Browsing by Author "Bini Sam"

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Assessment of ergonomic parameters of rice transplanters for women operations
(Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology Tavanur, 2017) Gorla Gayathri; Bini Sam
Development and ergonomic evaluation of spading machine as an attachment to power tiller
(Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology ,Tavanur, 2023-12-19) Chandrashekar; Bini Sam
Tillage is the physical manipulation of soil with tools and equipment to achieve good tilth for enhanced seed generation and subsequent crop growth. A spading machine works as an alternative to the plough for primary tillage. There are limitations in manual spading and tractor operated spading in small and marginal fields. Manual spading needs more labour, takes longer time, more energy and high cost per cultivable area. The depth of cut is also low while using a manual spade. Tractor operated spading machines have their own set of limitations in small fields, and their cost was also out of reach for small and marginal farmers. These factors lead to the development of a spading machine as an attachment to power tiller. A power tiller (6.7 kW) was selected as a prime mover for the spading machine. The developed spading machine consists of gear box, power transmission system, frame, crank shaft, connecting rod, spade and depth gauge wheel. A laboratory model of spading machine was fabricated and tested to finalize the optimum machine parameters for the development of new spading machine. The actual field capacity of power tiller operated spading machine was 0.1132 ha h-1 which is higher than the traditional method (0.008 ha h-1). Overall, the maximum field efficiency 87 per cent was achieved at the forward speed of 2.1 km h- 1, when the depth of cut was 10 cm at 30° spade angle and 200 rpm crankshaft speed. It was observed that the actual field capacity and field efficiency of spading machine increased with increase in forward speed and was higher with trapezoidal shape blade than triangular blade since it covers more area per unit time. The maximum clod mean weight diameter of 15 mm was recorded at a forward speed of 1.5 km h−1 with crankshaft speed 100 rpm. The minimum draft requirement and fuel consumption of spading machine were 820 N and 0.87 l h-1 recorded at a forward speed of 1.5 km h−1 with 10 cm depth of cut. The minimum heart rate of 95 beats min-1 was recorded at 1.5 km h-1 forward speed of power tiller and the maximum heart rate 125 beats min-1 was observed at 2.1 km h-1 forward speed of the power tiller. A significant variation in energy expenditure of spading operation was noticed at 5 per cent level with different forward speeds. Minimum energy expenditure rate of 12.26 kJ min-1 was obtained at 1.5 km h-1 forward speed of the power tiller and the maximum energy expenditure rate 21.82 kJ min-1 was noted at 2.1 km h-1 forward speed respectively. The grade of work was “moderately heavy” for power tiller operated spading machine and ‘heavy” for traditional method. Maximum aerobic capacity of subjects varied from 1.75 to 2.08 l min-1. The mean values of AWL (VO2 Max) for all subjects varied from 40 to 47 per cent indicated that the spading machine could not be operated continuously for 8 hours without frequent rest pauses. The overall discomfort rating was 4.6, 5.1 and 5.7 at 1.5, 1.8 and 2.1 km h-1 respectively and it was scaled as “moderate discomfort”. Overall safety rating was scaled as “moderately secure and less fear”. Overall ease of operation rating was scaled as “Less difficulty” with a score of 4, 4.3 and 4.6 at forward speeds of 1.5, 1.8 and 2.1 km h-1 respectively. It was observed that the, body part discomfort score was maximum for 2.1 km h-1 with a score of 43 followed by 1.8 km h-1 with a score of 33 while it was minimum at 1.5 km h-1 with a score of 25. The rest time for achieve functional effectiveness during the operation of power tiller operated spading machine was found to the 10 min followed by one hour of work. The noise level was recorded for different engine speeds, varied from 86 dB at the operator ear level to 102 dB at the engine top. The vibration level was recorded for different engine speeds, varied from 11 m s-2 at right handle to 37.6 m s-2 at engine top. The cost of prototype of power tiller operated spading machine was worked out as Rs. 50,000/-. The cost of operation per hour and hectare was determined as Rs.335/- and Rs. 3,316/- respectively. The breakeven point, payback period and benefit cost ratio of the machine is 93 h year-1, 3.5 years and 2.1:1 respectively. The saving cost of operation of machine was calculated as Rs. 6,884 ha-1 and 67.5 per cent when compared to conventional method of spading operation.
Development and testing of a manually operated paddy dibbler
(Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1992) Bini Sam; Sankaranarayanan, M R
A manually operated three row paddy dibbler for dry sowing was developed and tested at Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur. The metering mechanism employed in this dibbler was unique in design. The machine consists of seed box, roller with metering mechanism, seed tube with furrow opener, frame, handles and marker. When the dibbler was operated for dibbling, the roller passing vertically through the centre of box would move upward by the soil pressure against the spring pressure. As the roller moved upward, the portion of the roller having the vertical slot would come in contact with seeds and the seeds were moved and carried to this slot. When the equipment was taken out from the soil, the soil pressure on the roller was released and due to the spring pressure the roller moved downward and the seeds carried in the slot were released and would fall through the seed tube by gravity in to the soil. During the operation of the equipment due to the downward travel of the roller and seed tube the seed hole was created for dropping the seeds. The covering of seeds with soil was carried out automatically when the equipment was taken out from the soil. The number of seeds dropped was in the range of 4 to 6 per hill. The area covered by the dibbler was 0.022 hectare per hour. The field efficiency obtained was 68.68 per cent. The mechanical damage was 4.84 per cent. The percentage losses of seeds after germination was 9.52. The fabrication cost of the dibbler including cost of material was Rs. 800/-. The operating cost of the dibbler was Rs. 16/- per hour. The cost of sowing one hectare of land was Rs. 717/- while for manual dibbling the cost of sowing was Rs. 979/- per hectare. Moreover manual dibbling is done in a bending position which is arduous to the farmer. But in the present design of dibbler, a suitable handle is provided which ensure easy and comfortable operation in a straight posture. The equipment can be fabricated locally with readily available materials and can be easily maintained by small farmers.
Evaluation of physiological cost and subjective assessment of existing coconut climbing devices
(Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2015) Hameeda Bindu Vahab; Bini Sam
At present there are different models of coconut climbing devices available in the market. Most of the climbing devices safety and efficiency aspects are not being studied and needs to be comparatively evaluated and modified. In this study five coconut climbing devices were selected, those are Sit and climb type (TNAU model), Standing type (Chemberi model), KAU coconut palm climber (developed at KCAET), Kerasureksha (Model developed at ARS, Mannuthy) and CPCRI model coconut climbing device. Pertinent anthropometric dimensions of human subjects with reference to the dimensions and positions of the functional components of coconut climbing devices was identified and 35 different body dimensions useful for the design or redesign of coconut climbing devices were recorded by following standard anthropometric procedure. Ten subjects (five each for men and women) were selected, conforming to statistical requirements of anthropometric dimensions. The selected ten subjects were screened for normal health through medical and bio-clinical investigations which includes Electro Cardio Graph (ECG), blood pressure and bio-clinical analysis. Selected ten subjects were calibrated in the laboratory by indirect assessment of oxygen uptake. The relationship between the heart rate and oxygen consumption of the subjects was found to be linear for all the subjects. Then energy cost of operation of the selected coconut climbing devices were computed by multiplying the oxygen consumed by the subject during the trial period with the calorific value of oxygen as 20.88 kJ lit-1. Energy cost is comparatively less for KAU coconut palm climber with other models. Mean energy cost of male subjects during the operation of KAU coconut palm climber is 23.16 kJ min-1 and female shows 25.73 kJ min-1. Variation of heart rate and energy cost of both male and female for selected five models were statistically analyzed. Female subjects are significantly differed in both heart rate and energy cost on different coconut climbing devices and all the female subjects showed minimum heart rate while operating KAU coconut palm climbing device. But male subjects are shown any significant difference for both heart rate and energy cost. But they shows comparatively less heart rate for KAU coconut palm climbing device. The oxygen uptake in terms of VO2 max was minimum for KAU coconut palm climber (58.53 per cent) while it was 65.22 per cent for Sit and climb type (TNAU model) for male operators. Similarly for female subjects, minimum for KAU coconut palm climber (74.30 per cent). Sit and climb type (TNAU model) is difficult in operation compared with other devices. Major discomfort was happened in left thigh, right thigh, left foot and right foot. Based on these results it was found that KAU coconut palm climber and Kerasuraksha coconut climbing device were identified as more suitable for climbers than other climbing devices. Seating unit of Kerasuraksha coconut climbing device and pedal unit of KAU coconut palm climber were ergonomically comfortable for the climbing operator and developed a new model by incorporating the constructional behavior of both KAU coconut palm climber and Kerasuraksha coconut climbing device. Energy expenditure of new model for male is decreased by the rate of 10.8per cent when compared to Sit and climb type (TNAU model and with KAU coconut palm climber it is comparable. In the case of female subjects, Energy cost of new model was decreased by 7.8 per cent with Kerasuraksha coconut climbing device and 6.2 per cent with Sit and climb type (TNAU model) and it is comparable with KAU coconut palm climber. Mean VO2, VO2 max and work pulse of new model is 1.10, 58.16 per cent and 69.70 beats min-1 for male and for female it is 1.22, 73.45 per cent and 81.10 beats min-1 respectively. These values are comparatively less than value of other five models. The time required for climbing new model was 65.01 sec for male subjects which are less than other five selected coconut climbing devices and same trend for female also. The setting time of the new model was 65 sec while for KAU coconut palm climber it was 150 sec. Time was reduced by 56.67 per cent compare to KAU coconut palm climber