Effect of thresher drive linkage design on human physiological workload of a pedal operated thresher

Authors

  • Kamal Nayan Agrawal CIAE
  • E. V. Thomas Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
  • K. K. Satapathy NIRJAFT Kolkata

Keywords:

Pedal operated thresher, Thresher, Thresher drive linkage, Physiological workload

Abstract

Abstract: Pedal operated paddy threshers are widely used in the rice growing countries such as India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Korea and some African countries.  Thresher-drive linkage plays a vital role in human-machine interaction and workload on the human operator.  The four-bar linkage design used in pedal operated paddy thresher was replaced with four alternative designs of thresher drive-linkages to assess the load application pattern and physiological work load while operating the pedal operated paddy thresher.  The machine was tested with five operators for physiological workload estimation.  The linkage combinations were found to have significant effects at 1% level on the work pulse rate and workload to operators.  Considering the force-displacement relationships and physiological workload on the operators, linkage three was found to be the most promising design with lowest work pulse rate of  45.90 beats min-1 and change in energy expenditure rate of 214.5 W (12.87 kJ min-1).

 

Keywords: pedal operated thresher, thresher, thresher drive linkage, physiological workload

Author Biographies

Kamal Nayan Agrawal, CIAE

Senior Scientist

Central Insitute of Agricultural Engineering

E. V. Thomas, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Food Engineer, IIT, Kharagpur

K. K. Satapathy, NIRJAFT Kolkata

Director, National Institute of Research on Jute and Allied Fibre Technology

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Published

2012-12-23

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2013): CIGR Journal

Section

V-Management, Ergonomics and Systems Engineering