Innovative Design and Validation of Tandem Quadrant Assembly in Tractors

The tractor is essential in both agriculture and construction, equipped with a variety of implements for different operational conditions. Its hydraulic system is crucial for controlling these implements during fieldwork and transport. The quadrant assembly is a key part of the tractor's hydraulic control system, allowing the operator to manage important functions. This includes hydraulic control and draft control, enabling the farmer or operator to use the PC and DC levers to adjust the movement of implements during various tasks. Tractors are commonly used in fields and farms where the soil can be loose and muddy, particularly during wet puddling operations. In these muddy conditions, tractors can accumulate mud in critical components, such as the quadrant assembly. This can lead to functional issues, increased friction, and problems within the hydraulic system, especially affecting the controls for hydraulics and lever shifting for implement handling. As a result, operators may need to exert more manual effort to operate the lever due to the added frictional forces. This paper addresses the challenges encountered with the current quadrant design and presents an innovative solution to resolve these issues. The existing quadrant assembly consists of a PC tube and DC shaft mounted on the same axis, while the proposed design utilizes a tandem or split shaft arrangement. This new configuration minimizes relative motion between moving linkage parts and facilitates easier maintenance access. Virtual simulations using CAE tools were conducted to validate the new design's components, and multiple design iterations were performed to meet durability standards. Ultimately, the final innovative tandem quadrant assembly design has been filed for an Indian patent grant. This approach can be applied to all tractor components to achieve optimal designs that reduce manual effort and improve the system's mechanical advantage. KEYWORDS: Hydraulic System, Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), Position control (PC), Draft control (DC).