Noise background, as an important factor in the working conditions of agricultural operators, has a direct impact on human health and productivity. This topic is especially relevant for small tractors, which in most cases are not equipped with cabs. One of the main means of reducing the sound pressure on the operator are the mufflers of exhaust gases, which mainly have a labyrinth-absorbing type of action. The paper proposes a fundamental approach to the design of the muffler by the criterion of reflection and scattering of sound waves with the verification of efficiency by computer simulation. The purpose of research: - to improve the working conditions of operators of small tractors that are not equipped with cabs, by reducing the sound pressure level from internal combustion engines; - to improve the noise-absorbing properties of mufflers of exhaust gases of engines with observance of requirements to manufacturability of process of their manufacturing; - to develop a structural scheme of the exhaust gases muffler based on the results of preliminary modeling and analysis of the trajectory of the gas flow in the cavity of its working part. Methods. Determination of the sound pressure level of the engine of a small tractor by mathematical (computer) modeling of the behavior of the exhaust gas flow in the muffler cavity in different frequency ranges. Results. The article analyzes the main sources of noise during the operation of agricultural machinery with internal combustion engines (ICE). On the basis of literature sources and methods, their separate degree of influence on the complex picture of noise pollution of the working space of the operator of a small tractor is established. A comparative analysis of the efficiency of mufflers, created on the generally accepted principles and approaches to the design of such devices. According to the results of previous tests, shortcomings and limitations in the application of design concepts were identified, an additional analysis of external causes and factors was made, and adjustments were made to the method of creating muffler designs. An alternative design approach to the creation of internal combustion engine mufflers of small tractors is proposed and computer modeling of the processes of sound pressure distribution and sound waves in their cavity is performed. Conclusions. 1. A layout diagram of the design of the exhaust muffler, containing a resonator chamber and a shell module, which is made in the form of a three-stage ribbed diffuser of oscillations of the exhaust flow pulses with an additional surface layer of the vibration absorber. The parameters of the exhaust flow of exhaust gases of a typical diesel engine of a small tractor with a capacity of 24 hp are calculated. (pressure - 11652 Pa, acceleration – 90-105 m / s2, frequency - 1950-3300 Hz), which performed computer simulations of the process of gas movement in the muffler cavity of the proposed layout. Optimal design parameters were selected to ensure the maximum possible noise absorption with a body diameter of 150 mm and a length of 600 mm. The calculated sound pressure when working at the crankshaft speed (1700-2000) rpm does not exceed 72 dB. At the same time, the design of the muffler is made in compliance with the requirements for economic feasibility, manufacturability and in accordance with the capabilities of industrial production. A further direction of research is the manufacture of an experimental sample of the muffler and testing for the efficiency of its noise absorption in the conditions of operation of small tractors.
IMPROVEMENT OF MUFFLER S DESIGN FOR REDUCTION OF THE LEVEL OF SOUND PRESSURE ON SMALL TRACTORS OPERATORS