Vibration and noise measurements during silage thickening with inertia directional vibrator

Literature review and performed theoretical investigation indicates that it is environmentally and economically feasible for small and average size farms to use vibrational thickening method for silage preparation. However, the results need to be verified with experiments. This research work provides analysis and evaluation of flat surface inertia type vibrator, in which the excitation force is induced by turning the unbalanced mass. Directed action vibrator was manufactured and tested. Results indicate that application of inertia directional vibrator for thickening of finely chopped corn and Jerusalem artichoke stalk mixture, after 40 minutes thickening, allows to obtain a 114.6 kg m-3 density for both layers, while thickening the first 65 kg mass mixture layer after 10 minutes - a 197.9 kg m-3 density. Dry material densities correspond to 61.5 and 106.3 kg m-3 respectively. After examination of fodder quality it was determined that corn mixture silage, thickened by the inertia directional vibrator, satisfies highgrade silage requirements. Performed tests demonstrated that the effect of vibrations on whole body and the measured noise levels do not have detrimental effect on human health and the established acceptable limits are not exceeded while operating the inertia directional vibrator. The vibrator is suitable for silage preparation since it does not contaminate the fodder with dirt and gasoline products during operation. The proposed silage preparation method provides opportunities to use ecologically safe containers as well as sectional and other types of enclosure

Vibratory thickening of grass mass

Flat surface inertia type vibrators in which the excitation force for thickening grass mass is received by turning the unbalanced mass were analyzed and evaluated. Directed and undirected action vibrators were manufactured and tested. The amplitude frequency characteristics of pressed grass mass were evaluated using a directed action grass mass pressing vibrator. It was concluded that resonant frequency depends essentially only on mass toughness qualities, and changes from 7.0 Hz when there is fodder goat's rue (Galega orientalis Lam) mass of greater toughness, up to 15 Hz when thickening chopped maize mass of lesser toughness. The amplitude of grass mass pressure during resonance depends only on the mechanical resistance of the pressed mass. The amplitude of excitation power of goat's rue and its mixes during resonance increased from 2.5 to 3 times but efficiency of mass pressure reduced. The calculated coefficients of pressure enhancement were equal to 5.5-5.8 when vibratory thickeners were used for pressing grass mass. The established repression of pressure on plant mass layer, while pressing mass on the surface and from the bottom of container, was 3.0-7.5 when using the directed action vibrator, and 4.8 when using the undirected action version. After evaluating the application of various tractors and vibratory grass mass thickeners for grass mass pressing it was found that in both cases the received efficiency rates of grass mass layer were similar. However, while using vibratory grass mass thickeners, these rates were even higher than using a wheeled tractor T-25A. The efficiency of mass thickening by centrifugal-directed action vibrator was evaluated by using an experimental trial. The results mdicated that during vibratory thickening the grass layer was thickened intensely for 5-10 min. Therefore, it is advisable to use vibrators of this type for thickening grass layers of 0.4-0.6 m thickness. This vibrator resulted in good density of chopped maize -Vytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij