New Innovative Double Row Chopper System

Group Name: Group 2 harvesting innovations

Objectives

The final stages of development of the double row chopper system

• Measure the expected reduced losses in the chopper system over the conventional pinch chop
• This new system needs to be designed, built and tested to allow for the development of a cheap, light, efficient double row harvester
• This will improve harvesting systems
• Increase revenue
• Decrease input costs
• Decrease environmental impact
• Will have social benefits
• Alleviate labour shortage problem
• The skills of the group members will be called upon to address design issues and in doing so will develop their skills into this new technology

Project Activities:

The project has six [5] steps that will see it through to completion.

These are [1] Attain funding through GGIP.

[2] Finalise design. Have Rockfield Technologies complete computer modelling and theoretical gear train analysis of chopper assembly.

[3]Have components machined that cannot be sourced, buy bearings ect . and assemble chopper unit.

[4] Test the unit in a bench top capacity in partnership with BSES's engineering department [Cam Whiteing] and Rockfield Technologies pty. Ltd. and benchmark results against conventional pinch chop systems. i.e. power usage, billet quality, sugar losses, durability ect. * It is hoped that the successful chopper system will be able to be viewed operating in a double row harvester in the early stages of the 2008 season.

*[5] Communicate results throughout the industry by means of ‘CANEGROWER' magazines, BSES magazines, and ‘CANEHARVESTER' magazines, open viewing of bench top demonstrations.