Study on the development process of agricultural trailer

Abstract

As an important part of agricultural mechanization, agricultural trailer has greatly promoted the improvement of agricultural production efficiency. The development of agricultural trailers has gradually evolved from early manual traction tools to modern, multi-functional and efficient agricultural machinery. This paper will comprehensively discuss the development of agricultural trailers from the aspects of historical origin, technological progress, functional diversification and future trend, and analyze the impact of technological progress behind agricultural mechanization on agricultural production.

keyword

Agricultural trailer, agricultural machinery, development history, agricultural production, mechanization

1. Introduction

A farm trailer is an unpowered agricultural machine, usually pulled by a tractor or other agricultural machinery, used to transport agricultural materials such as crops, farm tools, feed, and livestock. In agricultural production, trailers bear important transportation tasks, especially in large-scale agricultural production, the use of trailers effectively improve the efficiency of work and reduce labor intensity. This paper combs the historical development process of agricultural trailer, analyzes its technical progress and functional changes in different historical periods, and looks forward to the future technical direction of agricultural trailer.

2. Origin and early development of agricultural trailers

2.1 Manual traction and animal trailer

Before the mechanization of agriculture, farm trailers mainly relied on human or animal traction. Early farm trailers usually consisted of wooden frames and wheels for transporting crops or tools. Manual trailers are relatively simple and can only carry a small amount of produce, which is suitable for small-scale family farming.

The advent of animal-powered trailers marked the first major advance in agricultural trailers. With the popularity of animal traction, farmers can use livestock tractor-trailers such as horses and cattle, greatly improving the efficiency of transportation, especially in larger farms. Animal trailers are mostly made of wood or iron, simple in structure but durable, widely used in agricultural production.

2.2 The impetus of Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century had a profound impact on the development of agricultural trailers. With the gradual application of agricultural mechanization and steam power technology, the design and function of agricultural trailers have also begun to change. The invention of the steam engine made it possible for farmers to use steam power to pull larger and heavier farm trailers, greatly improving the efficiency of their operations. At the same time, the introduction of iron frames and rubber tires has also greatly improved the carrying capacity and durability of agricultural trailers.

3. Technological progress of modern agricultural trailers

3.1 Combination of tractor and agricultural trailer

In the early 20th century, the wide application of internal combustion engines made tractors gradually replace animal power as the main source of agricultural power. Tractor-drawn farm trailers greatly improve the efficiency and convenience of agricultural transportation. During this period, agricultural trailers began to standardize production, and their structures gradually became complex and could adapt to different agricultural needs.

The combination of tractor and agricultural trailer not only improves the load capacity of the trailer, but also promotes the diversification of the functions of the agricultural trailer. The design of modern trailers began to focus on versatility, not only can transport crops, but also can be used in conjunction with other agricultural machinery, such as harvesters, planters, etc., forming a complete set of agricultural mechanization system.

3.2 Introduction of pneumatic and hydraulic systems

In the mid-20th century, with the introduction of pneumatic and hydraulic technology, the function of agricultural trailers was further expanded. The application of pneumatic and hydraulic systems enables the trailer to have a self-unloading function, which can automatically dump crops, soil or other materials, reducing the burden of manual operation. The dump trailer is widely used in modern agriculture, especially in the transportation of large quantities of materials such as grain and sand, which greatly improves the transportation efficiency.

In addition, the introduction of the hydraulic system also allows the agricultural trailer to be adjusted in height and tilt Angle control, facilitating operation in different operating environments. This technological advancement not only improves operational efficiency, but also improves the suitability and operational safety of agricultural trailers.

3.3 Optimization of material technology and trailer structure

The development of modern material technology has had a profound impact on the design and manufacture of agricultural trailers. In the second half of the 20th century, with the extensive use of new materials such as steel and aluminum alloy, the weight of agricultural trailers has gradually decreased, but the carrying capacity has been enhanced. The lighter trailer not only reduces the power demand on the tractor, but also increases the flexibility of transportation.

In addition, the body structure of the agricultural trailer has been optimized several times. Modern farm trailers are not only designed to be more aerodynamic and reduce wind resistance during driving, but also pay attention to the balance and stability of the load, and can operate safely on rough farm roads.

4. Diversified functions of agricultural trailers

4.1 The rise of multi-purpose trailers

With the comprehensive advancement of agricultural mechanization, the function of agricultural trailers has gradually developed in the direction of multi-purpose. Today's farm trailers are not only used to transport agricultural products, but can also be equipped with different accessories, such as spraying devices, planters, etc., becoming a multi-functional tool for farm operations. For example, some trailer designs can be equipped with feed delivery devices while transporting livestock, or field spraying while transporting crops, greatly improving operational efficiency.

4.2 Application of specialized trailers

The diversified needs of modern agricultural production have spawned the emergence of various specialized agricultural trailers. Specially designed trailers are more adaptable to different crops and operating environments. For example, the cold chain transport trailer is equipped with a refrigeration system, which is specially used for transporting fruits and vegetables, dairy products and other agricultural products with strict temperature requirements. Others, such as bulk grain trailers and straw transport trailers, also play an important role in modern agriculture.

4.3 Information technology and intelligence

In the 21st century, the rapid development of information technology has made agricultural trailers gradually move in the direction of intelligence. The wide application of GPS navigation, Internet of Things technology and sensors has made the management and monitoring of agricultural trailers more intelligent. Modern agricultural trailers can monitor the load, driving status and the connection between the trailer and the tractor in real time through sensors to ensure the safe and efficient transportation process.

Intelligent farm trailers can also be integrated with farmland management systems to provide accurate transportation route planning and operational guidance. For example, agricultural iot systems based on big data can monitor the harvest progress of farmland, intelligently deploy the transportation tasks of agricultural trailers, and optimize agricultural operation processes.

5. The future development trend of agricultural trailers

5.1 Autonomous driving and unmanned

With the rapid development of autonomous driving technology, future agricultural trailers will have more automated and unmanned functions. Unmanned agricultural trailers can automatically carry out transportation tasks in the field, and cooperate with agricultural machinery such as unmanned harvesters and planters to achieve fully automated agricultural production. Driverless agricultural trailers can also reduce human error, reduce labor costs, and further improve agricultural production efficiency.

5.2 Electrification and environmental design

With the increase of global environmental awareness, electric trailers have become an important direction for the development of agricultural trailers in the future. The electric trailer uses a clean energy power system, which reduces carbon emissions and contributes to the sustainable development of agriculture. In the future, electric farm trailers may be combined with renewable energy technologies such as solar energy to achieve the goal of green agriculture.

In addition, the design of future agricultural trailers will also pay more attention to environmental protection, such as the use of recyclable materials, reduce energy consumption in the production process, etc., to promote the transformation of agricultural equipment manufacturing industry to low-carbon environmental protection direction.

5.3 Intelligent management and interconnection technology

The future agricultural trailer will be more intelligent, and the agricultural management system based on the Internet of Things and big data will realize the interconnection between the trailer and other agricultural machinery and equipment. Through the intelligent management platform, farmers can monitor the operating status of agricultural trailers in real time, optimize transportation routes, reduce energy consumption, and further improve the intelligent level of agricultural operations.

6. Conclusion

From the early manual and animal traction tools to modern, multi-functional and efficient agricultural machinery, the development of agricultural trailers reflects the great progress of agricultural mechanization. The application of agricultural trailers in agricultural production not only improves the efficiency of agricultural production, but also reduces the labor burden of farmers. With the continuous progress of technology, the future of agricultural trailers will be more automated, intelligent and environmentally friendly, providing more advanced technical support for the sustainable development of global agriculture.

reference

1. Smith, J. (2010). Agricultural Machinery and Mechanization. London: Oxford University Press.

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3. Zhang,  Y. (2018). "Smart Farming and the Role of Intelligent Farm Trailers". International Journal of Agricultural Technology,  12(3), 145-160.