Tractor hydraulic power data acquisition system

Tractor hydraulic power is used on a wide range of agricultural implements; however, the availability of operational hydraulic data at points other than full engine throttle position is limited. Operators could utilize this hydraulic data to maximize field efficiency and minimize machinery costs when determining suitable machinery for field operations. A field usable hydraulic test apparatus capable of measuring tractor hydraulic pressure and flow rate data was developed. The goal of this study was to determine if a hydraulic flow and pressure measurement device could be installed on the rear of a tractor to provide implement hydraulic power consumption at different hydraulic hose orientations. The measurement system installed allowed hydraulic lines from the tractor hydraulic remote ports to be attached to the flowmeter and pressure sensors at multiple angles of 0°, 45°, and 90° in different configuration layouts. Tests were performed at different flows and pressures for each hose configuration. The pressures were compared across configurations to a base line reading from a hydraulic pressure and flow rate measurement apparatus used by the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory (NTTL). Pressure deviations from the base line were small and ranged between 10.56 kPa and 32.2 kPa. Flow rate differences (<167 mL min–1) were determined to be negligible (<0.5%). Calculated power differences (<33 W) were less than 1% full scale power measured. This small power loss suggested that using the hydraulic measurement apparatus developed as part of this study would enable accurate measurements of tractor hydraulic power provided to implements regardless of hydraulic hose bend angles.