Retrofitting Agricultural Self-Propelled Machines with Roll-Over and Tip-Over Protective Structures

Abstract

In the agricultural sector, the loss of stability related to the use of self-propelled agricultural machinery (SPAM) has caused and continues to cause accidents, often with fatal outcomes. The probability of occurrence of this risk can be reduced by acting on various aspects, but above all the presence of a protective structure is necessary. Depending on the machine, the protective structure can be a roll-over protective structure (ROPS), or a tip-over protective structure (TOPS). Hence, to reduce this gap, a reverse engineering approach and virtual engineering methods were applied starting from the analysis of harmonized standards actually in force, with the goal of providing both a reference procedure to be used in the risk assessment analysis of SPAM’s protective structures and technical information to manufacture and install protective structure on old agricultural machinery. Two representative case studies were used to validate the procedure by means of finite element method (FEM) analyses and computer aided design (CAD) prototyping. Results show that the proposed approach can represent a useful indication for the safety update of this type of machinery.

Assessment of the Stability of Bev Lhd Loader

“…Such machines must also be assessed in terms of stability due to their work in a terrain with longitudinal and transverse slopes. For this purpose, both static and dynamic models as well as the results of empirical research are used [29,30]. As regards articulated mining machines, a number of works related to drilling rigs and bucket loaders can be indicated.…”

Machinery Safety and Ergonomics: A Case Study Research to Augment Agricultural Tracklaying Tractors’ Safety and Usability

“…Based on the above considerations, a reverse engineering approach [3,13] was applied to develop a technical solution for a partial assistance device capable of satisfying the constructive requirements (i.e., the OECD Codes) and the practical needs of operators at the same time. Indeed, reverse engineering allows for a bottom-up analysis capable of providing solutions closer to the safety needs of workers [35].…”

“…In such a context, it has to be remarked that a safety problem of major concern worldwide is related to the use of agricultural tractors. Actually, the unsafe use of this work equipment as well as the use of unsafe tractors, i.e., tractors that are not in compliance with safety protection requirements, are the cause of a large number of serious and fatal accidents in most countries [1][2][3]. This is particularly true with respect to the roll-over risk [4]: for example, considering the Italian context, information collected by the national observatory of the Italian Workers Compensation Authority (INAIL)-Research Department [5] on fatal accidents related to the use of tractors confirms that most fatalities are due to roll-over.…”

Enhancing Tractor Stability and Safety through Individual Actuators in Active Suspension

“…ROPS and seat belts are common conventional safety devices installed on tractors [9][10][11]. These conventional devices have been studied for performance improvement and utilization [12][13][14][15][16]. Conventional safety devices play an important role in protecting the driver, but their shape and installation method can lead to the risk of rollover accidents [17,18].…”