The paper deals with the control device for a uniaxial trailer, which makes it possible to increase the maneuverability and reliability of  the movement of a low-tonnage roadtrain by using flexible coupling  in the hitch mechanism. This makes it possible to use roadtrain at  emergency situations, in narrow urban streets, in greenhouses,  livestock houses, and  warehouses. This mechanism is simplicity,  reliability and high maintainability, which allow to operate it when  transporting non-bump-resistant cargo of different purpose. An  application for an invention was filed with the proposed mechanism. The maximum forces in the cable, the drawbar hook and the  controlled elements of the coupling were calculated in case of emergency braking with the maximum loading of the trailer in  difficult road conditions. Critical turn radii were determined at different speeds and tire-to-surface friction coefficients. A mathematical simulation of the movement of the roadtrain was  performed. The device was installed and tested on the basis of the  road laboratory KP-514MP based on the car Gazel 2705 with trailer  IAPZ-739. Full-scale tests were carried out in various urban and field conditions with different loading of the trailer and shifts of the cargo mass center. The cable installation in the hitch significantly changes the geometry of the movement when reversing and emergency  braking. Also the jack-knifing of the roadtrain is obviated, while  without a cable, there is almost always a threat of suchjack-knifing, which is highly undesirable in the transport of non-bumpresistant cargoes. This significantly affects the active safety of the low- tonnage roadtrain, determines its braking efficiency and transverse  stability of the links during the movement. A mathematical model  that had been tested experimentally was described, which makes it  possible to estimate the critical turn radii during maneuvering, the  conditions for emergency braking and the possibility of reversing motion. Two types of cables can be used in the flexible hitch-coupling: one is with a diameter of 9 mm and has the metallic core,  another is LX-0, it consists of 46 wires with the organic core. Also  other types of cables can be applicated if they withstand load of 4.5-5.0 t.

Monitoring of different ways to increase the productivity of agricultural machinery under development of intelligent agricultural  production shown that traditional directions of increasing the  concentration of energy, sizes of working elements and running  speed almost reached their resources capacity. Besides even power  of the existing machines is not fully used because of the influence of  the human factor. An operator cannot quickly react to constantly  changing agricultural background parameters while the machine is in motion. The authors offered to automate the management of the  majority of all technological operations using devices that the machinery is supplied with. Research revealed the real opportunity to establish an automated management and regulatory  system. If an operator is excluded then it is possible to increase efficiency of a machine from 10 to 50 percent depending on its type. Some recommendations on the structure of the priority of  automatic devices were given and the main vision principles of  intelligent combine harvesters were formulated. They are based on  three underlying factors which include electric drives for working  tools involving transmission; automatic equipment systems; computerization of controlling machine and its operation modes.

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is rich in vitamins, carbohydrates, fiber. Tubers of Jerusalem artichoke consist valuable  substance inulin, which has a complex of health properties. Breeders create new hybrids and varieties of Jerusalem artichoke to increase the content of nutrients, productivity and climate resilience. The authors analysed moisture content, dry residue and fractional  composition of carbohydrates in the tubers of Jerusalem artichoke  varieties Skorospelka and Sireniki and the hybrids PBB and PBK in  various phases of vegetation. In the flowering stage the moisture of  the tubers of the investigated varieties was in the range of 77.2-81.3 percent, the value of dry residue of nutrients was 18.7-22.8 percent. The greatest number of non-reducing and total sugars in  the flowering stage contained in the tuber varieties of Sireniki and was equaled 78.3 and 61.8 percent, respectively. A similar analysis was conducted in the maturation phase. In this phase the solids  content slightly increased and amounted to 22.9-26.2 percent. Non- reducing sugars content, including inulin, increased in all the studied samples of Jerusalem artichoke. However, the greatest values of 72  percent were noted for variety Sireniki and hybrid PBK. The content  of inulin depends on the phase of the growing season and the  varietal characteristics of Jerusalem artichoke and the absence of decisive superiority of the hybrids.

An overlaid chisel of a compound ploughshare is the most loaded part which is important for operability of a ploughshare and  implementation of agrotechnical requirements for plowing depth.  Chisels of ploughshares are made by methods of stamping and  blanking with use of gas, laser or plasma machines. Parts from a  rolled strip are the most wearresisting. Сhisels with big difference on plowing depth between extreme points of an edge are the best for  heavy soils cultivation because of partial destruction of the soil  bottom layer. When light and medium soils plowing the difference of  depth between extreme points of an edge of a chisel is reduced for  decrease in traction resistance of a ploughshare. On light soils with  the hardness up to 2.7 MPa the plows equipped with ploughshares  with the chisels having the minimum difference on depth between extreme points of an edge have the minimum traction resistance. When difference raises up to 30 mm traction resistance increases on  average for 5.5 percent. This dependence is close to linear if  difference of depth varies from 10 to 30 mm. The overlaid chisels are recommended for ploughshares at cultivation of light and heavy soils by plows of general purpose. The angle between a chisel edge and a  furrow wall should to be direct, and the difference of depth between extreme points on the line crossing an edge and sides of the chisel should be in an interval of 15-20 mm.

For development of technological bases of harvesting and equipment of cleaning of lucerne seeds it is necessary to take as a basis the  agrotechnical requirements imposed to seeds during their  harvesting, processing (rub threshing) and cleaning (sorting).  lucerne seeds harvesting has to take place in the period of their wax  ripeness. When maturing 70-80 percent of seeds in beans and seeds humidity of 60-65 percent plants are mowed in windrows and  dried till humidity of 14-15 percent. The humidity of beans when processing (rub threshing) should not exceed 14 percent. The technology with stationary processing of a harvest (heap) providing  the minimum losses of seeds is effective and most perspective. The authors offered the modernized technology of seeds cleaning  with use the MB-2.5A thresher winnower, the modernized clover huller K-0.5M and the dielectric seed cleaning device. Seeds heap after processing by MB-2.5A consists of the following components:  seeds – 35-44 percent, organic inclusions (leaves, stalks, seeds of  foreign cultures) – 49-67 percent, mineral inclusions (dust, clay,  small stones) – 1-2 percent. The modernized clover huller K-0.5M  provides: completeness of rub threshing – 98.5 percent; purity of  seeds – 85.7 percent; damage of seeds – 1.8 percent; losses of  seeds – 1.4 percent; heap productivity – 0.5-0.6 t/h and losses reduction by 2-2.5 times. Dielectric apparatus separates lucerne seeds from quarantine  inclusions with a triboelectric method. The  efficiency of seeds cleaning for the first fraction was 53.1 percent,  for the second one – 38.5 percent and for the third one – 11.9  percent. The cost of lucerne seeds cleaning decreases by 1.5 times  due to the modernized technology.

One of the most important tendencies of increase in agricultural industry efficiency is improvement of methods and means for  determination of the main parameters of the machine and tractor  units (MTU). Every part of the MTU (an engine, a tractor and an  agricultural machine) has its own power characteristics which  combination makes one or the other mod of its operation. High- quality operation of MTU can be possible after study interaction of all these three main parts. So development of the methods of  determination of the unit parameters makes a big difference for  improvement of technical and economic parameters of the MTU.  Determination of connection between the separate parameters of the unit and the value of them using devices make it possible to solve  practical problems connected with improvement of the MTU operation: selection of the more productive combination of the units and their working modes; determination of the technically  reasonable production rate and consumption of the fuels and  lubricants oils; control of the technical condition of the engines,  tractors and agricultural machines, their correct adjustment. The  parameters characterizing the dynamic and economic qualities of the MTU are most important: ability rating of the engine and its fuel efficiency; ability rating of the tractor and its fuel efficiency; tractive  resistance of the machines in the unit. The operational methods of determination of the power and fuel-economic rates based on the  analysis of the parameters of the transition (dynamic) modes of  acceleration of the MTU at the instant increase of fuel supply are  represented in the research. Due to these methods the acquisition of the regulatory characteristic of an engine, the tractive characteristic of a tractor and find the draft of the agricultural machine during  operation are possible. In this case no need expensive equipment  using, essential expenditure of finances and time for preparation and carrying out of measurement.

When environmental requirements for tractor diesels and changes in the price policy of various fuels of oil origin increase, there is a need  to use new alternative flammable substancesfor partially or  completely replace traditional fuels. Application of vegetable oils as  combustible material for diesel engines is most perspective. One of  the most competitive fuel is palm oil which world production exceeds many other vegetable oils, including rape. Advantages of  palm oil allow to use it as fuel or as diesel fuel additive. The authors onsidered the main physical properties of palm oil for the purpose of  assessment of its influence on the fuel equipment and a further  possibility of its use in diesel engines. For assessment of characteristics of operation of the tractor diesel engine bench tests with additives of palm oil to diesel fuel were carried out. Experimental studies were carried out on an electric brake stand in tandem with a D-120 diesel engine. If oil additives reach up to 20  percent then combustion and quality of mixing woul change. The  maintenance of CH decreases at low and normal loads to 42 percent, and at high ones – up to 17 percent. Concentration of carbon  monoxides CO at the same time increases: at low and normal loads  – by 37-49 percent, and in a maximum of loadings it increases by 6- 8 times and makes about 65 ppm. The content of nitrogen oxides NOx in exhaust gases at additive of palm oil significantly differs at high loadings and decreases by 21 percent or up to 4550 ppm. Soot  emissions decrease in proportion to increase of content of palm oil in fuel: at 10 percentage additive by 20-30 percent and at 20 percent by 35-45 percent.