ESTIMATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THE LUBRICATION OF THE WORKING SURFACES OF THE SADDLE-COUPLING DEVICE OF THE FOREST TRUCK

The importance of the need for further constructive improvement of fifth-wheel couplings of timber tractors with semi-trailers has been substantiated. The main operational factors arising during the movement of a timber tractor with a semitrailer in the process of hauling timber and affecting the premature failure of the main parts of the fifth wheel coupling are considered. The influence on the resource of the fifth wheel coupling device of strict fulfillment of the mandatory operations of periodic lubrication of the saddle and the base plate of the semitrailer in the process of connecting and disconnecting it with a timber tractor is given. Described is the actual problem associated with excessive consumption of lubricant in the process of applying it to the friction surfaces of the saddle and the base plate of the semitrailer by the traditional method of extrusion. A possible method of dosed supply of the required volume of lubricant through the optimal number of lubrication holes to the friction surfaces is considered, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the cost of maintaining the operable state of the fifth wheel coupling. In order to preliminary evaluate the application of this lubrication method, which ensures the effective functioning of the fifth wheel coupling of a timber tractor with a semitrailer, several series of computer experiments were performed to determine the optimal number of lubrication holes in the saddle that evenly and dosed distribute the lubricant between the saddle and the base plate of the semitrailer.