Paper 5: Design Considerations Relating to Tractor Cabin Suspensions

This paper describes work being carried out at the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering to determine the suitability and performance of various suspension designs and types for the improvement of tractor operator ride. Analytical and experimental work described relates mostly to suspension designs which are in principle of the single-degree-of-freedom type, though the feasibility of suspensions involving two or more degrees of freedom is considered. The advantage of employing a suspension frequency below that normally obtainable with seat suspensions is clearly shown. Some of the resulting design implications (including economic and safety aspects) are discussed both in relation to existing tractor configurations and to possible future developments in tractor evolution.