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Development of a Small Scale Electric Lawn Mower

M. S. Ahamed
Postgraduate student
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

A. T. M. Ziauddin
Professor
Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A small-scale electric mower was developed in the workshop of the Department of Farm Power and Machinery and evaluated in the open spaces of the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. The mower was evaluated with three different types of grass such as lawn grass, long grass and mixed grass using two types of cutting devices (disc cutter and wire cutter). The average cutting efficiency of the mower using disc cutter and wire cutter for lawn grass, long grass, and mixed grass are 98.48%, 97.57%, 95.10% and 97.90'%, 97.46%, 94.30%, respectively. The average effective field capacity of the mower using disc cutter and wire cutter for lawn grass, long grass, mixed grass were 0.0154 ha/hr, 0.0137 ha/hr, 0.0129 ha/hr and 0.0130 ha/hr, 0.0098 ha/hr, 0.0085 ha/hr, respectively. The operational cost of electric lawn mower was compared with manual operation. The cost of manual operation was nine times higher than the operational cost of mower and cost in case of singe wire was also higher than mower using disc cutter. The results indicated that the lawn mower with disc cutter could be used with high satisfaction.

Keywords: Development, Electric lawn mower

Location: Department of Food Technology and Rural Industry and Computer Science and Mathematics department of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Farm machineries

Objectives:

(a) Development of a low cost electric lawn mower, and (b) Evaluation of performance of the mower in the gardens and open spaces.

Methodology:

The electric lawn mower was tested and evaluated in three different places near the department of Food Technology and Rural Industry and Computer Science and Mathematics department of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, with three different types of grass such as lawn grass, long grass and mixed grass. Wild grass that is grown in gardens or adjacent of building was defined as long grass and wild plant and weed was defined as mixed grass. Three spots were selected randomly from each location to conduct the experiment. In order to determine the performance of lawn mower three replications were taken from each spot using two different types of cutter blade, selecting sample area of 11 cm x 11 cm randomly for each replication from respective spots for evaluation. Time required for operation was measured using stop watch. The following standard technical performance indicators evaluated the performance of electric lawn mower. The cutting efficiency of electric lawn mower was determined as the ratio of the total number of grass cut by mower to the total number of grass present before mowing operation in each sample spots. The effective field capacity may be defined as the actual rate of coverage of field when mower was operated within a specified time. The experimental site was selected, and then experimental areas were marked through measuring the area with steel tape. At first disc cutter blade was attached with mower and tested all connection of nut and bolt. A single-phase electric connection was given to the mower and started the operation of mowing. The operating time of mower was measured and recorded. After completing the operation, the number of cut and uncut grass was counted from each spot for each of three replications. Similarly, data was collected from each locations of experimentation. This information's were used to calculate the cutting efficiency of the mower. On the other hand, actual time was recorded for each predefined area of mowing. Nine replications for each category of grass cut by the mower were made. Effective field capacity of the mower was calculated using equation of field capacity mentioned above. The cost per hectare of operation of electric lawn mower was compared with the cost of manual operation. The cost components are depreciation, interest, repair & maintenance cost, energy cost and labor cost. The cost was calculated using its maximum effective field capacity and theoretical power consumption of mower.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Engineering , Vol: 22 (1&2), PP: 37-44, 2011, ISSN: 1015-4426

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The average cutting efficiency of the mower using disc cutter and single wire for lawn grass, long grass, and mixed grass were 98.48%, 97.57%, 95.10% and 98.20%, 97.46%, 94.10%, respectively. The average effective field capacity of the mower using disc cutter and wire cutter for lawn grass, long grass, mixed grass were 0.0154 ha/hr, 0.0137 ha/hr, 0.0129 ha/hr and 0.0130 ha Zhr, 0.0098 ha z hr, 0.0085 ha Zhr, respectively. The result of this experiment indicates that the cutting efficiency is almost same using both types of blades, but theoretical field capacity is comparatively higher in mower using disc cutter. The cost of operation for disc cutter per hectare was the minimum in comparison to single flexible wire and cost of manual operation was 9 times higher than operation using disc cutler. On the other hand, the purchase price of the electrical lawn mower is reasonable, easy to operate and the cutting efficiency is very high.

Knowledge Management: Journal