Design and Test of the 1LFT-450D Variable Width Reversible Plough with Resistance Reduction Function

To address the issues of high working power consumption and poor structural stability of current ploughing equipment under conditions of straw coverage and heavy clay soil, a 1LFT-450D variable width reversible plough (VWRP) with resistance reduction function is designed. Based on the shark shield scale, a bionic resistance reduction plough body was designed. Through theoretical analysis, the turnover mechanism (TM) and the working width adjustment mechanism (WWAM) were designed, and their main structural parameters were determined. Further research was conducted on key components using simulation software. The discrete element method (DEM) simulation results indicated that arranging bionic ribs on the plough breast achieved the best resistance reduction effect compared with the ploughshare tip and ploughshare. Meanwhile, relative to the conventional plough body, the designed bionic plough body exhibited average reductions in resistance and energy consumption of 12.55% and 12.34%, respectively. The soil bin test further verified the resistance reduction performance of the designed bionic plough body. The kinematic performance of the TM and the WWAM was analyzed using RecurDyn, and their reliability and stability were verified through the mechanism performance test. The results of the field operation performance test showed that under the conditions of forward speed of 8–10 km·h−1 and working width of 1320–2000 mm, the operation performance of the designed VWRP satisfied the requirements of relevant standards. This study can provide a theoretical reference for the resistance reduction optimization of agricultural machinery soil-engaging parts and the design of new ploughs.