Analysis of Platform Leveling Systems for Tracked Feller-Buncher Machines

The study was devoted to the analysis of feller buncher platform leveling systems. The widespread use of these systems in the design of modern feller-buncher machines makes the study relevant to assess operational efficiency. The analysis was conducted in five stages using analytical and stochastic mathematical modeling methods. In the first stage, the existing layouts of alignment systems were analyzed from the position of force on the hydraulic cylinder rods of the platform tilt drive. The three-cylinder layout scheme, where the force on the hydraulic cylinder rod was 50…60% less than that on the two-cylinder layout, appeared to be the most expedient. In the second stage, a mathematical model for determining changes in the position of the center of mass of the feller-buncher depending on the inclination angle of the platform was derived. In the third stage, a mathematical model was derived for determining the limiting angle of slope of the terrain when the feller buncher moved up the slope. For this purpose, two calculation schemes were considered when the machine moved up the slope without and with a tilted platform. Zero support reaction on the front roller was taken as the stability criterion. In the fourth stage, a mathematical model for determining the limiting angle of slope of the terrain during the roll of the feller-buncher machine was obtained. In the fifth stage, the efficiency of the application of leveling systems was evaluated. A graph of the dependence of changes in the terrain slope angle on the platform slope angle was plotted, and a regression dependence for an approximate estimate was obtained. A regression analysis was also carried out, and dependencies were obtained to determine the weight of a feller-buncher with a leveling system and the added pressure on the ground caused by the increase in the weight of the base machine. The analysis of platform leveling systems showed the effectiveness of their application in the designs of feller-buncher machines, as it allows the machines to work on slopes with an inclination of 50…60% more than without them.