E3S Web of Conferences 126, 00003 (2019) https://doi.org/10.

1051/e3sconf/201912600003
ICMTMTE 2019

Engineering design of a grain silo and a bucket

elevator for a combined unit for hopper
preparation and seeding of grain crops
Kirill Nemtinov1, *, Alexsey Eruslanov1, and Yulia Nemtinova1,2
1Tambov State Technical University, 392000, Sovetskaya st., 106, Tambov, Russia
2Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin, 392000, Internatsionalnaya st., 33, Tambov,
Russia

Abstract. In this paper, we present the results of engineering design of

components of a grain hopper and a bucket elevator for a combined unit
for soil preparation and sowing of grain crops. The grain hopper has
compartments for seeds and fertilizers. A coil-type metering device is also
separated for seeds and fertilizers. The drive of the metering device for
seeds and fertilizers is done by the rear wheels of the rolling device
through a variator, which also serves to adjust seeds supply. On the same
shaft with the metering device there is a sprocket, which transmits rotation
moment to the bucket elevator through a chain of PR type. Due to special
design characteristics of the grain hopper shape, seeds enter the coil type
metering device by gravity. A similar operation is done for fertilizers.
Portions of fertilizers and seeds fall into a small tank, joint for grain and
fertilizers, from where the elevator's buckets deliver them to the
distribution device. Seeds and fertilizer fall on the distributing device along
the tray and then on rotating cone with blades, which uniformly distribute
grain and fertilizers to all drill tubes. The developed units were organically
included in the design of the entire combined unit. The obtained results
allowed us to distinguish the following advantages of the developed
designs of the hopper and the bucket elevator: a single metering unit for all
sowing machines; easy access to the main units and mechanisms and their
maintainability; ease of off-season maintenance; use of a large number of
typical domestically produced units and mechanisms.

1 Introduction
The design stage plays an important role for the technical level of future agricultural
machinery, as at this stage designers set the main technical parameters and design solutions
for new agricultural machines, the shortcomings of which are difficult and often impossible
to be corrected at subsequent stages. Currently, integrated systems for computer-aided
design of technological agro-complexes are widely used. Their use significantly increases
the efficiency of designer' s work by automating routine design operations and
documentation for the specific design solution. However, the problem of obtaining the

*
Corresponding author: [email protected]

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
E3S Web of Conferences 126, 00003 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/201912600003
ICMTMTE 2019

optimal variant (or several variants which are close to the optimal one) for real operating
conditions of agricultural machinery remains unsolved [1 - 5].
The solution of this problem is possible on the basis of an automated information
system of decision support for agricultural machinery design, the main function of which is
to study the main parameters of technological processes for its use in agriculture, including
system, information, economic and technological analysis.
To solve this problem, the authors have proposed a technology of computer-aided
design of prospective sowing complexes reflected in the works [6 - 10], which:
1) simultaneously takes into account:
- presentation of the set of design tasks for technological agro-complexes (automated
selection of the structural scheme of a sowing complex, typical units and mechanisms, as
well as design of original units and the layout of all units of the complex) in the form of a
single system using the theory of complex systems and a single information base,
- integrated assessment of design solutions (from economic and technological
standpoints);
2) provide:
- increased intellectual foundation of data processing in the research field;
- significant reduction of time and costs for the design of sowing complexes;
- notable reduction in the number of designers errors and their elimination at the early
design stages ensuring manufacturability - convenience and ease of functioning of
individual units and the whole complex.

2 Engineering design of components of the combined unit

This work is devoted to egineering desigh of a grain hopper and a bucket elevator of a
combined unit for soil preparation and sowing of grain crops.
Consumers have set the task for creating such a design, that would provide:
- single metering unit for all sowing machines;
- easy access to the main components and mechanisms and their maintainability;
- easy off-season maintenance;
- use of a large number of typical domestically produced units and mechanisms.
For engneering design, the authors have used 2D-3D drawing systems (AutoCAD and
COMPASS). Mechanical calculations for the units of the complex were performed in
accordance with GOST 26711-89 [4]. In addition, the authors have used the MathCad
system, which allows automating the calculations [11 - 14].
The results of their development are presented in figures 1-4. A grain hopper has
compartments for seeds and fertilizers. A coil-type metering device for seeds and
fertilizer is also separated for seeds and fertilizers. The drive of the metering device for
seeds and fertilizers is done by the rear wheels of the rolling device through a variator
(different for fertilizer and seeds), which also serves to adjust seeds supply. On the same
shaft with the metering device, there is a sprocket which transmits rotation moment to the
bucket elevator through a chain of the PR type.
.

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E3S Web of Conferences 126, 00003 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/201912600003
ICMTMTE 2019

Fig. 1. 3D view of a hopper and a bucket Elevator model with a metering device.
Inside the body of the bucket elevator there is a stretched chain of the PRP type with
brackets, to which buckets are attached to transport seeds to the distribution device. Seed
and fertilizer dispenser is rotated through the angle-type gear (not adjustable). There is easy
access to all mating details, the PRP chain tension is done by the means of two adjusting
screws.
Due to characteristic design features of the hopper' s shape, seeds enter the coil type
metering device by gravity. A similar operation occurs with fertilizers. Portions of
fertilizers and seeds fall into a small tank, joint for grain and fertilizers, from where
elevator' s buckets deliver them to the distribution device. Seeds and fertilizer fall on the
distributing device along the tray and on rotating cone blades, which uniformly distribute
grain and fertilizer to all of the forty two drill tubes. The metering device includes hatches
for cleaning of the hopper from the remnants of seeds and fertilizers, which simplifies inter-
seasonal maintenance of the sowing machine.

a) b)
Fig. 2. (а, b) 3D models: grain hopper-a), bucket elevator-b)

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E3S Web of Conferences 126, 00003 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/201912600003
ICMTMTE 2019

а) b)
Fig. 3. (а, b) 3D models: coil type metering device-a), distributing device-b)
Along the drill tubes, seeds and fertilizer are delivered to the grain-dirll feeds (42 units)
by gravity for seeding.
The developed design of the grain hopper and the bucket elevator using the technology
described in [5] was organically included in the design of the entire sowing complex. The
General 3D view of its model is shown in figure 4.

Fig. 4. 3D model of the sowing complex for grain crops.

3 Results and discussion

In accordance with the developed design documentation of the sowing complex, LLC "KB
ERUSLAN" has made a prototype. Experiments with the combined unit, which were
carried out in the fields of the Rostov region, in the Sholokhov district on the lands of JSC

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E3S Web of Conferences 126, 00003 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/201912600003
ICMTMTE 2019

"Borets", have shown high efficiency of the proposed design of the grain hopper, the bucket
elevator and the entire unit.
Expected average annual economic effect from a small-scale production, using the
designed complex on the fields of Rostov region, is about 450 000 rubles due to low cost of
the complex and high efficiency of its operation.
Thus, the obtained results allowed distinguishing the following advantages of the
developed design of the hopper and the bucket elevator of the combined unit for soil
preparation and sowing of grain crops:
- single metering unit for all sowing machines;
- easy access to the main components and mechanisms and their maintainability;
- easy off-season maintenance;
- use of a large number of typical domestically produced units and mechanisms.

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