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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #151881
Title: APPLICATION OF POWERED ROLL GIN STAND TECHNOLOGY TO GIN STANDS WITH LARGE DIAMETER SAWS

Author
item Laird, Joseph - Weldon
item Holt, Gregory
item Buser, Michael
item ASKEW, JAMES - SERVICO, COURTLAND, AL

Submitted to: ASAE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/2/2003
Publication Date: 7/28/2003
Citation: Laird, Joseph W., Holt, Gregory A., Buser, Michael D., Askew, James. 2003. Application of powered roll gin stand technology to gin stands with large diameter saws. American Society of Agricultural Engineers. Paper No. 031162. St. Joseph, MI:ASAE.

Interpretive Summary: Field trials were used to prepare powered roll gin stand technology for transfer from the laboratory to modern commercial gin stands with large diameter saws. Conversion kits for modifying saw gin stands with 16- and 18-inch saw diameter were developed and tested in cooperative field trials. An extensive program of research developed the essential design and operating parameters that give good results. Field tests showed that a 16-inch saw gin stand with the modification kit gave an average of 31 pounds per bale more lint at a much higher ginning rate and also better fiber length compared to the unchanged high capacity gin stand. The increased lint turnout added about $20.00 more return per bale, and the fiber length improvement adds an additional $7.50 for the cotton producer. The cooperating gin handled about 40,000 bales for the season and 12,500 were ginned on the experimental gin stand with the conversion kit. This amounted to $343,750.00 more return for their producers and, if all three gin stands had been equipped with conversion kits, would have been $1,100,000.00 more return for the producers.

Technical Abstract: Field trials were used to prepare powered roll gin stand technology for transfer from the laboratory to modern commercial gin stands with large diameter saws. Test units were built to scale up the configuration developed on the 12-inch saw gin stand in the laboratory to fit modern gin stands with 16-inch and 18-inch diameter saws. The objective was to design and build powered roll fronts for the larger gin stands, test them in commercial operation, develop solutions to any problems, and build smooth running equipment that saves all of the lint and preserves fiber quality. This included developing retrofit kits for existing gin stands that were economical to install and operated efficiently. The work resulted in powered paddle roll conversions for the 16-inch and 18-inch saw gin stands with significant operating performance and fiber quality advantages compared to unmodified gin stands. Determining the shape, size, and position of the gin stand parts was an empirical trial and error procedure requiring expensive and time consuming manufacture of machine parts. There is a wide range of these factors to be explored for the new powered paddle roll technology. The gin stand has several operating speed and load settings that were examined using analytical response surface experimental designs to look for optimized configurations. Work is going on in both the mechanical design and operating control areas concurrently. The current design of the experimental gin stand is being transferred into retrofit kits for the existing equipment in commercial gins and a technology transfer program to provide it to the industry is under way.