DESIGN AND EXPERIMENT OF A SELF-PROPELLED CRAWLER-POTATO HARVESTER FOR HILLY AND MOUNTAINOUS AREAS

A self-propelled crawler and potato harvester was designed, with the terrain characteristics of both hilly mountainous areas considered, to address low degree mechanization, markedly harvesting rate, high labor intensity in areas. The could complete tasks digging potatoes, separating them from soil, transporting collecting a single operation. Finite element analysis conducted on major parts, such as shovel frame, based overall structure working principle harvester. field experiment then conducted. results finite showed that maximum stress 37.969MPa, strain 1.846×10-4, total deformation 0.8041mm. These measurements were within safe range. bruising damage rate 98.54%, 1.51%, 1.31%, respectively is, higher than national standards for harvesters. exhibited reliable walking performance performance, which provide reference research mechanization