# The Development of a Forage Harvester Ensuring Two-Level Moving of Tall Stalk Forage
## 1 Introduction and Analysis of the Scientific and Technical Literature
Consequently, these harvesters are inefficient for cutting stalks taller than 1.5 m.  
Self-propelled forage harvesters manufactured by Krone and Claas, equipped with roller pre-shredding devices, are used for the efficient shredding of high-yield corn mass with cobs [5]. Trailed forage harvesters are equipped with a moving rotor, L-shaped knives, and a radial shredding device, which are their advantages. It is noted that the machine can operate on different row spacings and has multiple options for loading moved mass while ensuring economical fuel consumption [6]. One article notes that radial-disk shredding devices have some disadvantages: uneven load on the shaft caused by changes in the angle of inclination in the cutting pair, as well as the large dimensions of the shredding device itself [7]. As a result of theoretical studies, formulas for determining the speed and thickness of the lifted mass, as well as the diameter of the shredding drum, have been obtained [8]. Modern forage harvesters are equipped with a high-capacity shredding drum, a three-stage compressor system for leaf-stem mass, and a three-row mass discharge accelerator [9]. The authors of [10] developed a mathematical model of the forage mass movement process in the deflector. High-speed filming revealed that in the initial section of the deflector, the particles move discretely, and further on in the crank section of the pipe, the forage mass particles move in a dense flow. Article [11] defines the optimal composition of harvesting and transport complexes, considering the design features of forage harvesters. It also provides recommendations for the use of harvesters, depending on the volume of harvested forage. One paper presents the results of tests conducted on the RSMF-2650 forage harvester. The types of damage to the bearings of the harvester's pre-shredder and the actual operating time of the unit until failure are determined. The main causes of pre-shredder damage are identified: misalignment of the pre-shredder shaft; inefficient lubrication; and bearing sealing issues [12]. Another study presents the results of tests conducted on the new shredding drum of the KPI-2.4 harvester. It is also noted that the major disadvantage of many forage harvesters is the lack of a device to adjust the size of shredded particles [13]. Observation of the forage harvester's operation revealed that the machine, equipped with a disc mower, cuts tall maize stalks and, by rotating them, directs them toward the cutting drum. Owing to the induced rotational motion and centrifugal forces, the stalks are guided to the shredding drum [14]. However, such machines are associated with very high costs. According to the technical specifications of the KSD-2.0 forage harvester, the use of this machine is not recommended for harvesting tall-stemmed crops exceeding 1.5 m in height [15]. For operation in hilly and mountainous regions, a single-disc harvester for maize silage harvesting has been developed. The optimal combination of operational parameters was determined: the working speed of the unit is 1.0 m/s, the rotational speed of the cutter head is 1035.89 rpm, and the drum speed is 30 m/s [16]. The study presented in [17] describes the development of a forage harvester capable of simultaneously harvesting both the grain and the stalk portion of maize. However, this method is not employed for maize silage harvesting. Currently, a single-disc forage harvester has been designed specifically for use on small farms. This machine is primarily intended for harvesting forage crops such as lucerne and other green fodder [18]. Experimental studies have established the following optimal parameters: the cutting rotor speed should be 1000 rpm, and the feed rate of biomass into the shredding chamber should be 3.5 m/s [19]. In [20], the influence of the cutting drum's inclination angle on the energy consumption of the shredding process was analyzed. It was found that at the optimal angle of inclination, the energy consumption during the shredding of stalk forage decreased by 11.35%.