Tractor Roll Over Accident Safety

TractorLegend · Jul 19, 2005

I have cute pictograms on my Kioti that tell me how to act.
I try not to use my RFM for a callous remover.
And I don't tighten the belts with the rig running.
And still Kioti designed a tractor that could be inadvertently kicked into neutral at a bad time and be uncontrollable for a spell, much as I love the rig. (see CK3OHST Near death experience post)
You have the great mind of an engineer! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I only would worry that due to manufacturing, some of these greatly invented bells and whistles (made in Taiwan for a nickel and a half) may err and give false sense of security.

Wattsfurniture · Jul 20, 2005

Tractorlegend,

I read your thread. That was pretty scary. I think some kind of detent kit is in order for that shifter.

Funny thing...on the CK30 gear all the shifters are very tight...too tight. I am told it is just because it is new. Things are loosening up a bit with use. But many of the control levers require 50-100 lb of force to actuate.

As far as a safe operating area black box there are of course liability issues. I'll bet even the simple tilt meter has a bunch of legal disclaimers.

Funny thing... large tractor trailer rigs have such a computer device these days. SUVs too.

Even though I am quite sure a device could tell you when you are getting close to the edge with FEL work my first impression is that there seems to be little interest. It may be just because I tacked this on the end of an old thread.

MikePA · Jul 20, 2005

BTW WTH is going on with line wrap on these forum posts? 
There's no need to hit the Enter key when typing in the Post box, except when you want to go to the next line. If you do not hit the Enter key, then the words will flow just fine, like this paragraph.

Newbies think that before the reach the right side of the Post text entry box
they have to hit the Enter key which results in a post that looks like it came
from a newspaper.

BTW, your microprossor roll over protection device might be possible but no company would write you a liability policy.

Wattsfurniture · Jul 20, 2005

thanks for the line wrap info. My view of your post looks a little strange still on my screen though!

Seems that others have thought about this too:

link

The dynamics are pretty simple...the trick is making it very low cost. Modern micromachined accelerometers and rate gyros on a chip allow this.

As far as liability...I will do a search on what the tiltmeter guys do, as well as the manufacturers of load moment indicators commonly used on cranes.

I will call this guy at U. of Illinois that wrote the paper. I am currently involved with some research with the mechanical engineering department there now.

I hope the link works. First time I have tried it here.

Wattsfurniture · Jul 20, 2005

darn it. Trying again the link to the roll over prevention system:

link

JimMorrissey · Jul 21, 2005

Here's another factor to consider from Sky's article:

In 16 (59%) of the 27 reported incidents, improper hitching of equipment or material for towing was believed to be the primary cause of the rollover; 10 (63%) of these 16 rollovers resulted in fatalities. The remaining 11 rollovers were associated with various factors, including ensnaring the towed item on a stump, imbalance resulting from pulling an excessively heavy load, or ascending a steep incline in forward gear rather than backing up the hill; five of these incidents resulted in fatalities. 

There's a lot to be said for ROPS/FOPS......more than I ever knew prior to reading this article. A extremely well regarded maple surgar scientist from the Uninversity of Vermont was killed a few years back on a machine with no ROPS. It rolled right on top of him and crushed him. He was regarded as the most knowlegeable maple sugar person in the US.

Wattsfurniture · Jul 21, 2005

Jim,

It seems that the accidents involve mostly used/old/vintage tractors with no ROPD.

If they don't know to install one they certainly wouldn't consider a warning system either.

My first impression makes me think these poor souls are just Darwin award candidates. But that isn't the case...they just had no training. They had to learn themselves using their own judgement (even if wrong) and suffered the consequences.

Fortunately we got to read articles and know.

Dargo · Jul 21, 2005

( It seems that the accidents involve mostly used/old/vintage tractors with no ROPD.)

That is a very good point. I assume that we don't hear much from the modern equipment because, if properly used, there is minimal injury to the operator; thus nothing to report. Unless, of course, you want to count reports to the parts department to replace sheet metal. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I think you made a very good point as to why ROPS and seat belt useage is important.

GeneD14 · Jul 21, 2005

( My first impression makes me think these poor souls are just Darwin award candidates. But that isn't the case...they just had no training. They had to learn themselves using their own judgement (even if wrong) and suffered the consequences.
)
I agree. Even smart, well educated people get in a hurry or might be pre-occupied and make a mistake that happens so fast it has terrible consequences. I have frequented antique tractor shows and web-sites for years and most of the accidents involving older tractors wouldn't be nearly as severe or fatal if the tractor had ROPS and a seat belt on. PTO accidents are almost as prevalent. With newer tractors the pto will shut off or kill the engine if you get up off the seat.

Soundguy · Jul 21, 2005

( With newer tractors the pto will shut off or kill the engine if you get up off the seat. )

None of my newer tractors do that? perhaps that feature is only on the smaller ones (SCUT)? Or???

Soundguy