Disrupt Your Cognition! The Cold Knowledge Of Tractors

If you could only have one car in your lifetime, what would you choose? Many people may choose cool sports cars or even racing cars; Some people may choose a small car or a pickup truck. Under the given conditions of being able to choose any vehicle model, I will choose a tractor. Equipped with a powerful diesel engine and huge tires, I can drive it to anywhere and do anything. Tractors are truly amazing universal vehicles, but have you ever thought about what made them so great?

|Agricultural Machinery Classroom | What is a tractor?

If you have ever driven behind a slow-moving car and were unable to accelerate, you may think that a tractor is a hassle - but this is not a disadvantage, but rather intentional at the beginning of the design. In English, the word "tractor" is related to "traction and traction", and in Latin, "traction" means traction: this indicates that a tractor is essentially a machine designed to tow objects, usually very slow and reliable.

Tractors have powerful high-power diesel engines, which theoretically means they should be able to run as fast as sports cars. But on a tractor, the power of the engine is used in a completely different way according to people's design: for driving large heavy objects. The special gearbox of the tractor makes this design possible. The gearbox converts the high-speed rotation of the powerful diesel engine into low-speed rotation of the wheels, increasing the power that the tractor can use to pull objects. If you have some understanding of gears, you will find that tractors sacrifice speed to achieve incredible traction.

|Agricultural Machinery Classroom | Why Invented Tractors?

Tractors were originally invented to replace animals used by humans for agricultural work. American industrialist Henry Ford, one of the pioneers of modern tractors, was inspired by the desire for a machine that could work on farms better than a horse.

Before the emergence of tractors, cows and horses made farming easier for farmers, but all they could do was carry things and not fundamentally improve efficiency. Early tractors were only substitutes for horses, so they were mostly used for transporting goods. Early tractors were driven by coal and were called steam tractors. They looked more like small steam locomotives with large and sturdy metal wheels that could roll on the road. It first appeared in the late 19th century when Henry Ford saw this early coal powered beast machine and was inspired to truly develop his own tractor. As he recalled in his autobiography "My Life and Work," I am very certain that after considering all the troubles and feeding costs, the income that horses can bring is lower than the expenses. The obvious thing to do is to design and manufacture a steam engine that is lightweight enough to pull an ordinary carriage or plow. I think it's more important to develop tractors first. Taking out the farm chores from meat and blood and putting them on steel and motors has always been my most steadfast ambition. This idea has inadvertently changed the world and fundamentally changed the way humans work, laying a solid material foundation for modern agriculture.

|Agricultural Machinery Classroom | Rich Functional Properties

Modern tractors are much more complex than early traction tractors, as they can do various things, but this is thanks to some new features that have emerged with the development of technology.

Lower pull rod

Towing heavy objects remains one of the most important tasks that tractors do for farmers. Tractors use a lower link to pull agricultural machinery such as plows, trailers, hay balers, and spreaders. The lower link can establish a safe and flexible connection at any part behind the tractor. The pull-down lever can also rotate, making it easy for a tractor to pull its load to the corner, but reversing may be a bit tricky.

hydraulic system

Both cows and horses can drag heavy objects behind them, but because tools often need to be moved from one place to another, sometimes they need to work underground, and sometimes they need to improve transportation, this problem greatly affects work efficiency. Modern tractors solve this problem by using hydraulic power lifting systems. It can lift and lower tools on the ground through switches, and with the help of a drawbar, the tractor can easily lift or lower the position of the plow while working in the field. After finishing work, it can also be easily transported home. Science popularization: Hydraulic suspension device is actually a lever mechanism that can lift and lower machinery; It is powered by either side of the hydraulic cylinder, and there is a hydraulic connection to the power tool and power socket at the top, which can be used to power the supporting agricultural machinery during operation.

Power output

Almost all modern tractors can use power output (PTO) to provide power for supporting agricultural machinery. It is essentially a rotating shaft, usually located at the rear of the tractor, and its power directly comes from the engine. To use the power output device, you need to connect a special rotating rod (universal joint) between the tractor and the machine. A machine like a hay baler has rotating rakes, wheels, and gears inside. When it is installed at the rear of the tractor and connected to the power output device, the tractor's power drives the machine inside the baler to operate, as well as its own wheels. This is why traction power machinery must be driven relatively slowly: a small portion of engine power is transferred to the mechanical equipment behind it.

By carefully observing a tractor working in the field, you can often see the force output shaft rotating between the tractor and the equipment it is pulling. But never get close to it: their rotational speed is about 500rpm, very dangerous, and this can be called the most dangerous place for tractors.

Wheels&Tires.

The most eye-catching feature of a tractor is its huge wheels. Large inflatable tires distribute the weight of the tractor over a larger area, while deep patterns provide good grip and reduce power loss caused by slipping. Soft ground can cause traditional wheels to sink quickly, but tractors increase contact area with the ground by using low-pressure tires to reduce pressure on the ground, achieving better passability. Similarly, the more sets of tires there are, the less damage the tractor will cause to the soil it drives through.

Most small tractors use two wheel drive, with the rear wheels driven directly by the engine and the front wheels only used for steering. Four wheel drive tractors are more complex and expensive, but their performance is superior and gradually becoming mainstream. Tractor tires are larger and heavier than car tires, and usually do not have independent inner tubes, which does not mean they are solid rubber blocks. This means that air fills the entire space between the tire and the rim. Some tractors use buoyancy tires (extremely wide tires can disperse the load and reduce sinking). These are all designed to provide additional tension, better passability, and more grip.

Control system

Driving a tractor may seem like it's no different from driving a car, but it requires a lot of skills. Steering and braking are the foundation and key for tractor drivers to safely control heavy objects. Due to the heavy weight of tractors and their frequent need to work on steep slopes and damp, unstable ground, there is always a risk of overturning. Therefore, modern tractors usually have reinforced cabins and anti roll bars installed inside. Although tractors will never be considered for enjoying life, most of them now have heated cabins, air conditioning, and some are equipped with GPS satellite navigation to help farmers plan how to cultivate with military precision.