Off-road agricultural machinery, particularly combine harvesters, face a multitude of challenges, including minimizing downtime and reducing environmental impact. These machines operate in diverse, often harsh conditions, making maintenance complex and critical. They must withstand dust, mud, and extreme temperatures while ensuring operator safety and minimizing their environmental footprint.
A key component of combine harvesters is the operator cabin, where vibration isolation and mobile control are paramount for comfort and efficiency. Parker’s advanced hydraulic systems and ride control mechanisms, enhanced by electro-hydraulic pump systems for mobile applications and central tire inflation systems (CTIS), provide precise control from the cabin, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing operator fatigue. Mobile controllers and sensors, along with HMI displays, further improve the ease of operation and control precision.
The chassis, the backbone of any combine harvester, must be both robust and efficient. Electromobility and axle cooling are essential for modern agricultural machinery. Parker’s fluid conveyance and flow control technologies, such as medium pressure hydraulic hoses, hydraulic multi-couplings and pressure reducing valves, maintain optimal pressure levels, ensuring seamless operation. The shift towards electrification in agriculture presents new challenges, such as managing the combine header, header control, and threshing system control, along with thermal management in hydrogen fuel cell systems. Parker’s thermal management solutions, including thermally conductive materials and quiet air fluid coolers, combined with their fluid conveyance and sealing technologies, effectively address these challenges, ensuring reliable and efficient machine performance.
The combustion engine, the heart of the combine harvester, has its own set of challenges, including engine cooling, engine filtration, and emissions control. Parker’s advanced filtration systems, such as the Baldwin Fuel Manager Filter and high-pressure inline filters, ensure a clean fuel and oil supply, reducing engine wear and emissions. Their cooling solutions, including quiet air fluid coolers, maintain optimal engine temperatures, enhancing performance and fuel efficiency, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. Additionally, Parker’s solutions support hydrogen internal combustion engines (ICE) and hydrogen fuel cell systems, promoting sustainable energy alternatives with components like AdBlue solenoid valves.
Preventive maintenance and reducing downtime are critical for the smooth operation of agricultural machinery. Parker’s advanced sensors and diagnostic tools, including SensoControl® diagnostic and testing equipment, provide real-time data on system performance, enabling early detection of potential issues. This proactive approach helps in maintaining the machinery's efficiency and reliability.
Fluid conveyance and hydraulic filtration are vital for the seamless operation of combine harvesters. Parker’s cutting-edge technologies, such as medium pressure No-Skive hydraulic hoses and hydraulic multi-couplings, ensure clean, efficient fluid flow, reducing wear on hydraulic components and enhancing overall system reliability. Their hydraulic cylinder sealing solutions further ensure the integrity and performance of hydraulic systems. Compact electro-hydraulic actuators and heavy-duty vane motors also play crucial roles in maintaining efficient hydraulic operations.
Parker's comprehensive solutions, ranging from fluid conveyance to sealing and filtration, address the common challenges and trends in the agriculture industry. Our technologies ensure the efficient, reliable, and environmentally friendly operation of advanced agricultural machines. By integrating Parker’s solutions, operators can significantly enhance the performance and longevity of their off-road agricultural equipment, ultimately leading to increased productivity and sustainability. They can also achieve greater efficiency, reliability, and environmental compliance in their operations.
Visit our dedicated page to find out more about Parker's presence in the Agriculture industry.