Pressure Control Systems for Tyre Preservation in Forestry Machinery and Forest Soils

Abstract

Most forestry machinery today has a wheel-driven engine, and its tyre pressure has a significant impact on the compaction and degradation of the forest soil, causing environmental damages. Not only the durability of the tyres but also the driving characteristics and productivity of wheeled forest machines depend on the correct choice of pressure and competent operation. This work aims to analyse modern tyre pressure control technologies to develop an automated tyre pressure control system for wheeled forest machinery and lower the environmental impact. A new tyre pressure control system in forest machines was developed using a PressurePro solution, which contributes to a lower negative influence on the soil and reduces expenses for diagnostics and fuel. The study results of the tyre-to-ground contact pressure show that the installation of an automatic tyre pressure control system leads to its decrease by 20%. However, as the number of passes increases, the pressure might slightly increase. The study of humus content and soil compaction demonstrates that reduced tyre pressure and its automatic control contribute to a minimal reduction in humus content and soil compaction over time. Installation of the tyre pressure and temperature control system on forestry machines allows the system to be implemented quickly due to the simplicity of installation and operation. © 2021 - IOS Press. All rights reserved.