For Official Use

Organisation de Coopration et de Dveloppement Economiques Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

AGR/CA/T(2001)4

23-Jan-2001 ___________________________________________________________________________________________ English - Or. English

DIRECTORATE FOR FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES

COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE

AGR/CA/T(2001)4 For Official Use

OECD Standard Codes for the Official Testing of Agricultural and Forestry Tractors
SEAT REFERENCE POINT IN CODE 5 AND IN PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE CODES This document was prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of a draft proposal made by Peter Seward, Consultant (UK). It points out some possible misinterpretation in Code 5. Based on comparative reading of the various Codes and in some EC Directives, it suggests amendments to the current Noise Code and to Safety/Protective Structure Codes in a spirit of harmonisation. The present document is circulated to delegations and National Designated Authorities. The item is not part of the original draft Agenda of the next Annual Meeting to be held in Paris on 14-16 February 2001 [AGR/CA/T/A(2001)1]. Subject to the participants agreement, it could be discussed under item 26 "Other Business".

English - Or. English

JT00101699

Document complet disponible sur OLIS dans son format dorigine Complete document available on OLIS in its original format

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SEAT REFERENCE POINT IN CODE 5 AND IN PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE CODES

1.

Rationale

The Seat Reference Point (SRP) is still used for OECD and EU testing although it has been repealed by ISO in favour of Seat Index Point. The seat reference point is a point relative to the seat itself and independent of the adjustments of the seat. The current description in the OECD Codes of the seat reference point and how it is used in the related tests could be improved. With the protective structure tests (Codes 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8) there is no technical ambiguity, merely some possible confusion in the wording which mixes up the instructions for determining SRP and those for positioning the seat, and therefore the Clearance Zone (or Deflection-Limited Volume "DLV" in Code 8) for the test. There is a much greater chance of the wrong position being chosen for the Noise Test (Code 5), however and the seat should certainly not be blocked in any way. When investigating similar clauses in ISO Standards and EEC directives, it was noted that EU has a new clause relating to the longitudinal axis of the seat and its position relative to a line through the steering wheel axis, in all Directives quoting seat position. In the spirit of co-operation with other international Norms and recognising the ergonomic reasons for the clause, a suggestion is made below to include it in OECD Codes where appropriate. The following is a detailed explanation of the reasons for change and the actual proposal to modify the current texts of the Codes: 2. Seat Reference Point in Code 5 (discussion of issues)

In Code 5, the section 1.2.2 seems to be unnecessary because the later section, 2.3.1, describes how the seat should be set. "Blue Codes" - Code 5, pages 206 and 209: "1.2.2 Seat position and adjustment for determining the seat reference point

1.2.2.1 Where the seat position is adjustable, the seat must be adjusted to its rear uppermost position; 1.2.2.2 where the inclination of the backrest and seat pan is adjustable, these must be adjusted so that the reference point is in its rear uppermost position; 1.2.2.3 where the seat is equipped with suspension, the latter must be blocked at mid-travel, unless this is contrary to the instructions clearly laid down by the seat manufacturer."

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"2.3

Measurement method

2.3.1 During measurement the microphone diaphragm shall be facing forward. The microphone shall be placed so that its centre is 250 mm to the side of the median plane of the seat, on the side on which the higher noise level is encountered, and is 790 mm above and 150 mm forward of the seat reference point. The seat should be set at or as near as possible to the midpoint of its horizontal and vertical adjustment. Any suspension of the seat shall be depressed until the seat reaches the midpoint of its dynamic range. Excessive vibration of the microphone must be avoided."

3.

Seat Reference Point in OECD Protective Structure Codes (discussion of issues)

In fact, the reference in Code 5, page 206, is lifted directly from the Roll-over Protective Structure (ROPS) Codes where it is also a potential problem! For instance the description in Code 4, section 1.4.2, is not really correct. "Blue Codes" - Code 4, page 167: "1.4.2 Seat position and adjustment for determining the seat reference point 1.4.2.1 Where the seat position is adjustable, the seat must be adjusted to its rear uppermost position; 1.4.2.2 where the inclination of the backrest and seat pan is adjustable, these must be adjusted so that the reference point is in its rear uppermost position; 1.4.2.3 where the seat is equipped with suspension, the latter must be blocked at mid-travel, unless this is contrary to the instructions clearly laid down by the seat manufacturer." The section heading "Seat position and adjustment for determining the seat reference point gives the wrong impression because the seat reference point is determined independently as described above. The SRP moves with the adjustment of the seat in relation to the rest of the tractor and the Clearance Zone (or DLV) is then positioned relative to it. The idea is to put the clearance zone in the position of the "worst case" for the rear blow or push. In the Noise test the aim is to put the microphone measuring point in an average position and this is adequately described in 2.3.1 of Code 5.

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4.

SUGGESTIONS FOR AMENDING THE CODES

CODE 5 The current section 1.2.2 should be removed from Code 5 completely because it could lead to confusion where noise tests could be carried out with the seat in the rearmost position. It is in fact a redundant section. Therefore, the instructions in section 2.3.1 should be extracted and dropped in to replace what is in 1.2.2 currently. E.g.: "1.2 Determination of seat reference point; Seat location and adjustment for test

1.2.1 (no change) 1.2.2 Seat location and adjustment for test

1.2.2.1 Where the seat position is adjustable, the seat should be set at, or as near as possible to, the midpoint of its horizontal and vertical adjustment; 1.2.2.2 any suspension of the seat shall be depressed until the seat reaches the midpoint of its dynamic range; 1.2.2.3 (From new version of EEC 78/764) where the position of the seat is adjustable only lengthwise and vertically, the longitudinal axis passing through the seat reference point shall be parallel with the vertical longitudinal plane of the tractor passing through the centre of the steering wheel and not more than 100 mm from that plane. " The text in 2.3.1 would then be shortened to: "2.3 2.3.1 Measurement method During measurement the microphone diaphragm shall be facing forward. The microphone shall be placed so that its centre is 250 mm to the side of the median plane of the seat, on the side on which the higher noise level is encountered, and is 790 mm above and 150 mm forward of the seat reference point. "" "

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PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE CODES In the ROPS Codes (Codes 3, 4, 6 and 7), the heading of 1.4 would become: "1.4 Determination of seat reference point; Seat location and adjustment for test"

The section 1.4.2 should be renamed, leaving-out the part about seat reference point (1.4.2.2) and add a new paragraph. It should read: "1.4.2 Seat location and adjustment for test 1.4..2.1 Where the seat position is adjustable, the seat must be adjusted to its rear uppermost position; 1.4.2.2 where the inclination of the backrest and seat pan is adjustable, these must be adjusted so that the reference point is in its rear uppermost position; 1.4.2.3 where the seat is equipped with suspension, the latter must be blocked at mid-travel, unless this is contrary to the instructions clearly laid down by the seat manufacturer; 1.4.2.4 (From new version of EEC 78/764) where the position of the seat is adjustable only lengthwise and vertically, the longitudinal axis passing through the seat reference point shall be parallel with the vertical longitudinal plane of the tractor passing through the centre of the steering wheel and not more than 100 mm from that plane. "

When revising Code 8, similar provisions could be introduced.