B.Sc.

Thesis Proposal
“Design & Fabrication of Solar Operated Reaper Machine” Commented [HE1]: In my opinion Mini Reaper sounded a bit
more better.

Session 2014-18

Submitted By

Mohammad Hamza Khan 14-ME-UET-020

Rashid Ali 14-ME-UET-068
Shahzad Suffder 14-ME-UET-024 Commented [HE2]: Arrange it in ascending order of
registration number

Supervisor

Engr. Hassan Ejaz

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

SWEDISH COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
WAH CANTT
(Affiliated with University of Engineering & Technology Taxila)
1. Introduction

Farming is most widely followed profession in Pakistan. Agricultural products contribute a major
portion to our economy. Engineering science has brought tremendous changes in traditional
methods of agriculture viz. sowing, planting, irrigation, fertilizer spraying, harvesting, etc.
However to increase our economic condition, we must increase the productivity and quality of our
farming activities. Nowadays very few skilled labors are available for agriculture. Because of this
shortage the farmers prefer to use reaper harvesters. These reapers are costly and only available of
very large scale farming. However, agriculture groups make these available for rent on an hourly
basis. But the small holding farm owners generally do not require the full-featured combine
harvesters. Also, these combine harvesters are not available in all parts of rural Pakistan due to
financial or transportation reasons. Thus, there is a need for a smaller and efficient solar reaper
which would be more accessible and also considerably cheaper. The mission is to create a portable,
user-friendly and low cost mini harvester.

Taking into account the requirements of current situation, the idea was created to prepare a
machine which is solar operated will reduce cost and labor consumption to harvest crops. This
machine will have the capability and the economic value for fulfilling the needs of farmers having
small land holdings. This machine is cost effective and easy to maintain and repair for the farmers.
(A R Bhabad, 2017)

2. Aims & Objectives

The aim of this project is to make cost efficient crop harvesting machine. To achieve the overall
aim objectives are given below

 Solar operated Commented [HE3]: Combine “Solar Operated” and “Simple

Design” and write in the form of a sentence.
 Less manual efforts
 Less maintenance Commented [HE4]: Write it in the form of some sentence

 Simple design
3. Historical Background

Until the 19th century, most crops were harvested by cutting with a sickle, scythe, cradle or manual
mowers then manually flailed or beaten to break the bond of the grain with the stalk, then
winnowed to separate the grain from material other than grain. In the developing world, these
practices or the use of small stationary threshers are still in use for grain harvesting. A sickle is a
curved, hand-held agricultural tool typically used for harvesting grain crops before the advent of
modern harvesting machinery. The inside of the curve is sharp, so that the user can swing the blade
against the base of the crop, catching it in the curve and slicing it at the same time. Scythe is a
similar tool with the sickle used to harvest grain crops. The most noticeable difference between a
sickle and the scythe is the shape of the blade of which the Scythe blade is more linear whereas a
sickle blade is more in the shape of a C with a point at the top.

Cradle is a more developed tool for reaping and harvesting. It consists of an arrangement of fingers
attached by a light frame work to the snatch of a scythe. Its purpose is to gather the straw as it is
cut and deposit it in a swath. At the end of the cutting stroke, the cradle is tilted to drop the straw
in a pile. Also, substantially more grain can be cut in a day with the cradle. However, loss due to
shattering (grain dislodged from heads due to shock) is greater with the cradle which makes to
continue using the sickle to harvest grain. Reapers are harvesting-machines used for cutting grain-
crops. They either deliver the grain to one side in gavels ready to bind into sheaves, or elevate the
gavels upon a platform where two operators bind them into sheaves by hand. During the 19th
century, mechanical reapers and binders were developed to cut and windrow grain for field drying.
The sheaves were then hauled to stationary threshers. Around the start of the twentieth century
animal drawn machines, “combines,” were developed that integrated cutting, threshing, and
separating wheat and small grains. (Terefe, 2017)
Commented [HE5]: Add a space between the text body and
figures

Figure 1: Sickle Figure 2: Scythe

4. Methodology

4.1 Theoretical Studies

First of all we will collect data about current methods being used for harvesting crops. We will Point out
the problems and weak points (disadvantages) then we will work on our solar reaper to overcome these
problems and weak points. Specially to make it cost and work efficient. By reading books, research
papers and watching documentaries on agriculture.

4.2 Experimental Setup

The project design will be simple and easy to operate. It will be solar operated and consist up of high
strength cutting blades which cuts the crops in a scissoring type of motion. A battery will use for power
storage It will runs on a motor, this power from the motor is provided to wheels and gear box arrangement
further to the crop cutting and conveyer mechanism. As shown in schematic diagram

Solar reaper

External power Battery Solar panel

source

Motor

Power to wheels Power to gearbox

Figure 3 Commented [HE6]: This Block Diagram is going out of margins

of paper, do adjust it

Crop cutting Crop conveyer

mechanism mechanism
4.3 Results Expected

Solar reaper machine will be;

 Available at low cost
 Work efficient Commented [HE7]: Remove This one.

 reduce labor consumption Commented [HE8]: Capitalize the first word

 Easy to operate and maintain

 Simple in design Commented [HE9]: Move this to the first option.

5. Utilization of Results

The agricultural crop reapers are available for purchase but because of their high costs, they are not
affordable for small scale farmers. The idea was to create a machine which is cheap and will reduce the
labor required to harvest crops. This machine is suitable for the small scale farmers who have less farm
area. Due to its simple design it will be easy to operate. No extra fuel will require operating this machine.
It will reduce labor consumption. Working on totally renewable (Solar) energy source so there will be no
environmental pollution. It will perform same work as engine based reaper do.
This reaper might be solution to the problems faced by small scale farmers regarding cost and labor
implementation.

6. Work Schedule Plan

 Project Management Design

The total duration of the project is 9 months which is further divided into following four phases.

 Phase 1 (Collection of Relevant Literature and Data)

The estimated time for this phase is 3 months in which different literatures will be studied.

 Phase 2 (Experimental Work)

Experiments will be performed on test rigs for analysis under fretting fatigue. The estimated time for this
phase is 3 months.

 Phase 3 (Completion of Results )

The Estimated time for this will be 2 Months.

 Phase 4 (Analysis of Data)

The Estimated time for this will be 1 Month.

Project Work Schedule

Phase Collection of Relevant

1 Literature and Data

2 Design & Fabrication

Completion of
3
Results

4 Analysis
of Data

Sep OCT NOV DEC JUN FEB MAR APR MAY Commented [HE10]: According to your tentative time line
given by university, This all should be completed till the ist week of
April. Because your final Presentations are on 12th April.

So adjust it according to that.

7. References
A R Bhabad, G. S. (2017, April). Design and Fabrication of Agricultural Crops. International
Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering (IJRASET), 5(IV), 5. Retrieved
from www.ijraset.com

Terefe, T. O. (2017, August Wednesday). Design And Development Of Manually Operated.

International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications (IJARP), 1(2), 7.

8. Board of Graduate Studies Remarks