DESIGN FEATURES OF MODERN FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS

Analysis of the state and trends in the development of agricultural machines and the technical means that serve them shows that there is a constant process of creating more productive and economical equipment. This is primarily ensured by increasing unit capacity, increasing working and transport speeds, reducing time losses for auxiliary operations, reducing maintenance costs to a minimum; ensuring minimal impact on soil and plants; increasing reliability and wear resistance, as well as an increase in versatility and the appearance of special tractors for specific work; expansion of production of wheeled tractors with four driving wheels, wider use of hydraulic systems, electronics, automation, new materials, creation of comfortable working conditions and ease of management; ensuring labor safety. The main type of tractor in the most widespread range of capacities remains the wheeled one of the traditional layout scheme, the improvement of which is carried out taking into account the latest achievements of science and technology. There is a further update of articulated tractors with all driving wheels of the same size, with leading manufacturers experimenting with the installation of triangular track drives instead of wheels, which significantly increases their traction qualities. Characteristic features of tractors of the new generation are their universality and block-modular structure. So, depending on the market, different engines from well-known companies and unified transmissions are installed on one model of European tractors. Therefore, in this market, there is a tendency for manufacturers to cooperate with the aim of further increasing versatility, reliability, and simplifying operation: increasing the interval for changing engine oil to 500 hours, transmission oil to 2,000 hours, hydraulic oil to 1,000 hours. Cooperation also contributes to the expansion of opportunities for competition in the markets of different countries. The new generation of powerful wheeled tractors with a classic and system layout provides high efficiency mainly in technological operations with medium traction forces in combined, tillage and sowing units, which are equipped with implements with active working bodies, with front and rear GDP, as well as in transport operations.