The optional TRACTION CONTROL traction booster can optimise the power transfer from the tractor to the ground. The additional weight applied to the rear axle of the tractor improves the traction of the tractor. The improved traction in turn results in less wheel slip and prevents harmful soil compaction due to smearing. In addition, fuel consumption per hectare ploughed is reduced and output is increased thanks to effective progress.
Fuel consumption per hectare reduced by up to 10%
Wheel slip reduced by up to 50 %
Increased output
TRACTION CONTROL is available on the 5 furrow SERVO 3000 models.
If the plough is operated using the tractor's active draft control, the electronics permanently regulate the height of the tractor linkage based on the draft required by the plough. This means that the plough is raised slightly in compacted areas to ensure the power requirement remains the same.
With the additional traction provided by TRACTION CONTROL, the plough can be pulled with more control over its position. This reduces the control intensity of the tractor linkage, and the linkage deviates less from its set lifting height. The result is that the plough maintains the same working depth even in compacted areas and the soil is ploughed and loosened at a consistent depth.
The hydraulic cylinder in the headstock moves the pin of the top link ball in the slotted hole backwards using a lever as soon as the system is under pressure. This pulls the tractor toward the plough slightly using the top link, similar to shortening the top link. This has the effect of applying weight to the rear axle of the tractor. Nevertheless, the plough is free to move within the slotted hole and can adapt to the contours of the ground.
The additional weight on the tractor's rear axle is finely regulated using the hydraulic system and a single-acting cylinder. The clearly visible pressure gauge on the headstock shows the preloaded pressure in the system. This makes it easy to react to different situations. The load applied to the rear axle can be increased by up to 1.440 kg.
To keep the weight transferred to the rear axle of the tractor constant, a hydraulic accumulator filled with nitrogen is integrated into the hydraulic system. This ensures a constant pressure even when driving through dips or over rises. The accumulated compensates for fluctuations in the system pressure.
The Austrian University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) * in Vienna has tested the system in the field using a SERVO 45 S on medium-heavy soils. They investigated the influence on fuel consumption and on the wheel slip characteristics of the tractor at a working width of 2.60 m and a working depth of 25 cm.
The following positive influences with the active traction boost system were determined:
Investigated parameter | without active TRACTION CONTROL | with active TRACTION CONTROL | Efficiency |
Fuel consumption | 20.5 l/ha | 18.4 l/ha | - 2.1 l/ha |
Rear wheel slip | 4.8 % | 3.3 % | - 1.5 % points |
Area output | 1.94 ha/h | 2.07 ha/h | 0.13 ha/h |
* Markus Schüller, Gerhard Moitzi, Institute of Agricultural Engineering Helmut Wagentristl, Groß Enzersdorf experimental farm