M Series Attachment for Towing Farm Implements

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Date
2015-12-07
Authors
Yakimishen, Bryan
Baylis, Jeff
Dyck, Riley
Kyalo, Timothy
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Abstract
MacDon M Series windrowers have a limited range of use and can be seen as an unjustifiable expense. As a solution, our team designed an attachment for the tractor that allows it to operate tow-behind farm implements. Our team first analyzed the needs, target specifications and constraints for the project based on interviews conducted and research on industry codes and standards. An extensive concept development procedure was then followed to produce a superior design. Screening and scoring matrices were used to select optimal concepts based on weighted selection criteria. At the end of this process a concept was chosen for each of the five subsections of the design including frame and packaging, lift linkage connection, drawbar connection, attachment hydraulics, and tractor hydraulics and electronics. This hitch attachment is constructed from steel sheet and tubing. The main frame member is a 5” x 5” x.25” ASTM A500 grade B steel tube and has been analyzed using finite element analysis and hand calculation to confirm the size and shape of features using a factor of safety of 1.5. The frame includes built-in-boots, a steel tube kickstand, a drawbar towing system and a turnbuckle running from the tractor to the frame of the attachment. The attachment is powered by a Comer 2.5:1 reduction gearbox, and an Eaton 75cc hydraulic motor, both from MacDon’s inventory. An adapter has been specified for the gearbox to convert from a 6-spline to a 21-spline shaft and transfer the 100 HP available to the implement. Hydraulic oil is combined from two separate flows at 4200 psi and a combined flow rate of 58 gpm to spin the motor. A valve block provides a second dual acting circuit for the attachment to go with the primary circuit and a third single acting circuit connected to the implement with pioneer quick couplers. Two wiring harnesses are used to bypass lockouts on the M Series. The first allows the operator to switch between cab-forward and engine-forward manually and the second is used to manually select the traction drive range which dictates the speed and torque achievable at the drive tires. […]
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