ABSTRACT For the purpose of achieving the distribution of the potato-soil mixture and the appropriate parameters of the swing separating sieve, we conducted experiments using the 4SW-170 potato digger. The experiments consisted of two parts. In each part, the experimental factors were crank rotational speed, sieve inclination and machine forward speed. The difference is that the first part involved a single factor test, which selected the coverage of the potato-soil mixture as the evaluation indicator. In contrast, the second part involved an orthogonal test, which selected the obvious rate and damage rate as evaluation indexes. In the first part, it was observed that the coverage of the potato-soil mixture on the separating sieve reduced gradually with the increase in crank rotational speed and sieve inclination. Inversely, as the machine forward speed was raised, the coverage of the potato-soil mixture gradually increased. In the second part, when the crank rotational speed was 230 rpm, the sieve inclination became 21.1°, and the machine forward speed was 2.03 km . h-1; the optimal parameter combination was obtained. Under such conditions, the obvious rate of potato harvest could reach as high as 99.49%, and the damage rate of potato harvest could reach as low as 0.87%. The reported results may be of help in providing a reference for the design of the swing separating sieve on potato diggers.

ABSTRACT For the purpose of achieving the distribution of the potato-soil mixture and the appropriate parameters of the swing separating sieve, we conducted experiments using the 4SW-170 potato digger. The experiments consisted of two parts. In each part, the experimental factors were crank rotational speed, sieve inclination and machine forward speed. The difference is that the first part involved a single factor test, which selected the coverage of the potato-soil mixture as the evaluation indicator. In contrast, the second part involved an orthogonal test, which selected the obvious rate and damage rate as evaluation indexes. In the first part, it was observed that the coverage of the potato-soil mixture on the separating sieve reduced gradually with the increase in crank rotational speed and sieve inclination. Inversely, as the machine forward speed was raised, the coverage of the potato-soil mixture gradually increased. In the second part, when the crank rotational speed was 230 rpm, the sieve inclination became 21.1°, and the machine forward speed was 2.03 km . h-1; the optimal parameter combination was obtained. Under such conditions, the obvious rate of potato harvest could reach as high as 99.49%, and the damage rate of potato harvest could reach as low as 0.87%. The reported results may be of help in providing a reference for the design of the swing separating sieve on potato diggers.