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Proposed Design Modifications To Reduce Risk Of Operating Rotary Field Mowers, Katie L. White, Larry G. Wells, Scott A. Shearer, Larry R. Piercy
Proposed Design Modifications To Reduce Risk Of Operating Rotary Field Mowers, Katie L. White, Larry G. Wells, Scott A. Shearer, Larry R. Piercy
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications
The primary objective of this project was to reduce risk of injury associated with operating a rotary mower driven by a tractor power take-off (PTO) by developing and evaluating design improvements and determining their economic feasibility. Researchers have concluded that alteration of machinery design has a greater impact on the reduction of accidents than safety training. Implementation of an Operator Presence Sensing System (OPSS) and removal of the PTO are the two injury-reducing, engineering modifications evaluated by this research. Hydraulic power allows this to occur by providing dynamic braking, few moving parts (removal of the PTO), and controllable power. A …