowing leg and radial ribs of the bivalve shell of the edible heart-shaped mollusk (Cerastoderma edule) and the burrowing leg of the dung beetle common (Geotrupes stercorarius). The model of the working bodies of undulating disks allows one to preserve the anti-erosion resistance of the soil in the upper cultivated layer in order to preserve its structure and stubble background during non-moldboard tillage in the soil-protective agriculture system for the technologies “Verti-till” and “Strip-till”. The results of theoretical studies on the substantiation of the design parameters of the working bodies of wavy discs for surface tillage are presented.

Contribution of Professor K. G. Schindler (1869–1940) in formation of agricultural mechanics, theory and practice of testing of the agricultural machines and tools in Ukraine

The article highlights the life and creative path of the outstanding domestic scientist, theorist, methodologist and practitioner of agricultural engineering K. G. Schindler, associated with the formation of agricultural mechanics in Ukraine. The methodological foundation of the research is the principles of historicism, scientific nature and objectivity in reproducing the phenomena of the past based on the complex use of general scientific, special, interdisciplinary methods. For the first time a number of documents from Russian and Ukrainian archives, which reflect some facts of the professional biography of the scientist, were introduced into scientific circulation. The main directions of fruitful pedagogical and scientific activities of K. G. Schindler, key segments of his creative search, which determined the further development of agricultural engineering, his leadership in the scientific community were described. It was proved that Professor K. G. Schindler has the primacy in founding the Station of Testing for Agricultural Machines and Tools at the Kiev Polytechnic Institute, which provided students of agronomic and mechanical faculties with the opportunity to get acquainted with the existing types and designs of tillage machines, systematically test its research methods. In addition, the station carried out scientific work on the study of certain issues of agricultural mechanization, development of methods and devices for research of agricultural machinery and implements. The seven functions of the agronomic-type research station developed by scientists for the first time in Europe at the beginning of the last century have become a reference point for many generations of researchers of agricultural machinery. K. G. Schindler was the first in the world to theoretically substantiate the need to improve the design of tillage equipment depending on soil and climatic conditions, made a significant contribution to the theory of soil deformation with the shelf of the plow body. In addition, he improved the Sakka dynamometer, developed a control dynamometer to check traction dynamometers and other devices, improved existing and developed new designs of tillage machines. K. G. Schindler was the first in Ukraine to teach a course in agricultural engineering.

Teacher preparation impacts in regard to physiological stress of preservice educators within agricultural mechanics project construction

The purpose of this study was to identify how the differences in teacher preparation impact the physiological stress teachers and teaching quality students experience within the agricultural mechanics laboratory setting, specifically when related to project construction. One specific responsibility of agricultural educators is teaching project construction in the agricultural mechanics laboratory. Teachers have reported perceived stress in teaching agricultural mechanics, but no studies to date have measured the physiological stress response when teaching mechanics. For this agricultural mechanics methods course, university instructors enlisted students to serve as teacher for a day to simulate the process of teaching project construction. Researchers utilized a nonequivalent control group design to determine how a treatment of university supervisors modeling the project construction with students before they taught as teacher for day would impact teaching and stress outcomes. The control group did not build the project ahead of time, as has been the practice of the course in the past. The researcher utilized four instruments to measure physiological stress, learning environment, assessment, teaching delivery and perceived comfort of the teacher. The target population for this study was preservice agricultural educators at the University of Missouri. The accessible population consisted of preservice educators for the Fall of 2017 semester (n=16). Heart monitor data indicated all teachers were stressed throughout their teaching on day 1 and day 2. Despite their stress, the teachers were effective as rated by their students. The treatment group was less stressed on day 2 than day 1, indicating the treatment was effective at assisting teachers once the actual project construction began. The study provides biological evidence supporting the stressful nature of teaching agricultural mechanics. Researchers were able to recreate the stress of agricultural mechanics teaching through a simulated activity. Researchers conclude the treatment of pre-project modeling reduced the stress and increase the teaching performance of preservice teachers by modeling the laboratory activity prior to teaching.

Plow for processing row spacing of gardens

Existing plows do not provide high-quality tillage between rows of orchards and vineyards. The purpose of the study is to develop and justify the parameters of the plow for cultivating the soil between rows of gardens to tractors of class 0.9 kN. A design scheme of a single-body plow for smooth, rowless plowing of garden aisles has been developed. The proposed plow consists of a movable and fixed frame, a disc knife, a screw body with a hostage. The research uses the laws of agricultural mechanics, mathematical statistics, and methods of strain measurement. The technology of cultivating the soil between rows of gardens with a single-body plow for smooth plowing is justified. To implement the proposed technology, the position of the plow body changes relative to the tractor during operation. It is established that when equipping a plow with a movable and fixed frame and performing a body width of 45-52. 5 cm, the required plowing quality is achieved with the lowest energy consumption.

DEVELOPMENT STAGES OF DOMESTIC AGROENGINEERING EDUCATION IN RUSSIAN STATE AGRARIAN UNIVERSITY - MOSCOW TIMIRYAZEV AGRICULTURAL ACADEMY

The article is devoted to an important period in the history of agricultural engineering education at Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy – the 120-year history of the Agricultural Machinery Department of the Institute of Mechanical and Power Engineering named after V.P. Goryachkin. The authors distinguish six stages of the Department’s development – from its origin in the depths of the Petrovsky Agricultural and Forestry Academy, the Department’s establishment at the Moscow Agricultural Institute in 1901, and its development in the 20th-21st centuries. Particular attention focuses on the contribution of the founder and longterm head of the Department, academician V.P. Goryachkin – his developing agricultural mechanics and establishing an agricultural engineering school in our country.

Traction resistance of the combined machine plough

Subsoils are widely used on tillage and combination machines. The tiller of the combined machine for preparing the soil for sowing melons and gourds carries out strip loosening of the subsoil layers. The study aims to theoretically determine the traction resistance of a soil deepener of a combined machine for preparing the soil for sowing melons and gourds. The study uses the basic provisions of mathematics, theoretical mechanics, and agricultural mechanics. In studies, it is assumed that the destruction of the soil under the influence of the drill bit occurs by separation. The total traction resistance of the subsoiler was determined as the sum of the resistance of the rack and the bit. An analytical expression has been obtained to determine the traction resistance of a tilting machine with an inclined stand, depending on its design, technological parameters, and the physical and mechanical properties of the soil. As a result of theoretical studies, it was found that the traction resistance of the soil deepener is mainly influenced by its design parameters, the depth of soil cultivation, the physical and mechanical properties of the soil, and the speed of the machine.

Traction resistance of a ripper with a current distribution line

The pipeline distributor carries out deep loosening of the soil and three-tier fertilization. The study aims to determine the traction resistance of the working body of the ripper with a distribution pipe. The study uses the basic provisions of mathematics, theoretical mechanics, and agricultural mechanics. The method of calculating the traction resistance of the cultivator-fertilizer equipped with pipelines-distributors for three-tier fertilization is presented. The components of the balance of traction resistance are determined. Analytical dependencies are obtained for determining the traction resistance of the working body of the ripper with a distribution pipe. It has been established that the traction of the ripper working body with the fertilizer distributor depends on the physical and mechanical properties of the soil, the blade thickness and length of the chisel blade, the length of the working surface of the share, the angle of crumbling and the solution of the share, the width of the working body and the speed of movement. The traction resistance of the pipeline is 12-12.5% of the traction resistance of the rack and 4-5% of the total traction resistance of the ripper working body.