Design guidelines for tractor operator's entry and exit

摘要

The operating efficiency of the man-machine system and the performance of the operator can only be affected in an indirect manner due to the improper design of the entry-exit system. A good access system was found to reduce the chance of accident taking place. Work schedules are, therefore, less likely to be disrupted by an operator's absence due to injury. Twenty subjects were chosen to represent 5 to 95 percentile of the standing height based on anthropometric survey of the tractor driver's population and all the subjects were acclimatized with the experimental protocol. Subjective assessments made by the experimental subjects proved a reliable measure when they were asked to differentiate between relatively poor and good entry-exit of the tractor models used in the study. A Z-bend passageway should be avoided or entrance should be as possible to the gap between the seat and steering wheel. The passageway width should be as large as possible within the track width of the vehicle. This paper reveals the present status of entryexit system on leading Indian tractors and the research study conducted at College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Junagadh on the design guidelines for entry-exit system.