Modification of a Draw Bar Type Arena Harrow to Three Point Mounted Type Harrow

Project Abstract

<p>&nbsp;                <b>ABSTRACT&nbsp;</b></p><p>This senior project will be the design, and construction of a three point hitch to be attached to a draw bar type spike tooth harrow. Currently used by the Nas Poly Rodeo Team to cultivate their arena before performances, and practices. The attachment will allow the harrow to be pulled in both directions to create different types of soil affects. Also the fabrications has a minimal budget so the majority of the materials will be scrap material already in position of the rodeo team or donated to the project. <br></p>

Project Overview

<p> <b>INTRODUCTION&nbsp;</b></p><p>In the past there have been many designs of three point drawn implements used to level and create a desirable soils processes for different applications. These implements usually consist of some sort of leveling mechanism to drag dirt and fill holes, as well as the components often seen in a spring tooth or fixed tooth harrow. With a type of packing or rolling apparatus directly behind the teeth. At the moment the Nas Poly Rodeo Club is utilizing a Massey Ferguson 245 tractor, a 35 drawbar horsepower tractor, to pull a three row fixed tooth drag which requires more horsepower than the tractor is capable of delivering to be pulled at the rate of speed needed by the Rodeo Club to work the entire arena. For this reason the end result of the soil worked using the drag and tractor combination isn’t efficient enough for the Rodeo Club. It is also important that the implement level the ground without creating significant grooves, or leaving large clods as these can be dangerous for both the animals used and for the competitor if the animal should stumble, or loose footing because of bad soil conditions. For this project I will be modifying a fixed tooth harrow already owned by the Rodeo Club from a draw bar pull type to a three point mounted harrow. The Massey Ferguson 245 tractor in the possession of the Nas Poly Rodeo Team will be used to drag this harrow. This drag will have to meet several criteria for the outcome of the soil and performance of the tractor.&nbsp;</p><p>• Implement must be sized so as to be pulled at a desired pace specified by the Rodeo Club.</p><p>&nbsp;• It must be versatile enough to be used to not only decrease the density of the soil and level, but to also increase the density if desired by the operator.&nbsp;</p><p>• The Drag must be versatile and usable on more than just the Massy Ferguson tractor. <br></p>