Torque-Controlled Bottom Conveyor Velocity for the Application of Solid Manure : Effect of a DLC System on Longitudinal Distribution

Abstract

To improve distribution accuracy during the spreading of solid manure and secondary raw material fertilizer in a longitudinal direction, a DLC (drive line control) system for solid manure spreaders has been developed. A control circuit allows the DLC system to keep the mass flow at the spreading elements constant. For the examination of distribution accuracy in a longitudinal and lateral direction, a spreading trial with collection trays was carried out. Three application rates (5 t, 10 t, 20 t ha-1 ) were examined both with and without the DLC system. The experimental set-up over a driving distance of 120m enabled more detailed insight into the quality of longitudinal distribution on a small scale and over the course of the unloading distance to be gained. The variation coefficients of lateral distribution (VKQ ) ranged between 11.7 % and 16.5 %. At values between 15.6 % and 35.7 %, the variation coefficients of longitudinal distribution (VKL ) were significantly higher both with and without the DLC system. In the test, the DLC system did not have any influence on VKL . Variability was rather caused by small- scale differences than by differences over the examined travel distance. Nevertheless, the DLC system means significant progress since it provides torque control independent of real driving speed, for example.