Experimental studies of improved potato digger KRK-2 with V-shaped heap distributor

Potato harvesting is a labor-intensive technological process that affects the losses of production and the degree of cleaning the tubers. We have improved the design of the KRK-2 potato digger with a V-shaped heap distributor. The purpose of this work was to find the influence of a V-shaped heap distributor upon the quality indicators of harvesting, and to determine rational design and technological parameters. On the basis of the developed methodology experimental dependences of the influence of the parameters of the distributor upon the contamination of the potato heap and damage to the tubers were obtained. By the results of these calculations it was found that the gap between the conveyor and the distributor has the greatest influence upon the weediness of the heap. To a less degree this process is influenced by the distance of the bar drums to the distributor and the opening angle of the distributor wing. The parameters of the distributor significantly affect the intensity of the process of separating the soil impurities from the potato heap since, when varying the variable parameters, the weediness value changes 7.6 times. It was determined that the minimum value of the soil content index will be at a distance L = 0.55-0.6 m. When the distances L are reduced, the soil content increases because, due to the small distance, a heap accumulates in front of the distributor, which leads to deterioration of the distribution process of the heap across the width of the conveyor.