Development of a large capacity haulout bin : SRDC Final report DDI1S

Abstract

This report is submitted to the Sugar Research Council as a summary and description of the haulout bin designs which have been generated under project DDI 1 S. Progress with the project has been partly detailed in the Progress Report submitted in October, 1989, the paper on the measurement of hitch loads in haulout bins submitted to the 1990 Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, and the paper prepared for presentation to the November 1990 Conference on Agricultural Engineering. Copies of these two papers are attached as Appendix D.

The project rationale was based on an analysis by Connell and Borre! (BAE Occasional Paper 101, 1987) of the effects of haulout capacity on the economics of cane growing. Appendix A, taken from the Project Application, details this rationale.

The project was conceived as a design exercise aimed at applying the best of available knowledge and techniques to the task of designing a haulout bin or bins which would be attractive to the industry and act to encourage the changeover to larger and therefore more efficient haulout units. While recognising that the cane industry is particularly innovative in its development of equipment to meet local needs, it was suggested that from an industry wide perspective, there was a need for the promotion of properly designed and targeted haulout units, which would meet the industry's requirements as rationalisation of harvesting groups proceeded, and mill rail fleets changed to take advantage of the economies of scale.

The project has attempted to achieve a synthesis of the varying views and practises found throughout the industry during a period wherein the Project Engineer travelled throughout all the cane growing areas collecting information and assessing the perceived needs. Ultimately, this synthesis has to be expressed as hardware which has been configured to conform to the best suggested practise, within the limits imposed by cost, weight, overall dimensions and effects on the soil. This process has led the project staff to propose two related configurations which it is suggested will allow operators to upgrade their existing equipment in manageable steps, bearing in mind the inevitable changes which will be occurring in the industry during the next five years.

The project staff are also conscious that the industry can also hold very firm views on what is and what is not suitable for haulout duty. The two configurations described here represent our best judgement of the future needs of the industry and the best results of the analysis and design techniques available to us.