農地搬運車的成本低廉且適應地形能力強,根據現行法規,其最大輸出功率需在13馬力以下。在最近10年內,其數量維持在27,000~39,000台間,此顯示為數不少的農民擁有它。 近年來由於單缸引擎製造技術迅速提升,有些業者已可生產23馬力的農地搬運車,且成本增加並不多;農民們普遍有較大馬力搬運車的需求,國內農地搬運車的製造業者亦可生產23馬力的車,因此馬力數有提高的必要。不過,當馬力數提高後 ,是否會影響行駛的安全性?為了瞭解該問題,有進行實車測試的必要性。 本研究分成三個部分:一、吾人以一台小於13馬力之四輪農地搬運車進行性能測試,目的為了解性能測試項目的種類以及該項目所代表的意義。二、委託五間有販售農地搬運車的民間廠商各提供一台超過13馬力的搬運車做性能測試並測定其性能是否符合規定。三、從農試所的農機具性能測定報告中,選擇尺寸與載重量和第二部分5輛受測車輛相近的農地搬運車,分別進行大尺寸與小尺寸車輛的比較。比較項目包含平地打滑率、坡地打滑率、平地煞車拖動距離、最小轉彎半徑及空車靜態側面翻覆角,目的為分析馬力提升後對於農地搬運車安全性的影響。 測試結果顯示各廠商提供的農地搬運車,其空車靜態側面翻覆角均可達到35度以上而且平地煞車距離均不大於時速(km/h)值之15%,所以其安全性符合規定。大尺寸與小尺寸搬運車在不同馬力下,對於上坡的打滑率、平地煞車拖動距離、最小轉彎半徑以及空車靜態側面翻覆角有顯著差異。另外大尺寸車輛在不同馬力下,對於前進的打滑率有顯著差異;而小尺寸車輛在不同馬力下,對於下坡的打滑率有顯著差異。本試驗顯示馬力提高確實對農地搬運車的安全性有影響,但安全性仍可令 人接受。
Agricultural transporters are cheap and highly adaptable to different terrain. According to the current regulations, the maximum power of agricultural transporters must be less than 13 hp. The number of agricultural transporters has remained at 27,000 to 39,000, during the last 10 years. This shows that many farmers own agricultural transporters. In recent years, the manufacturing technology for single-cylinder engines has progressed rapidly. Some factories could produce agricultural transporters with 23 hp at almost the same cost. Farmers generally require more powerful agricultural transporters. The domestic manufacturers of agricultural transporters can also produce 23hp units. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the power of agricultural transporters. It is unclear whether increased power affects the operating safety of a vehicle, so real vehicles are tested. The study is divided into three parts: Firstly, a four-wheeled agricultural transporter (manufactured by the Wu’s company) is used for a performance test, in order to determine the meaning of the performance test items. Secondly, five local manufacturers that produce and sell agricultural transporters provide individual transporters with a power greater than 13hp to determine whether their performance meets the requirements. Thirdly, some transporters are chosen from the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute’s performance tests with similar size and load, in order to compare the large-size and small-size vehicles. The comparison items include slippage on even ground, slippage on a sloping field, the braking distance on even ground, the minimum turning radius and the static rollover angle, without a load on the cargo platform, in order to determine the effect on safety of an increase in horsepower for agricultural transporters. The experimental results show the static rollover angle for agricultural transporters, as provided by manufacturers, is greater than 35 degrees, and that all of the braking distances (m) on even ground are less than 15% of the travelling speed (km/h), so the vehicles meet the safety requirements of the regulations. Large-size and small-size transporters with various power ratings demonstrate significant differences in the slippage on a sloping field, the braking distance on even ground, the minimum turning radius and the static rollover angle. Large-size transporters with various power ratings also demonstrate significant differences in slippage on a road and small-size transporters with various power ratings demonstrate significant differences in slippage on a gradient. This study shows that an increase in horsepower definitely influences the safety of agricultural transporters, but safety remains acceptable.