| Machinery
New Holland Intelligent Trailer Braking System delivers best-in-class safety and stability on T7 and T6 AutoCommand tractors
New Holland introduces a patented Intelligent Trailer Brake System onto its T7 AutoCommand™ and T6 AutoCommand™ tractors.
T his innovation, winner of an Agritechnica Silver Medal, enhances stability under deceleration with a trailer, particularly on low friction surfaces, resulting in greater safety for transport and field work. The system ensures that the deceleration rate of the tractor and its trailer are aligned when the driver reduces the tractor’ s speed by using just the transmission, without applying the service brakes.
Typically when a tractor and trailer are slowed by just the transmission and engine braking alone the momentum of the trailer will push against the tractor. This pushing force can cause instability which may increase the potential risk of a jack knife situation, especially on steep gradients or low friction surfaces such as icy roads or grassland.
The Intelligent Trailer Braking System senses the reduction in the tractor’ s speed and calculates the deceleration force using a torque sensor within the transmission. An electronically controlled trailer brake valve then automatically applies the trailer brakes to reduce the trailer’ s speed at the same rate as the tractor. This automated braking prevents the tractor from being pushed by the trailer, greatly improving its stability and avoiding the risk of jack knifing. No modifications are required to the trailed equipment.
The controlled and harmonised braking force, between the tractor and the trailer, delivered by the Intelligent Trailer Braking system also means that the stopping distance of the tractor and trailer is virtually the same as that of the tractor alone, even though the driver’ s only input has been to reduce the speed using the transmission.
This new option compliments the list of brake features already available on New Holland tractors, including the award winning enhanced exhaust brake and ABS system, to deliver the most comprehensive brake package available in the Agricultural business.
DISCO MOVE – a new front mower with optimised ground contour following
With the DISCO 3200 MOVE, available in versions both with and without conditioner, CLAAS has expanded the popular DISCO series to include two new additional front mower models.
T he innovative new design allows a freedom of movement of 1,000 mm independent from the tractor front linkage, assuring optimum ground contour following of the mower bed. The new mower is available with a mowing width of 3.0 m, either without conditioner( F), or with the option of a tine conditioner( FC). Highly manoeuvrable headstock with integrated suspension
At the heart of the DISCO MOVE mower design is the completely new headstock with integrated kinematics. It is capable of following ground contours giving up to 600 mm of travel up and 400 mm down. Very uneven fields are safely accommodated for. The mower unit is also able to pivot laterally from the central pivot point, which is set at a 30-degree angle. As a result, the mowing unit can swing backwards at a slight diagonal angle to avoid obstacles. In addition, the ground contour following has been further improved.
The mower bed itself can respond very quickly to finer ground contours thanks to the tried and proven lower pivot point from the current PROFIL range. The new headstock combined with the low pivot point assures excellent contour following, especially for larger tractors and at higher speeds. The tractors front linkage remains in a fixed position and has no effect on the ground contour following. The hydraulics integrated in the headstock also take over the function of raising the mower bed at the headland using a single acting hydraulic service from the tractor.
Also, the headstock includes integrated ACTIVE FLOAT hydraulic suspension as standard, eliminating the need for suspension spring coupling points on the tractor. The suspension pressure can be adjusted at any time during operation again using a single-acting hydraulic service. On request, the DISCO MOVE control mechanism can be incorporated into the control unit of large-scale triple mowers. The mower is then controlled centrally via the operating terminal, and the rear mower takes over the function of regulating the ACTIVE FLOAT suspension.
Equipment that really works – with and without conditioner
The new DISCO 3200 MOVE also impresses with its features. The mower comes both without a conditioner, or with the option of a tine conditioner. The headstock can be coupled either directly to the tractor front linkage or using an A-Frame. The hydraulic connections are fitted as standard with convenient Kennfixx couplings. These can run either to the left or right of the headstock, for optimum adjustment to your tractor. The new mowers don’ t need a park support. When the mower is uncoupled, a parking latch on the headstock locks the kinematics so that the mower can stand securely without additional support.
42 | Farming Monthly | September 2018 www. farmingmonthly. co. uk