Abstract:
Abstract: A new grooved-roller seed metering device is developed to overcome the breakage of seedling, obtain high sowing rate and raise seeding efficiency in present, and exercise the optimal design. Firstly, this paper introduces the main structure, the working principle and the related structural parameters of the device in detail. Seed metering device is a key component to realize mechanized cultivation of Pennisetum, which is divided into 2 types according to its working principle. One type is real-time cutting seed metering device and the other type is pre-cut seed metering device. Compared with real-time cutting metering device, pre-cut seed metering device has the advantages of high automation, no damage to seed and lower labor intensity, so it shows a good market prospect and is the main trend of the future development of the metering device. The grooved-roller seed metering device is one of pre-cut seed metering devices. In terms of the stem stress state of seeding process, the evaluation function of seeding smoothness with force angle of the stem as the target was derived. According to the function, opening width of the seed groove and depth of the seed groove were the main impact factors of the improved device's seeding performance. Based on the compressive strength of the stem, the best size of seeding slot was deduced as 20 mm × 20 mm finally. The different morphology and difference of seed diameters are the main influence factors of the problem, and those are easy to cause the bud break. The smoothness and accuracy of seeding were improved by adding the elastic dunnages on the groove of the seeding drum. According to the evaluation function of seeding smoothness, the structure size of the dunnages was optimized as the side gasket thickness of 4 mm and the bottom gasket thickness of 8 mm. In order to study the effect of dunnages on the fluency, the model of grooved-roller seed metering device of the Pennisetum was established by using the dynamic simulation software ADAMS (automatic dynamic analysis of mechanical systems). The effect regularities of structural parameters and motion parameters on seed groove and dunnages were studied. The simulations showed that the new seed metering device could realize the orderly discharge of seeds, and obviously reduce the stress of small-diameter seed by using the plastic dunnages, ensuring the seed row stability and the adaptability of seed diameter. Then the real tests in the laboratory and field were undertaken to verify the conclusions of virtual tests. Bench test results showed that the gasket could improve the flow degree of the seed row to a certain extent, in which the roller speed fluctuation ratio was less than 10%, the roller torque fluctuation ratio was less than 400%, and the seeding rhythm fluctuation ratio was about 20%. The research further indicated that the quality of the seeding was not affected by the roller speed, and sometimes the faster speed would slightly improve the fluidity of the seeding. Because when the roller speed was faster, the time the stem entered the entry took shorter, which reduced the resistance of the seed row to a certain extent. The results indicated that the seed metering device can realize the seeding operation and the dunnages can effectively improve the seeding fluency. Field experiment indicated that the seeder was stable, and the qualified index was greater than 93.33%, the missing index was less than 4.1%, the multiple index was less than 2.5%, and the variance coefficient was13.63%. The indicators were in line with the planting requirements of giant grass. The research provides a theoretical reference for the design of grooved-roller seed metering device of Pennisetum and the technical reference for the related design of planting machine.