Development of an inexpensive rollover energy dissipation device to improve safety provided by ROPS

• Published in: Biosystems engineering 2019-09, Vol.185, p.88-102
• Main Authors: Latorre-Biel, Juan-Ignacio, Ballesteros, Tomás, Arana, Ignacio, Alfaro, José R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: OECD standard code; safety margin; safety zone; washer
• ISSN: 1537-5110; 1537-5129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2019.02.004

Tractor overturn is the most common cause fatal accidents in agriculture. Installing rollover protective structures (ROPS), in combination with the use of a safety seat belt, is the best way to avoid fatalities. A ROPS must be able to absorb the rollover energy without collapsing or suffering such a deformation that infringes the safety zone, where the tractor operator must remain. Therefore, any device able to absorb rollover energy, prevent ROPS collapse or infringement of the safety zone, increases the safety provided. An energy dissipation device was developed and tested. It contained a metal piece placed in each one of the four anchoring points to attach the ROPS to the tractor frame such that the piece began to deform and dissipate energy when the ROPS reached a deformation that could compromise the safety of the driver. At deformation the piece raised the closest anchoring point of the ROPS, forcing the ROPS to pivot around the opposite anchor point while it absorbed large amounts of energy, preventing the ROPS approaching the safety zone. The device designed and constructed specifically to be mounted on a Daedong D85 tractor model and has been tested to calculate the safety increase provided by its installation. The results demonstrated that the developed device, costing less than € 20, increased the safety margin by more than 50%. •A device has been developed to absorb rollover energy of a tractor.•One device is installed in every anchoring point of a ROPS to the chassis.•This device deforms, when the deformed ROPS could compromise the safety area.•The device makes the ROPS to pivot, preventing the infringement of the safety area.•FEM analysis and tests show that the safety margin increases 50% in rollover.