Agricultural silage harvesting is carried out in several stages, the most important of which are produced directly in the field. The harvesting machine performs trimming of stems and subsequent laying of grass in a special collection. This is how a traditional mower works, essentially fulfilling the task of delivering material for the future silo to the barn. However, more modern technology involves the execution of several operations with a harvesting machine right at the place of work. Combined tasks, in particular, are performed by the mower conditioner, thanks to which the farmer can extend the preservation of leaves - the most nutritious part of the plant.
Appointment of units
The main advantage of mowers with conditioning function is their multitasking. They are equipped with several functional components of the hinged type, which allow you to mow, flatten, lay grass, etc. In particular, the mower for the tractor is able to form neat rolls, which can later be put into silos without unnecessary preparatory operations. The specific installation technique will already depend on access to the structure intended for storage.
The variety of mowed herbs does not matter. The designs are guided by seeded legumes and grain plants, but subject to the optimal condition of the knives, mowing almost all stalked ones is allowed. As for the possible limitations, the standard mower conditioner is demanding on the surface. That is, it is not recommended for use on uneven terrain. However, in the latest versions, manufacturers install disks made of high-strength materials, additionally protected by barriers from stones.
Design features
The device of the machine involves the inclusion in the design of several working bodies. So, a self-propelled mower conditioner provides for the presence of a chassis, a cab with an operator's seat, a power plant and a control unit. By the way, diesel is most often used as fuel. The drive mechanism is connected to a hitch-header, which performs basic operations with grass. Usually the hinged system is universal in terms of connecting work units. Using interchangeable adapters, the user can completely change the functional orientation of the machine.
In this case, the main working components are cutting discs, flatting device and swath forming apparatus. To complete the tasks of the above parts can swaths and grass reapers. Depending on the tasks that the mower conditioner should perform, the configuration of the attachment arrangement is selected. The set of operations, in turn, will depend on the requirements for storing the grass and its preliminary preparation.
General principle of work
The whole process is carried out in several interconnected stages. First of all, the stalks of plants are cut using rotary elements or segment carvers. Mowing is supported by a reel, which performs two functions - it regulates the direction of the bevel and transfers the cut grass further along the screw. If a mower is used for a tractor with a header, the primary raw material first enters into it, and then goes to the throat of the conditioning device. At the final stage, rolls are formed from flattened stems - in essence, this is the operation of narrowing the grass to certain volumes.
Types of equipment
There are three classifications of mowers with the possibility of conditioning - according to the type of moving unit, the method of aggregation with it and the design of the cutting organs. As already noted, there are self-propelled vehicles that are completely autonomous and independent of other equipment. Trailed mower conditioner is also common, which must be connected to the tractor. Previously, the manual suspension mechanism was also in demand, but the integration of flattening devices was problematic for him.
As for the classification according to the type of aggregation, that is, the method of connecting the chassis and the suspension mechanism, a frame connecting base and a coupling rod are distinguished. As an addition, auxiliary elements for providing lifting, reinforcing, etc. can be used. By the type of cutting elements, segment, double-knife and rotor systems are distinguished. The most effective is considered a rotary mower for a tractor with discs that provide a wide coverage of the mowing area.
Equipment specifications
Attachments are judged by cutting height, bandwidth and number of functional segments. A set of 4 rotors or segments is considered optimal. They allow you to capture strips with an average width of 2 to 3 m. As the number of functional segments decreases, the width decreases to 0.5-0.8 m. Modified by additional rotors mechanisms can mow with a single coverage of 7-9-meter strips. Typically, such tasks are performed by a rotary mower for a tractor, not a model on the chassis. The cutting height will vary from 50 to 200 mm - this value is adjusted depending on the conditions of work. In addition, the working pace is taken into account, which is determined including the tractor power. The mowing speed varies on average from 3 to 15 km / h. The most powerful 150-horsepower cars are able to work at a pace of 20 km / h.
Conclusion
With the obvious benefits of this multifunctional technique, the appropriateness of its use is not always obvious. Firstly, such equipment requires special technical support and maintenance. Secondly, regardless of the type of drive mechanism and chassis, the mower conditioner works effectively only with high power potential. For example, not every mini-tractor will be able to cope with the one-time use of a mower, conditioner and swath forming device. Therefore, mounted units of this type justify themselves mainly for the maintenance of large farms and, in rare cases, for private agricultural lands that implement the full cycle of silage harvesting.