Dynamic Considerations for Flail Knives

THE DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS ARE STUDIED OF FLAIL KNIVES. FLAIL KNIFE MOWERS ARE USED FOR CUTTING ROADSIDE GRASSES. THE ADVANTAGE OF THE FLAIL KNIFE IS THAT IT CAN BE DESIGNED TO SWING BACK WHEN AN OBSTACLE IS HIT. DEBRIS, CANS OR BOTTLES DO NOT CREATE A PROBLEM. AN IMPROVED DESIGN IS SOUGHT FOR FLAIL KNIVES TO DECREASE POWER AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. A MATHEMATICAL DESCRIPTION IS PROVIDED OF THE FORCES ACTING UPON A FLAIL KNIFE TO PREDICT THE RESULTING ANGLES OF DEVIATION OF THE KNIFE FROM A RADIAL POSITION. THE DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS DERIVED FROM THE MATHEMATICAL MODEL WERE VERIFIED WITH A LABORATORY TEST TO MEASURE FORCES AND ANGLES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT TO DESIGN FLAIL KNIVES ON THE BASIS OF THE DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OBTAINED FROM SOLUTION OF THE DERIVED EQUATIONS SEEMS JUSTIFIED. THE EFFECTS OF DESIGN VARIABLES ARE PRESENTED IN CHARTS. THE EFFECTS UPON DEVIATION ANGLES DIFFER GREATLY. CHOOSING THE IMPORTANT VARIABLES IN THE DESIGN OF THE FLAIL KNIFE SYSTEM CAN GREATLY AFFECT THE DYNAMIC RESPONSE.